I tried the shareware version of SoundTaxi and I didn't have any problems except for the time limitation, so I bought the uncrippled version. Although it isn't very reliable, it does work over half the time. If I add very many songs to the queue the program crashes and won't restart without rebooting the computer first. Also there's no way to save the queue so everytime it crashes all the songs have to be added back in again. Other problems include it skipping every third file in the queue, and it barely utilizes half the available resources for conversion, slowing the conversion process down. First, there is no way to save the queue/conversion list. So lets say I add 100 songs to the list and start it converting, then the program crashes, or something else happens requiring me to exit SoundTaxi and/or reboot the computer. All the songs in the queue are lost. Not the actual songs (files) but the list in the queue is gone. Major pain in the A** especially given how often this program crashes. Second problem is somesort of timeout error. After I've added songs to the queue and started them converting, it launches two threads, each of which starts converting a file. When a thread finishes, it goes to the next file and freezes the program for 60 seconds. Then it says Error Conversion did not start within 60 seconds and goes on to the next song. It keeps doing this throughout the queue, so when it's finished the queue, every third song wasn't converted. I can go back after it's finished and click on the songs with the error and tell the program to convert them again, and it does the same thing (converting two and erroring on the third). If I keep doing this it'll eventually convert all the files in the queue. I don't have a clue why it does this but it really needs to be fixed. The third/last thing is more of a performance issue. With the program running two threads (converting two songs at the same time), my processor shows less than 50% utilization. There is very little hard disk activity going on so that's not the bottleneck. So besides the extra minute added (by the error above) to the time it takes to convert each song , the program is only utilizing half the available resources to it. I want it to use 100% processor time to convert and get them done as quickly as possible. I have e-mail their "support" ([email protected]) numerous times but have not even been given the courtesy of an auto-reply to tell me they got the message. I'm setting my e-mail up to resend the message everyday until they reply. If I haven't heard anything in a week, I'll bump it up so it sends it every hour, then every minute if that's what it takes to gget a reply. Given the non-existant support, the performance issues, the program errors, and the problems others seem to have had with this program, I would strongly suggest you don't consider even installing the trial version of this program.

I'm a big fan of this software. I love that it allows me to free my music from DRM so I can use it on different brands of portable media players. This is must have software for any audiophile. It works fast, and the quality of the output is equal to the input.

Odd I just came from another forum which had nothing bad to say about SoundTaxi. I purchased this weekend after trying the trial for one conversion. Hymm does not yet support iTunes 7x's m4p but SoundTaxi does. The only "problem" I had besides the downloaded install file being corrupted 3 times until I found another link on the homepage to it ... once I tried to run it, it could not see my CD drive but the program directed me to an adaptec driver. Although I believe as explained that it is for older OS's such as 95, 98, ME, sometimes XP needs it and sometimes not. Perhaps bad coding, i don't know, but I installed the driver and all worked fine. From other reviews I hear SoundTaxi sound quality is noticibly better than Tunebite. But to be honest, after futzing with the Hymm project for an hour I just Googled m4p to mp3, and SoundTaxi popped up, so I looked, read, tested on m4p and bought. At least it's good to read here that they refund right away if problematic. My only concern wa newer iTunes m4p files and it works great on them. Although they are purchased songs I did not need to log into iTunes in order for it to work as I have read here about Napster. Perhaps if you have bought, try the adaptec driver install (I think it is covered on the website or somewhere in the program) to fix the not recognized CD /DVD drive. I suppose I will not reccommend this to friends now that I have seen the trouble others have had. Guess I got lucky on this one.

Unlike you guys, SoundTaxi actually works great on my system (Year Old HP Media Center). But i am afraid it will mess up my PC. So i might just get that Hymn program

I've had a similar issue, installed>DVD-drive isn't recognized no more, on a sony VAIO. Yet, I sent an e-mail and refunded my money right away with no questions. Now, it looks they keep updating their software eventually. Haven't tried the 1.3.6 version with the fear of losing my drive again... Well, system restore does the job. Just make sure you have XP service Pack 2 folks, and backup CD's of your PC if you need to re-install windows.

I also fell for it and purchased Sound Taxi. It brought my system to it's knees and never converted the first file. Only get errors. This program does not work at all with my system. Wish I had found this thread before I was suckered in.

Like many of you I had a BAD experience with this software. Installation stalled. Driver failed. Software corrupt. Computer froze. Had to use System Restore to cut my losses etc. I feel foolish for not reading the reviews BEFORE purchasing. But what bugs me most is WHY some people actually have had GOOD experiences with this software! What gives? Perhaps if I knew what the difference is between their systems and mine I could do something to get the software to actually work! Any Ideas out there?

I actually purchased the program after trying the free trial.....didn't make the link with the slowdown of my computer and Sound Taxi until I completed the purchase. I had to reinstall the original software.....Lord knows how much data I lost. I wish I found this forum before I was suckered into it.

Although all words on SoundTaxi website sound great, tried the Trial version (twice) and it crashed the system both times; thereby requiring a full system restore, which takes almost an hour. Running XP with more than ample CPU speed and memory. Recommendation: NOT even worth trying the free Trial.

The trial is working well on my computer (dell e1705.) Still trying to decide between this and Tunebite.

I still have not seen ANY answers to the major question. Is there any other software out there that actually does this before & after the trial? I've tried "tunebite". It was ok just could not actually order it due to the fact that my E-mail is from Yahoo.

I agree vith the most of the other reviewers: sound taxi cause a lot of headache, a lot of nerve, a lot of work!!! I do not reccomand for enyone!!

I have installed the free version and seems to work fine. My CPU usage is low, and I am considering buying the software. I have a two-part question. 1.) Once I install the software, am I going to run into the same problems that the vast majority of thse people have? 2.) Are there any alternative programs out there that can do the same (or better) as SoundTaxi (without the bad reviews)? Thank You

i have a feeling this program is a hit or miss type depending on your system, i have soundtaxi on my alienware laptop and it runs like a champ, but it does give my dell at home a bunch of problems and i installed it from the same exact installer program and using the same exact license. so ya, hit or miss i suppose

SoundTaxi brought my computer to it's knees. I uniunstalled SoundTaxi and it worked OK after that.