FreshBooks

Pros 

FreshBooks is liberating. With it, you can create invoices, manage projects and accept payments online from anywhere. This accounting software also provides free client portals, iPad and iPhone apps, and encrypted data backup.

Cons 

FreshBooks does not provide an Android App. To get Android compatibility, you have to purchase GoBooks from a third-party software developer. FreshBooks accounts do not support free additional users.

The Verdict

The VerdictIf you want freedom to work across platforms, on mobile devices or by utilizing other apps, FreshBooks is generously obliging. With FreshBook's mobile tools and compatible apps, you can do everything from accepting credit card payments and tracking paper receipts to generating leads.

Invoicing & Billing:FreshBooks understands that most sole proprietors and small business owners are not accountants. In fact, they may dread every second of keeping their books. Some report that FreshBooks actually makes accounting enjoyable. This online accounting system is simple to use, accessible anywhere and comes with free customer support. While testing this invoicing service, we acquired a free account, branded our account with our logo and color scheme, and saved our first customer, project and invoice in less than 10 minutes. You do not need to know formal accounting terminology to use FreshBooks, yet it can provide the reports and data needed by your accountant to prepare your taxes. This service can help you receive payments online using gateways such as PayPal, Authorize.net, Braintree and 2CO. Compatible eCommerce tools include Shopify, osCommerce, Magento and Zen Cart.

When creating client accounts, FreshBooks will save the clients' default currency and language preference. When the invoice is created, it will automatically use the stored client data, calculate taxes and discounts, and associate the related PO# with the new invoice. Invoices can be saved as PDF files or emailed directly from your account, or FreshBooks will send invoices by snail mail. It can manage multiple tax rates and more than one tax per item. This accounting software can also manage recurring invoices and manage partial payments. Although this service is not ideal for managing large volumes of diverse inventory, it can save inventory items including descriptions, unit costs and tax rates.

Project Tracking:

FreshBooks can manage projects including billing methods, budgets, tasks and team members. This online business tool allows you to manage account access. For example, you can set permission levels for administrators, staff members and clients. It will even permit you to assign specific clients to staff members so that they can only access the assigned client information.

This service also tracks time, expenses and timesheets. Time can be captured using the built-in timer, and you can track unbilled time. FreshBooks can manage multiple billing rates and assign expenses. Receipt images can be stored with expense files, and you can filter expenses by type. It can also manage recurring expenses and import bank files to help with reconciling accounts.

Compatible add-ons that can assist with project management include Basecamp, DeskAway, Braintree, Gmail, Shoeboxed, ExpenseCloud, Toggl and many more. It also works with sales apps such as Salesforce, Quote Roller and Formstack as well as marketing tools such as MailChimp and ActiveCampaign.

Mobility:FreshBooks provides an iPhone and iPad app in the iTunes App Store that is free to subscribers. This mobile version tracks time and expenses, generates invoices and manages receipts. While away from the office, you can easily track time with the mobile timer and capture receipts using your mobile camera. Image files can be attached to expense requests. The mobile version can also display timesheets and invite staff and other users to projects. The iPad version also has the ability to display a full account overview.

Summary:Using FreshBooks, you can easily keep your books current, get paid faster, be ready for tax time and spend less time at your desk. It can manage clients no matter where they are located, what language they prefer or what tax rate they are required to pay. FreshBooks can free you from stodgy, traditional accounting software and release you to spend more time creating and increasing your business' success.

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Sage One

Pros 

Sage One is efficient, easy-to-use accounting software bundled with project tracking, task management, collaboration and payment processing. It is an online solution, so it is always up to date, backed up, encrypted and accessible via any web connection.

Cons 

If you are looking for traditional accounting software such as products similar to Sage 50 or QuickBooks Pro, this is not it. Sage One is designed for entrepreneurs, freelancers and startups, not companies that need to manage a lot of inventory or many employees.

The Verdict

The VerdictCreate invoices and get paid quickly with Sage One. You can manage projects, track tasks, track time and accept payments using this one solution. In addition, Sage One accounts support unlimited collaborators, projects, tasks and invoicing without any additional fees.

Sage set a new precedent with Sage One. This accounting solution is not limited to traditional, stodgy accounting tools. Sage One resides online, works on all devices, includes project management and collaboration tools, and processes online payments. It does not require installation, and it is always up to date. You don't need formal accounting training to use it either, because it is simple and streamlined, which makes it ideal for sole proprietors, freelancers and independent contractors. Sage One is new to the market, yet it is backed by more than 30 years of accounting software experience. Our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award winner for online accounting software can easily help you invoice and track projects with style.

