RipTunes YouTube to MP3 Converter for Windows

Quick Specs

• Version:2.0
• File size:301.64K
• Date added:December 14, 2012
• Price:Free
• Operating system:
  Windows NT/98/Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8

The RipTunes user interface is simple and straightforward. At the top are four tabs: Search, Library, Queue, and Ringtone. Search is self explanatory, Library is where you can view all downloaded files, Queue brings up a page showing current downloads, and Ringtone is where you can cut MP3 files to make ringtones.

The Search tab is where you want to go first. Inputting any artist name or song title will bring you to a new page. Overall the program works amazingly well downloading and converting to MP3. A typical song will take about 30 to 45 seconds to completely download and convert. (Your mileage may vary depending on Internet speed.) The files are saved in your regular Windows Music folder, and there is currently no option to change this default path.

RipTunes also includes a simple player for you to listen to newly grabbed tracks. You also have the option to post your search results and downloaded files directly to Facebook or Twitter. However, this doesn't seem to be a useful feature besides advertising RipTunes to all of your friends; they can't use the link until they have downloaded RipTunes themselves.

Additionally, the ringtone maker feature is a sweet addition to an already good software program. Select any track from your library and highlight the area you want to export to a ringtone. It'll cut the song and save as an MP3 (Android/Windows) or rename it to M4R (iPhone), depending on your selection. We like the simple and easy-to-use interface, and the seamless process going from search to listen.

We encountered some gripes during our test. RipTunes' search engine doesn't work the same way as a regular YouTube search. The result will always end in an artist's page with a listing of all available songs, even when you input a specific song title. This would be good if you were trying to discover a new artist and want to listen to that singer's entire catalog, but it could also be an annoyance if you just want one particular song.

As the search page is sparse on information, showing only artist name/bio and track length next to the song title, looking up a specific song will require a few extra steps. Searching cover songs can be a chore if you don't know the exact artist's name. Inputting song titles brought up only the original performers and also had trouble finding obscure but viral hits. We would like to see the search feature improved; a future update could include filters or add columns for popularity and view counts as well as support for grassroots artists.

That being said, it is still finely tuned software that works just as advertised and does offer some great extra features, a step up from your usual YouTube converter.

Publisher's Description

From RipTunes:

Converting YouTube to MP3 has never been this easy, with a massive database of over 20 million music only videos, RipTunes allows you to search, discover, download, convert, play and manage music, and is the best free and legal alternative to Limewire. What sets RipTunes apart from other YouTube Downloaders and YouTube to MP3 convertors is that it offers a build-in music search and discovery system, with one click download & convert functionality, a music manager and player, automated iTunes sync (that automatically syncs all your downloaded music directly into you iPhone, iPad and iPod) and it even got a free Ringtone maker for your iPhone / Android, all in one easy to use software that is so easy to use that even your mother can use it.

Convert YouTube to MP3: You can do just about anything music-related with RipTunes: you can convert YouTube to MP3 and find every song or album out there. Download any song for free and organize your music using a smart and simple interface that enables you to listen to music, share it and create ringtones out of your favorite songs. Did you find a cool YouTube video you'd like to have playing on your iPod or any other device whenever you want? Simply find it on RipTunes and you're a click away from having the YouTube MP3 song you wanted right there on your iPod, computer or anywhere else. Manage Your Music: But RipTunes does much more than just convert YouTube to MP3. If you're looking to do more than convert music, you can do it all with RipTunes: you can search for your favorite music or you can discover new music that you might have never found otherwise; you can also download music straight to your computer, iPhone, iPad, iPod or any other portable device so you can listen to your music anywhere; you can use RipTunes as your music center and organize all your music in one easy, user-friendly versatile place. Create Ringtones: But that's not all. With RipTunes, in addition to the option to convert YouTube to MP3 you also have a way of taking your favorite music or videos and transform them, or a part of them, into ringtones. With a simple to use interface you can create numerous ringtones for your phone and sound bits from your favorite song, movie or TV show.

Free YouTube Downloader for Windows

Quick Specs

• 
  
  Version:3.5.134
• File size:143.37K
• Price:Free
• Operating system:
  Windows Me/2000/XP/2003/Vista/7/8

PointMaza Editors' note: The Download Now link will download a small installer file to your desktop. Remain online and double-click the installer to proceed with the actual download.

PointMaza Editors' review

by: PointMaza's staff on August 29, 2012

We love YouTube downloaders because they make it so easy to grab and save video from YouTube's inexhaustible, ever-expanding supply. Whatever you like, if it's on video, it's probably on YouTube in one form or another. HOW's Free YouTube Downloader is one of the easiest tools for that job we've found. It not only downloads videos from YouTube but also converts them and files from your hard drive into formats you can play on your iPad, iPhone, and similar devices. It offers several quality levels, including HD quality, and plays your converted file when the job is done, if you want it to.

Ads pay the bills for freeware, and though Free YouTube Downloader contains no adware, we had to click through several screens to get to the actual program's download. It's worth the effort, though, since Free YouTube Downloader's easy settings and minimal user interface (think media player) let you quickly configure downloads and keep an eye on them in a corner of the screen while you do other things. We browsed to a YouTube page and copied and pasted its URL into Free YouTube Downloader's entry field (you can also browse to and add your own files). We selected Windows Media Video from an extensive drop-down list of Output Format options. We also selected the highest output quality, Full High Definition (1080p). We clicked Settings, too; these let us set always-on-top, a default output folder, simultaneous download and conversion, and language options. The browser-based Help file uses screenshots to make each step clear.

Once we'd made our selections, we pressed Download. Free YouTube Downloader began downloading and converting our video almost instantaneously (your connection will affect the speed) and finished by asking if we wanted to view our video. The video opened and played normally in our default media player. After that, we started downloading and saving videos we wanted to watch later. We like the way Free YouTube Downloader lets you choose a device-specific format for conversions, too. Don't forget to watch some of those videos you'll be saving with Free YouTube Downloader!

Publisher's Description

From HOW:

Would you like to watch your favorite videos from YouTube whenever and wherever you please? All this and more is possible with Free YouTube Downloader. With this download manager you can save YouTube videos in various video and audio formats. We support standard quality, high quality and even Full High Definition video.

What's new in this version: Version 3.5.134 may include unspecified updates, enhancements, or bug fixes.