Ashampoo Music Studio 2018
Ashampoo has released their free version of Music Studio and we’d like to tell you a little bit about it.
Ashampoo Music Studio 2018 is a tried and versatile application to edit and burn audio files. Audio disc ripping happens quickly and missing track information is filled in automatically based on an extensive online database. Files can be burned or converted into different audio formats. The integrated audio editor enables users to modify or remove individual passages and allows them to split up tracks into individual parts. Organizing music collections is another strength of the program. Metadata can be modified, volumes altered and files renamed based on customizable naming schemes. Songs can be easily mixed with fading and audio tracks extracted from existing videos, e.g. to create ring tones. The built-in cover editor makes it easy to design covers and inlays using multiple integrated templates from simple designs to mosaic layouts. The main menu and program structure have been completely redesigned for quicker results. Individual segments can now be repositioned via dragging in the editor and will snap in place for easy rearrangement. Support for APE has also been added.
System Requirements
Feature Highlights
- Burn audio CDs
- Rip audio CDs
- Convert audio files into various formats
- Edit and auto-complete metadata
- Edit and normalize sound files
- Mix tracks with fading
- Extract audio from videos
Main Menu
As you can see in the above image Music Studio 2018 has an intuitive interface which is easy to use. It has been my experience with Ashampoo products that not only are their programs superb, but they spend time on the menu systems as well. They are well thought out.
Update 9/26
Some of you have been curious about the differences between version 2018 and version 7. Here is a comparison chart for you:
| Music Studio 2018 | Music Studio 7 | |
Burn | ||
| Record what you hear | NO | NEW |
| New and optimized CD selection page | NO | NEW |
| Full StereoMix support | NO | NEW |
| Fast CD ripping with Quick Rip | NO | NEW |
| Use disc ripping with playlist auto-creation | NO | YES |
| Create compatible playlists | YES | YES |
| Play/overlay multiple music files | NO | YES |
| Equalizer-based sound optimization | NO | YES |
| Audio disc ripping, individual format selection, extract anywhere | YES | YES |
| Extract audio tracks from videos | YES | YES |
| Create custom recordings | YES | YES |
Edit | ||
| Output presets for Apple devices | NO | NEW |
| Output presets for Android devices | NO | NEW |
| Snap to position when tracks are moved | NO | NEW |
| Output presets for Windows devices | NO | NEW |
| Reposition cut marks through mouse or arrow keys | NO | NEW |
| Grab and drag tracks to reorder them | NO | NEW |
| Cool shuffle feature for audio CDs and Mix Tape | NO | NEW |
| Support for APE (Monkey’s Audio) | NO | NEW |
| Modify track speeds based on tempo and pitch or apply time stretch effects | NO | NEW |
| Enhanced normalization support for new formats including M4A | NO | NEW |
| Brand new editor | NO | YES |
| Work intuitively with three separate tracks | NO | YES |
| Move tracks with drag and drop | NO | YES |
| Play and edit audio selections | NO | YES |
| Edit AAC/m4a files | NO | YES |
| Edit m4a song metadata | NO | YES |
| Auto-split audio files with smart splitting | NO | YES |
| Normalize AAC/m4a files | NO | YES |
| Find and download covers | NO | YES |
| Convert audio files into Opus | NO | YES |
| Retrieve missing track information through online database | YES | YES |
| Edit metadata | YES | YES |
| Normalize and adjust volumes between multiple tracks | YES | YES |
| Convert audio files into different formats | YES | YES |
| Convert audio files into Flac | NO | YES |
| Convert audio files into Ogg | YES | YES |
| Convert audio files into WAV | YES | YES |
| Organize titles and add additional info | YES | YES |
| Split and mix music | YES | YES |
Produce | ||
| DJ Mix Tape with tempo analysis and smart harmonization | NO | NEW |
| Fresh design for faster menu access | NO | NEW |
| Cover editor with new user interface | NO | NEW |
| BPM (beats per minute) detection for audio tracks | NO | NEW |
| Create CUE-based playlists | NO | NEW |
| Fascinating covers with image mosaics | NO | NEW |
| Burn and convert AAC/m4a files | NO | YES |
| Burn audio discs | YES | YES |
| Burn MP3 discs | NO | YES |
| Create custom slim-case covers | YES | YES |
| Create new tracks with Title Mixer | YES | YES |
| Burn WMA discs | YES | YES |
| Burned mixed-mode discs | YES | YES |
| Create custom jewel-case covers | YES | YES |
| Create custom CD labels | YES | YES |
| Cover Studio with new and modern templates | YES | YES |
How To Get Your Free Copy
Update 9/26
Here are the steps to get your free copy:
- Install the software
- During installation, you will be directed to a product registration page and prompted to supply your email address to obtain a valid license key
- Simply fill in the required information. You will then receive a confirmation mail including your license key
- Once received, simply enter your key and proceed with the installation
Click here to see all the products Ashampoo has to offer.
