7 Essential multimedia tools and their free alternatives
Friday, October 30, 2009
Why spend money on expensive multimedia tools when you can use comparable alternatives for free? They may not be an exact replacement, but how can you argue with the price?
PHOTO EDITING: Photoshop
Photoshop may be the industry leader when it comes to photo editing and graphic design, but Splashup, a free online tool, has many of the same capabilities at a much cheaper price. Splashup has lots of the tools you'd expect to find in Photoshop and has a similar layout, which is a bonus for those looking to get started right away. Splashup isn't the only free online photo editing program, check out this list of 20 more.
WEB DESIGN: Dreamweaver
Looking to create your next web site without paying big money for programs like Dreamweaver? KompoZer, a free web design program available for immediate download, is great for both novice web designers and professional webheads who need more advanced editing features.
VIDEO: Final Cut, Adobe Premiere
Many video editors, both novice and professional, use iMovie to create professional-looking videos and an amateur price. The program is included on modern Macs as part of the iLife package and has the basic features editors need as well as few advanced extras such as detachable audio and image stabilization. JayCut is an online video editor that lets registered users upload and edit their video for free. You can even add photos, audio and effects to your project. The final edited video can be shared on the web or downloaded directly to a computer.
AUDIO: ProTools, Adobe Audition
Audacity is a comprehensive audio editor with many of the capabilities of its costly competitors. The program, which is available for a free download lets users record and edit everything from simple audio tracks to complex professional work. GarageBand, which is included on modern Macs along with iMovie and iPhoto, takes a simple approach to audio editing and has the added capability of creating enhanced podcasts with photos, chapter markers and more. Find even more free audio editing programs here.
SLIDESHOWS: Soundslides
Until recently there was no other slideshow tool that could compete upload Soundslides' flexibility and easy-to-use interface...until now. PhotoPeach lets users upload and order photos using a drag and drop interface, upload an MP3 audio file from a computer, add captions for individual photos and embed the final slideshow anywhere on the net. All this is familiar to anyone who has ever used Soundslides, but PhotoPeach offers all this and more for free, making it a strong substitute for Soundslides.
INTERACTIVE MEDIA: Flash
Effect Generator, a free online tool, lets anyone create common Flash elements such as slideshows, graphics, and embedded videos. Once you've created your effect the generator emails a link where you can access the Flash file you created. The layout differs from Flash and takes some getting used to but is a great alternative, especially for those just starting to learn Flash.
WORD PROCESSING: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Many of the programs and tools on this list are substitutions for existing program. With Google Docs, you'll never want to touch Microsoft Office again. The free online tool lets anyone with a Google account create documents, spreadsheets and presentations as well as share the document for collaborative editing or viewing. Google Docs is accessible from any computer with an internet connection or you can work offline or download your finished work directly to your computer. You can even upload your existing documents into Google Docs.
Also on 10,000 Words:
• 21 Free online photo editing tools
• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• How to edit your video online for free or cheap
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training
PHOTO EDITING: Photoshop
Free: Splashup
Photoshop may be the industry leader when it comes to photo editing and graphic design, but Splashup, a free online tool, has many of the same capabilities at a much cheaper price. Splashup has lots of the tools you'd expect to find in Photoshop and has a similar layout, which is a bonus for those looking to get started right away. Splashup isn't the only free online photo editing program, check out this list of 20 more.
WEB DESIGN: Dreamweaver
Free: KompoZer
Looking to create your next web site without paying big money for programs like Dreamweaver? KompoZer, a free web design program available for immediate download, is great for both novice web designers and professional webheads who need more advanced editing features.
VIDEO: Final Cut, Adobe Premiere
Free: iMovie, JayCut
Many video editors, both novice and professional, use iMovie to create professional-looking videos and an amateur price. The program is included on modern Macs as part of the iLife package and has the basic features editors need as well as few advanced extras such as detachable audio and image stabilization. JayCut is an online video editor that lets registered users upload and edit their video for free. You can even add photos, audio and effects to your project. The final edited video can be shared on the web or downloaded directly to a computer.
AUDIO: ProTools, Adobe Audition
Free: Audacity, GarageBand
Audacity is a comprehensive audio editor with many of the capabilities of its costly competitors. The program, which is available for a free download lets users record and edit everything from simple audio tracks to complex professional work. GarageBand, which is included on modern Macs along with iMovie and iPhoto, takes a simple approach to audio editing and has the added capability of creating enhanced podcasts with photos, chapter markers and more. Find even more free audio editing programs here.
SLIDESHOWS: Soundslides
Free: PhotoPeach
Until recently there was no other slideshow tool that could compete upload Soundslides' flexibility and easy-to-use interface...until now. PhotoPeach lets users upload and order photos using a drag and drop interface, upload an MP3 audio file from a computer, add captions for individual photos and embed the final slideshow anywhere on the net. All this is familiar to anyone who has ever used Soundslides, but PhotoPeach offers all this and more for free, making it a strong substitute for Soundslides.