More than 90 percent of businesses registered in the U.S. are comprised of a single person. Although big companies require complex accounting solutions, freelancers, contractors and sole proprietors do not. Sage One is the perfect solution for managing your small business and collaborating on projects. This online accounting solution easily creates invoices, tracks tasks, manages projects and performs general accounting duties to help you manage the details of your business.

Sage One accounts support unlimited collaborators, unlimited customers and unlimited invoicing. An account also supports two administrators with full access rights so that you can work with a business partner or accountant without an additional charge. You can add additional administrators for another $10 each per month. Each account comes with 5GB of free storage for your documents and projects.

Sage offers free support to all users. Sage provides full support that includes direct support by email, telephone and instant chat. Because Sage One is still a relatively new product, the company gives you the opportunity to comment on the product and offer feedback via an email link. To keep abreast of the new features and uses for this accounting solution, you can follow Sage on Facebook and Twitter, or read the Sage One Blog.

Invoicing & Billing:      

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Using Sage One, you can easily create, send and track invoices. You can customize your invoices using your own logo, send invoices by email and save them as PDF files. To ensure accuracy, you can preview invoices before you send them to your clients. Sage One can manage multiple sales tax rates, associated purchase orders, invoice comments and even partial payments. Once you have stored information such as client data, Sage One can automatically insert that information into invoices to help you create them in seconds.

This online accounting software tracks payment statuses, so you always know who owes you money. Clients can also make payments directly from the invoice using PayPal or via Sage payment solutions. Sage payment solutions charges a low percentage rate plus a small 20-cent fee per credit card transaction.

Project Tracking:      

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The ability to collaborate and manage projects sets this small business tool apart from basic accounting software. While most freelancers do not need complicated accounting software, they do need to manage projects, and they often work on projects with other people. Using Sage One, you can create and manage tasks and projects for your team and clients. You can easily view assigned tasks, track progress, view estimated costs, control time spent on tasks and manage activities. Sage One also tracks messages, file notes, client feedback and file changes. This project tracker freely supports unlimited collaborators, including employees, contractors, clients and accountants. Sage One also provides up to 5GB of storage for file sharing and storage. To help keep team members on task and informed, it will send out email notifications and reminders. All data is continually backed up and secured using SSL data encryption, and it always accessible via a web connection.

To give you an informed, top-down view of what is going on with your projects, Sage One includes a Smart Dashboard. The dashboard includes infographics, recent activities, tasks, outstanding invoices and project statuses. Straight from the dashboard, you can send out payment reminders, create and assign tasks, create projects and create invoices.

Mobility:      

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Sage One will display on any web-enabled device. Although device-specific apps are not yet available, the interface is optimized to run on PCs, Macs and iPads. Mobile-specific apps are scheduled to be rolled out sometime in 2013. Because Sage One is cloud based, it works across platforms and does not require a download. We asked a representative whether it works on other mobile devices, and they said they had seen it work on other devices, but that it is not officially supported on all of them at this time.

Summary:

Sage has drawn more than 30 years of accounting software experience into one efficient product – Sage One. This online accounting software in not muddled with tools that freelancers and micro companies do not need. It is simple accounting software bundled with project tracking, task management, collaboration and payment processing. Sage One is clever, adept and proficient, just like you want your company to be.

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Accounting Software Review

Is Online Accounting Software Right for Me?

If you want to be able to easily track the projects you are working on and send professional invoices to your clients, online accounting software with project tracking is for you. Not everyone needs full-fledged, bloated bookkeeping software. Many entrepreneurs and freelancers work alone or in small groups and do not need to track volumes of inventory or process payroll. Online accounting services create invoices, process payments, provide collaboration tools and track expenses easily online or via a mobile device.

Although most of the products we reviewed are not full-blown, traditional accounting products, they do create the reports and records you need to prepare your taxes. They track all transactions and generate reports that your accountant can use to prepare your business' taxes. In addition, these online services are secure. They use industry-approved online security practices such as password protection, SSL-encrypted connections and redundant data backup.

To discover more about these accounting services, see our articles on online accounting software. If you are ready to start invoicing today, check out our top choice, Sage One, which is affordably priced and simple to use. For more reporting options and cloud accounting, see FreshBooks. On the other hand, if you are interested in a service that you can easily customize with add-ons and modules, see Harvest.Accounting Software: What to Look for

These online business productivity tools are simple. They are designed to help you track projects and get paid. However, there are a few things to consider before you select accounting software to help run your small business. The first is whether you work alone or with a team. Some services charge extra for additional users, and collaboration tools vary among services. A second consideration is whether you need payment processing or not. Many of these online accounting services support credit card processing via PayPal or other payment processor so your clients can submit payments through a payment link included with the invoice.