Click here to read the Music Studio 2018 product information. The download link is also on this page.
Enjoy your new software and let us know how you like it!
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Last time I tried this s/ware two weeks ago on clicking the desktop icon a window opened then quickly faded and disappeared completely and repeatedly. There was no other way to open the program.
Let’s hope that it works this time.
Hi Frank,
If you still have problems, let me know and I will ask my contacts at Ashampoo.
Keep us posted,
Richard
Will do. Awaiting a reply re activation license requested from Ashampoo.
Still no activation license or response from Ashampoo.
Hi Frank,
You shouldn’t need a license for v2018. It is a free version.
Richard
I must be doing something wrong then, because I’ve tried installing more than once and each time I’m taken to a page to enter a valid license. Tried “Get Activation Key” also but nothing happens.
Here Frank… try this link: https://www.ashampoo.com/en/usd/fdl/21/0/free/0
Check that the drop-down menu says something along the lines of Full Free Versions.
I’m seeing Music Studio 2016 not 2018.
OK. Tried again downloaded but still requiring an activation key.
Hi Frank,
OK, I’ll get hold of Ashampoo and ask them what to do.
It is the weekend, so please be patient.
When I find out, you’ll find out,
Richard
Hi Richard. Appreciate your presence here and good suggestions, etc.
I’m wondering if you know what the difference(s) are between Music Studio 2018 and Music Studio 7 (I just bought MS7 last week at a very good price – felt a little support was in order since I’ve been using giveaways since version 3). I got curious about what the difference might be so I installed MS2018 as well. The “About” tab in MS2018 shows in brackets (7.0.1.2 (1330)), so it looks like it is version 7 in some form. The purchased version is 7.0.1.6 (1230). Features seem to be the same, but often the giveaway version has some disabled, but I’m not finding any. Don’t make it a project : ), just if you know.
Thanks
Hi Arby,
Sadly, Ashampoo doesn’t offer a page with version comparisons for its products.
The only way I know is to look at each product’s feature list and compare them yourself. The free version should be missing something or it wouldn’t make sense for them to charge for a license.
Thanks for the kind words and your comments,
Richard
Thanks Richard for taking time to reply. Pretty generous of them either way. Perhaps it is full but won’t get updated with changes. Hard to figure what they could limit on it. Have a good day, I’m off to bed! (Canada west coast).
Richard. I’ve not tried out your recent link for the free 2018 version, but I did need to register in order to get the key. Registration took some time, was frustrating at times, having to go backwards after registering an account, receiving the key and entering to allow the program to complete.
Time to remind everyone, there is often nothing for free. Your time, often costs you more than purchasing the product. Companies that offer freebies often want you to become customers.
This practice is used all over, from grocery stores (something like a free coupon offered by a vendor) as an example. I have not used this software yet, but intend on taking it for a spin soon, Mindblower!
Let us know how it goes for you!
It’s been a slow process, but I’ve found the time to use more of the features and am very impressed. This program is a gem and for the price (free at the time), does what many other programs I’ve tried out in the past fail to include. Like with most utility programs, take the time to learn and understand. You might be pleasantly surprised with the outcome, Mindblower!
Glad it’s working out for you 🙂
Hi
Is Ashampoo music studio the same as Ashampoo burning studio?
Hi Rob,
No, it is not the same program
Hello All,
This post has been updated as of 9/26/2017.
Included now is a comparison chart for Music Studio 2018 and 7.
I also included step-by-step instructions to get your free copy of version 2018.
A big thank you to Ashampoo for their timely response to my inquiries,
Richard
Thanks for that extremely detailed comparison chart Richard. See the items I want to use should work when I get around to using Music Studio 2018, Mindblower!
You are welcome… glad it helps.
Thanks for getting the comparison/contrast list and posting it. Makes for appreciation of how indepth the software is.
My pleasure
I have this and got it with a bundle from Ashampoo, i burn’t a cd from files but it did not burn all the music information. All the files had the info including the tag (MP3Tag) how can i burn all the information that is listed and not just have Track 1, Track 2, Track 3 etc etc.
Hi Dean,
I posted this article over a year ago. You will have to contact Ashampoo for questions about this software.
Thank you,
Richard
Dean, Dean, Dean. How did you burn the files? Did you select the Rip & Burn, then Create mixed format disc to burn your files, Mindblower!
I am having the same problem i have installed ashampoo Music studio 2 times and still no activation key i emailed support 3 times
i cant get them to send the activation key to my email
I just installed it and had no problems activating it.
On the Ashampoo website, instead of clicking on the download link on the Music Studio 18 page I went to “Downloads” and searched for “Ashampoo Music Studio 2018”
I downloaded it and when it asked for the activation key I clicked on the link below the box where you enter the activation key to get the free activation key. It asked for my name and email address.
I received an email to confirm my email address and then they sent me the activation key. I entered the key and it finished installing the software.