INTERACTIVE MEDIA: Flash
Free: Effect Generator
Effect Generator, a free online tool, lets anyone create common Flash elements such as slideshows, graphics, and embedded videos. Once you've created your effect the generator emails a link where you can access the Flash file you created. The layout differs from Flash and takes some getting used to but is a great alternative, especially for those just starting to learn Flash.
WORD PROCESSING: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Free: Google Docs
Many of the programs and tools on this list are substitutions for existing program. With Google Docs, you'll never want to touch Microsoft Office again. The free online tool lets anyone with a Google account create documents, spreadsheets and presentations as well as share the document for collaborative editing or viewing. Google Docs is accessible from any computer with an internet connection or you can work offline or download your finished work directly to your computer. You can even upload your existing documents into Google Docs.
Also on 10,000 Words:
• 21 Free online photo editing tools
• Where to find free sound effects and royalty-free music
• How to edit your video online for free or cheap
• How to create, edit and embed audio for free
• Essential multimedia tutorials and resources for do-it-yourself training
10 Comments
Steve Moore Says:
Many thanks Mark and Josh for this information about free programs. I didn't know about PhotoPeach.
Georgie Pie Says:
You should also try SSuite Office for a free office suite. They have a whole range of office suites that are free for download.
Their software also don't need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.
You may try these links:
http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm
or
http://ssuite5element.webs.com/thefifthelement.htm
Their software also don't need to run on Java or .NET, like so many open source office suites, so it makes their software very small and efficient.
You may try these links:
http://www.ssuitesoft.com/index.htm
or
http://ssuite5element.webs.com/thefifthelement.htm
Patrick Seitz Says:
Great post. I'm going to try out JayCut. I wasn't familiar with it before.
Patrick Seitz
techmediatainment.blogspot.com
Patrick Seitz
techmediatainment.blogspot.com
ohradiogirl Says:
I like this list. Thanks for putting it together and sharing. I also did not know about PhotoPeach.
the-dumb-waiter Says:
nice one!
theres also Inkscape for vector graphics
http://www.inkscape.org/
and for Linux,(in development) OS-X Xara have released an open-source version of Xara Xtreme graphics software (though im not sure on its current status)
http://www.xaraxtreme.org/
theres also Inkscape for vector graphics
http://www.inkscape.org/
and for Linux,(in development) OS-X Xara have released an open-source version of Xara Xtreme graphics software (though im not sure on its current status)
http://www.xaraxtreme.org/
citizenkeith Says:
An excellent multitrack audio program is Reaper.
http://www.cockos.com/reaper
It's not free, but the trial version is fully functional and lasts forever. When you're hooked, you can buy a reasonablely priced license.
http://www.cockos.com/reaper
It's not free, but the trial version is fully functional and lasts forever. When you're hooked, you can buy a reasonablely priced license.
Says:
Good points, and thanks for PhotoPeach, of which I was unaware. One nit: Although Google applications are superior to most alternatives, Docs can't replace the MS Office suite for functionality and usability, at least not yet. The spreadsheet functions don't compare with Excel. And the formatting for the Google wordprocesser is clunky and non-intuitive. I'm sure this will catch up in due time, but for now, doing word processing and data analysis via cloud computing isn't worth the hassle. Thanks, though. Keep up the great work.
Says:
This is dumb, you are missing so many tools with these alternative programs. When you step into a professional situation, expect to be owned by whoever is using the real thing. I'm an audio engineer, and if I ever tried to record a band on garageband or audacity, I would be fucked when it came down to editing their mixes. Plus, plug-ins for those programs sound like ass. ASS!
I promise, there is a reason why they are industry standards...
I promise, there is a reason why they are industry standards...
Photoshop Alternative
GIMP is a major free and open-source competitor to Photoshop. Seasoned Adobe users may also be interested in the GIMPshop mod, which ports all of Photoshop's keyboard shortcuts into GIMP.
Protools Alternative
Ardour is one of the most advanced audio workstations out there, commercial or non-commercial, and it so happens that it's both free and open-source. The Ardour community has provided lots of great extensions that let you do amazing things with sound.
Word Processing (and more)
OpenOffice is a fully loaded software suite that contains all the functionality of Microsoft Office - Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and more - and it's absolutely free. It's good enough, in fact, that an increasing number of businesses and consumers are ditching Microsoft products in its favor.
Layout/Design Software
There's also a fantastic alternative out there to Adobe and Quark layout software called Scribus. It's been used for all sorts of professional projects and is very competitive with expensive commercial products in terms of its functionality and design.
Animation and Visualization
Two amazing free products bear mentioning here, though both have a serious learning curve to them - which sets them apart from the other products I've mentioned.
Blender is an animation and game design package that's been used to produce animations and games that are in league with Pixar films.
Processing is a scripting tool for generating breathtaking data visualizations and animations. It's billed as "programming for artists" - in other words, you'll have to learn to write a few simple lines of code to use it. On the other hand, the designers have made this process as easy as humanly possible in the hopes of attracting non-techies. It's worth the leap if you're interested.
October 30, 2009 9:49 AM