All online accounting and project tracking services we reviewed can create invoices you can print, save as a PDF file or email to your clients. Accounting software also tracks overdue invoices and balances. While reviewing these services, we compared invoicing tools, project trackers and mobile platforms to help you make an informed choice on the best accounting system for your business.

When comparing accounting software, TopTenREVIEWS considered the following:

Invoicing & Billing

The best accounting software can easily create professional-looking, personalized invoices to help you get paid quickly and track payment information for tax purposes. Accounting programs provide invoicing tools that can configure sales tax, track clients' billing information, monitor balances and track overdue payments. You can create personalized invoices with your company logo with a choice of templates. Many of these services let you alter template themes, layouts and fonts. Using online services, you can also email invoices to clients directly through the software and save them as PDF files. The best companies also help you examine trends using helpful reports. Although most do not directly connect to your bank account, you can use them to track balances and monitor transactions.

Project Tracking

Top accounting software track projects, budgets, tasks, time and expenses to help you bill clients accurately and meet project goals. The most budget-friendly services also allow you to add users or permission-controlled visitors without charging additional fees. This allows you to collaborate with other project stakeholders online. The best accounting systems also allow collaborators to share files and attach files and notes to tasks and projects. For the most part, these services are not suited to track complex inventory scenarios. Though most will allow you to save common items that you sell, these online bookkeeping services are best for those who bill by time or project.

Mobility

Many entrepreneurs started their own businesses to alleviate the burden of going to the office. Mobility is crucial for giving business owners the freedom they want while providing the required level of professionalism. These services are hosted online, which means that they are compatible with PCs and Macs, as well as a variety of browsers. Therefore, you can log in from anywhere and access your account. The best and most modern online accounting also provide tools for mobile devices such as iPads, iPhones and Android phones. Some provide full access with any web-enabled device, whereas others provide mobile apps that can perform tasks such as logging expenses and time. These services offer a range of mobile tools, and we will explain each company's offering in our reviews.

The best accounting software should help you become more efficient and less burdened with tedious tasks. Most small business owners and freelancers report that these services reduce the amount of time they spend performing accounting tasks to just a few hours per month. More free time means that you can spend more time growing your business.

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Mac Hard Drive Recovery Review

Why Use Mac Hard Drive Recovery Software?

Few things in life are more stressful than potentially catastrophic data loss. Even with the proliferation of local and cloud-based backup solutions, complete protection of your digital data isn't always possible. Drive failure, physical damage and accidental user deletion all pose serious risks to the data on your hard drive. Mac users aren't immune to this type of technological heartbreak any more than PC users, and if your Mac drive is failing to boot or mount, or if you've lost irreplaceable files, you may find yourself in need of Mac hard drive recovery software.

Recovery software for Mac is a more economical alternative to pricey data recovery services and is often just as effective at recovering lost and deleted files. These applications scour the deepest parts of problem drives to recover missing files. While a successful recovery largely depends on the nature and severity of the data loss, Mac hard drive recovery software is a good place to start, particularly if you've experienced minor data loss, such as file deletion.

Mac recovery software runs the gamut from simple file recovery to comprehensive disk imaging and file reconstruction. Some of the best hard drive recovery software for Mac includes Data Rescue 3, R-Studio for Mac and Stellar Phoenix Mac Data Recovery. To learn more about Mac disk recovery and data-loss prevention, read our articles on Mac hard drive recovery software.

Mac Hard Drive Recovery Software: What to Look For

Choosing disk recovery software for Mac is a decision that you should not make arbitrarily. Carefully evaluating the effectiveness, functionality and usability of prospective programs can ensure a successfully recovery of your data. If you are in desperate need of Mac hard drive recovery software to retrieve lost files, here are the key items you should look for in an application.

Data Recovery

Effectiveness is unquestionably the most important factor to consider in recovery software for Mac systems. After all, the efficacy of an application means the difference between a successful recovery and disastrous data loss. Many applications provide a demo version that you can download to verify whether it can locate your missing files and what the chances of a full recovery are. You can typically preview the restored data, but you will need to purchase a license to download and restore the found files. While effectiveness is a crucial determinant, it's important to understand that file recovery is not possible in some cases. If your Mac hard drive has sustained severe physical damage or if you have inadvertently already written over the deleted files, there isn't any application that can recover your data.

