60 Open Source Replacements for Audio/Video Tools: Page 3

Multimedia Players

32. VLC Media Player Replaces: Windows Media Player One of the most popular open source multimedia players, VLC plays nearly all types of audio and video files. It offers a user-friendly GUI and fast performance, and it can often play damaged files. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X, others.

33. Miro Replaces: Windows Media Player Miro makes it easy to sync the audio and video files on your PC with your iPad or an Android device. In addition to playing and converting most multimedia file types, Miro also offers torrent downloading and a music and app store. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X, Android, iPad.

34. Banshee Replaces: Windows Media Player Another mobile-friendly option, Banshee syncs with smartphones and tablets and integrates with the Amazon MP3 store. Other key features include smart shuffle, automatic cover art, smart playlists, queuing and a podcast guide. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X, Android, iOS.

35. UMPlayer Replaces: Windows Media Player Short for "Universal Media Player," UMPlayer claims to "play everything." Key features include built-in codecs, playback for damaged files, a YouTube player/recorder, skinnable interface, subtitles search and more. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

36. Mplayer Replaces: Windows Media Player Winner of numerous awards, Mplayer plays an impressively long list of multimedia file types. It installs without a GUI by default, but several front-ends are available. In addition, other developers have created versions for Windows and Mac. Operating system: Linux.

37. XBMC Media Center Replaces: Windows Media Player Designed for home theater PCs (HTPCs), XBMC supports most types of remote controls, so it's easy to use while sitting on the couch. It plays most audio and video file types, including CDs and DVDs, and it automatically organizes your multimedia content. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

38. MediaPortal Replaces: Windows Media Player Like XBMC, Media Portal helps turn your PC into a home theater PC (HTPC). It plays CDs and DVDs, records TV like a DVR, supports remote controls and offers a huge library of plug-ins that can extend its capabilities further. Operating System: Windows.

39. Media Player Classic Home Cinema Replaces: Windows Media Player This app looks a lot like Windows Media Player, and it's very lightweight while still offering a lot of features. Notable capabilities include playback and recording of television, remote control for Android smartphones and support for most audio, video and image file types. Operating System: Windows.

40. xine Replaces: Windows Media Player This media player is very fast, extensible and skinnable, and it supports most video file types. Work on a Windows version is underway. Operating System: OS X, Linux.

Multimedia Library Management

41. Data Crow Replaces: MediaMan If you're the extremely organized type, you'll love Data Crow. It helps you organize all of your content—CDs, DVDs, books, electronic files—and even includes a loan registration feature so that you can keep track of which friends borrowed your stuff. Operating System: OS Independent.

Music Composition

42. DrumTrack Replaces: DrumCore Turn your keyboard into a drum machine with DrumCore. Key features include adjustable volume for each drum hit, randomization of drum hits/volume (to make it sound more like a human is playing), and MIDI import and export. Operating System: Windows.

43. Hydrogen Replaces: DrumCore Designed for professionals, Hydrogen calls itself "an advanced drum machine for GNU/Linux" (although it does also work on OS X and Windows). It boasts an attractive, user-friendly GUI, a pattern-based sequencer with up 192 ticks per pattern, a sample editor, time stretch and pitch functions, timeline with variable tempo and more. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

44. Linux MultiMedia Studio Replaces: FL Studio Suitable for amateur musicians and hobbyists, LMMS lets you use your PC to create musical tracks and then mix them together. Don't let the "Linux" in the name fool you—it's also available in a Windows version. Operating System: Windows, Linux.

45. TuxGuitar Replaces: GuitarPro TuxGuitar is both a tab editor and a player. Create your own multi-track guitar compositions and play them back. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.

46. MuseScore Replaces: Finale This app makes it easy to create beautiful sheet music. And it plays back your creations with an integrated sequencer and synthesizer. Operating System: Windows, Linux, OS X.