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Switch Audio File Conversion Software

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 4 min
Switch Audio File Converter Software
File:Switch Audio File Conversion Software Official Logo.jpg
Developer(s)NCH Software
Initial release2003 (2003)
Stable release
5.22 / February 2018; 6 years ago (2018-02)
Written inC++
Operating systemWindows, Mac, Android
Available inEnglish, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean
LicenseProprietary Software
Websitewww.nch.com.au/switch/index.html

Switch Audio File Converter Software is an audio file conversion software published by NCH Software available for Windows, macOS and Android operating systems. Top 10 Reviews considered Switch the best soft audio converter available as recently as early 2017.[1] While there are many options for audio file conversion, Switch is still considered one of the most stable and comprehensive multi format audio file converters available.[2]

History

Switch was first released in 2003 as a C++ Windows application, and was written to address the growing demand for converting audio files between formats due to a proliferation of new formats hitting the market competing with legacy formats at the time. FLAC, AAC, Ogg and other lossless formats were becoming more popular in the early 2000s, so software such as Switch was needed to help users move audio files from one device to another and migrate old legacy audio formats into more efficient modern formats. The ability for a computer user to convert audio files becomes critical when they are unable to edit or use a particular audio file format due to limitations within their software or hardware platforms. Switch gives users the ability to convert WAV, MP3, WMA, M4A, Ogg, AVI, MID and most other audio file formats[3][4] (40+ formats supported, see charts below).

Features

Switch will convert playlists and extract audio files from DVDs and video files, normalize audio during the conversion process and will preserve music tags if the file formats support them. It also supports multi-file batch processing, and a command line mode[5] for automated file conversions. Some products available at the time of Switch's initial release only supported converting a single file in command-line mode, and Switch was designed to create a more streamlined approach to the audio format conversion process.

Users

Switch is widely used by audio enthusiasts (professionals, prosumers, and home users) and currently has over 3 million downloads through CNET.[6] Educational institutions often recommend Switch as a tool for their students that need to manipulate audio files for cross-platform utilization.[7]

Controversy

Previously, Switch and other NCH products came bundled with optional browser plugins like the Conduit[8] and Chrome toolbars, which sparked complaints from users and triggered malware warnings from AV software companies like Norton and McAffee. NCH has since removed all toolbars, browsers, and third party app offerings in all program versions released after July 2015.[9]

Audio file formats

Input

Switch supported input container formats
Audio Extension Windows Mac Android
.aac* (not aacPlus) Yes Yes Yes
.3gp Yes Yes No
.act/rcd/red (newer format versions not supported) Yes Yes No
.aif/aiff/aifc Yes Yes Yes
.amr Yes Yes Yes
.ape Yes Yes No
.au Yes Yes Yes
.asf Yes Yes No
.avi Yes Yes No
.caf Yes No Yes
.cda Yes No No
.dct Yes Yes No
.ds2 Yes Yes No
.dss Yes No No
.dvf (Not all dvf recorders are supported) Yes No No
.flac Yes Yes Yes
.flv Yes Yes No
.gsm Yes Yes Yes
.m3u Yes No Yes
.m4a Yes Yes Yes
.m4r Yes Yes Yes
.mid (General MIDI only) Yes No No
.mod Yes Yes No
.moh Yes Yes No
.mov Yes Yes No
.mp2 Yes No No
.mp3 Yes Yes Yes
.mpc Yes Yes Yes
.mpga (mpeg audio) Yes No No
.mpg/mpeg Yes Yes No
.msv (Not all msv recorders are supported) Yes No No
.ogg Yes Yes Yes
.pls Yes No Yes
.ra (ram, rm, rmj) Yes No No
.raw Yes Yes Yes
.rss Yes Yes Yes
.shn Yes Yes No
.spx Yes Yes Yes
.voc Yes Yes No
.vox Yes Yes Yes
.wav (pcm, adpcm+, aLaw, uLaw, and others) Yes Yes Yes
.wma Yes Yes No
.wmv Yes Yes No
.wpl Yes Yes Yes
.wv Yes Yes No

Output

Switch supported output container formats
Audio Extension Windows Mac Android
.aac* (not aacPlus) Yes Yes Yes
.ac3 Yes No No
.aif/aiff/aifc Yes Yes Yes
.amr Yes Yes Yes
.ape Yes No No
.au Yes Yes Yes
.caf Yes Yes Yes
.flac Yes Yes Yes
.gsm Yes Yes Yes
.m3u Yes Yes Yes
.m4a Yes Yes Yes
.m4r Yes Yes Yes
.mov No No Yes
.mp3 (mpeg layer 3) Yes Yes Yes
.mpc Yes Yes Yes
.ogg Yes Yes Yes
.pls Yes Yes Yes
.raw Yes Yes Yes
.rss Yes Yes Yes
.spx Yes Yes Yes
.vox Yes Yes Yes
.wav (pcm, adpcm+, aLaw, uLaw, and others) Yes Yes Yes
.wma Yes Yes No
.wpl Yes Yes Yes

See also

References

  1. ↑ "#1 Gold Award". http://www.toptenreviews.com/software/multimedia/best-audio-converter-software/. 
  2. ↑ "Alternatives to Switch". http://alternativeto.net/software/switch-sound-file-converter/. 
  3. ↑ "Switch Supported File Formats". https://www.nch.com.au/switch/kb/1405.html. 
  4. ↑ "Switch Supported File Formats". http://filehippo.com/download_switch_audio_file_converter/. 
  5. ↑ "FAQ Command Line Usage". https://www.nch.com.au/switch/kb/750.html. 
  6. ↑ "CNET Downloads". http://download.cnet.com/Switch-by-NCH-Software/3000-2140_4-10327491.html. 
  7. ↑ "University at Albany". http://library.albany.edu/libdru/imc/pdf/Convert_WMA_to_MP3s_WAVs_on_Mac.pdf. 
  8. ↑ "NCH toolbars". 
  9. ↑ "NCH Software Safety Guarantee". 

External links




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