Aside from efficacy, look for Mac hard drive recovery software that supports a wide range of devices, files and data-loss scenarios. For instance, top recovery applications for Mac recover deleted, lost and damaged files. Additionally, they can retrieve data from unmountable drives and Mac-compatible external devices such as media cards, FireWire drives and iPods. Certain recovery applications have specialized features for recovering different types of files, so make sure an application supports the file types you are trying to recover before you install it.

Recovery Features

Supplementary features can make the recovery process more efficient and easier to complete. Mac disk recovery applications should offer a file preview function that allows you to preview each found file before initiating the (sometimes lengthy) process of restoring those files. These applications should also provide different types of scans for various data-loss scenarios, such as a deleted files scan and a deep scan for problem drives.

Other useful features to look for include the ability to save recovery sessions and add custom file types. Scanning an entire hard drive can take several hours, so the option to save a scan allows you to access found files without redoing the entire scan. The option to add custom file types using a sample file can significantly increase an application's capacity to recover your files.

Although data recovery is complex and labor intensive, Mac hard drive recovery software shouldn't require a high level of tech savvy to use. The best applications are intuitive and straightforward, and allow average computer users to easily complete a scan and restore missing files.

Search & Recover Options

When you delete files from your Mac hard drive, the operating system strips the original file names. This means, with the exception of some unique cases, that most files recovered by Mac recovery applications have random files names. Thus, versatile search and recovery options are important to help you search through the hundreds – if not thousands – of files the software is able to restore.

Look for applications that offer various search filters that allow you to sift through restored files. For instance, you should be able to search by file type, file size and date. You should also be able to selectively restore individual files and perform batch recoveries.

Help & Support

Help and support is an important but often overlooked facet of recovery software for Mac. Given the complexities of data recovery, manufacturers of these applications should provide flexible and comprehensive support resources. These should include a product manual or knowledgebase that explains the product in detail, and tutorials that walk you through how to perform specific types of recoveries. Direct support should also be available to address specific technical issues, whether it is provided via email, telephone or an online ticket system.

Each application on our lineup of Mac hard drive recovery software manages to deliver each of these items with varying levels of success. Good recovery software for Mac provides rudimentary file recovery, but the best applications offer comprehensive file support and retrieval, are easy to use and walk you through every step of this complex, laborious process.

List Mac Hard Drive Recovery Review:

1.Data Rescue 3

2.R-Studio for Mac

3.Stellar Phoenix Mac Data Recovery

4.File Recovery For Mac

5.Remo Recover

6.Boomerang Data Recovery Software

7.Disk Doctors Mac Data Recovery

8.VirtualLab

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Learn Spanish Software Review

Why Use Learn Spanish Software?

There are many ways to learn Spanish. You could be born into a Spanish-speaking family and learn it from your mother and father. You could watch Spanish television and films until your brain imbibes it. You could take classes at a school or community center. Alternatively, you could learn the way that many language students now learn Spanish: with learn Spanish software. The role of Spanish programs that you access online or by computer is to free you to study at your convenience and according to the learning style that best fits your personality. To help you learn to speak Spanish, we share articles about learn Spanish software along with reviews of the best Spanish learning software: Fluenz Spanish, Pimsleur Spanish Unlimited and Tell Me More Spanish.Learn Spanish Software: What to Look For

Spanish courses are not all the same, and the right one for you might not be the right one for someone else because the products reflect a variety of pedagogical points of view. If you want to find the best program to learn Spanish, we suggest that you research learn Spanish products, as we do, by considering three things: features, ease of use, and help and support.

Features

Consider the instruction levels of the Spanish lessons. Do you require Spanish for beginners? If you are just trying to learn enough in order to support a vacation to a Spanish-speaking destination, then basic Spanish phrases might suffice. In such a case, you might not want to spend the extra money to purchase a product with more advanced lessons on how to speak Spanish. However, if you want to go beyond basic Spanish, then notice whether the product you are considering includes intermediate and advanced lesson modules.

Ease of Use

You could argue that ease of use is so subjective that it should be an insignificant rating criteria. However, when it comes to learning a language via software, ease of use is of paramount importance. Even though there are some individual differences in learning styles, it is possible to judge whether most people would consider a product easy to use. Examples of product aspects that contribute to ease of use include:

1.) Ability to turn music on or off depending on learning style    

2.) English subtitles

3.) Ability to adjust time between examples to accommodate different learning speeds

4.) Repeatable narration buttons in order to hear explanations as many times as necessary

5.) Slow pronunciations for each word, phrase and sentence

6.) Color coding of masculine and feminine nouns to boost recognition

7.) Personalized learning paths

8.) Personal progress tracking

Help & Support

As you narrow your Spanish language product choices, spend some time considering help and support. Is it obvious how to navigate the product screens and modules? If you are stuck, how quickly can you find help from within the program? If you encounter a problem that requires you to contact the publisher, how do you reach support, and when is support available to respond to your inquiry?

If you want to learn Spanish, you have established a worthy goal. You could watch Spanish films and television, but that might take a long time if you expect to become proficient by that method alone. You may have entertained the idea of attending a language class at the local community college, but your work schedule might conflict with class times. It sounds as though you are the perfect candidate to learn Spanish using instructional software. Learn Spanish software is cost effective and convenient in terms of how you want to schedule your time, and it allows you to pursue a highly individualized learning agenda.

Top software:

1.Fluenz Spanish

2.Pimsleur Spanish Unlimited

3.Tell Me More Spanish

4.Ouino Spanish Complete

5.Rosetta Stone Learn Spanish

6.Transparent Spanish Complete Edition

7.Learn to Speak Spanish

8.Broderbund Instant Immersion Spanish

9.Berlitz Spanish Premier

10.TeachMe! Spanish

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Don't Mac it Worse! What Not to Do When Your Hard Drive Crashes

Mac computers may be known for their reliability, but that doesn't mean that they're immune to hard disk and logical failure any more than their PC counterparts. A hard disk crash occurs when the physical components of your system's hard disk malfunction and fail to work properly. All hard drives eventually fail (some sooner than others) because they are mechanical devices and the parts wear out over time. To the contrary, a logical drive failure occurs when your machine's operating system fails. Logical hard drive failure is manifested in a variety of ways, such as failure to boot and corrupted drive partitions.

Before you begin the tedious process of Mac hard drive recovery, follow these important don'ts to avoid causing further damage to your drive.

Don't Install New Software – Installing new applications on a failing drive can obstruct any chance of future data recovery. This is particularly true if you're dealing with logical drive failure. In many cases, your data still exists on the drive, but the directory, or path, to access it is corrupted or missing. You run the risk of overwriting the data you want to recover and making it permanently irretrievable if you install any new applications.If you need to recover missing data from your drive and opt to use Mac disk recovery software, install it on a secondary drive, not on the drive from which you need to recover data.

Don't Run Non-Essential Applications – In a similar vein, only run applications that are essential for salvaging data from your drive. If your machine is showing symptoms of impending failure (freezing, slowing down, bad sectors, etc.), it's best to turn it off immediately. Extended use can also cause further damage to your drive and potentially limit your ability to access your data.

Don't Freeze It – Of all the creative ways out there that allege to repair failing drives, the so-called freeze myth seems to be the most widespread. This method purports that you can restore your hard drive to working condition by placing it in the freezer for several hours. The logic behind this assumes that because heat can cause the metal components of your drive to expand, freezing it can cause them to constrict and theoretically fit back together again.

The problem with this theory is that it's not proven to work. In fact, it can do more harm than good, causing condensation buildup on your platters and resulting in irreversible data loss. Although some people may claim this method has worked for them, these are unique exceptions to the rule. Likely, freezing the drive in these cases didn't help or harm the drive because there are myriad other factors in play.

Don't Tinker with the Drive – Whatever you do, do not fiddle with the drive. This (as with every other don't we've outlined) can cause further and perhaps irreversible damage. The mechanical parts of a hard drive are extremely delicate and sensitive to movement, temperature, dust and environmental contaminants. Thus, you should never open, tap or shake your hard drive.

Don't Procrastinate – If you suspect that your drive is headed towards the grave, don't put off cautionary measures to protect your data. The longer you wait to deal with the issue, the more you risk losing valuable data. On the other hand, you may become panic-stricken at the thought of losing all your important files when your drive starts to malfunction. Don't be too hasty about how to proceed. If you need to recover your data, use reliable Mac hard drive recovery software or a reputable data recovery service.

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How to Get Started in Post Production Audio

With the widespread availability of high quality audio production software at a low price point, now is a great time for musicians and would-be music producers to learn about music production. We'll give you some post-production audio tips and an overview of what you need to give your recordings the best production value with the equipment you have available. First, it's important to know the difference between the stages of audio recording, music production and post production. So what is music production?

Pre Production: It All Begins with a Song

A great recording requires a great song. You could apply all the best music production techniques and post-production finesse to a recording, but if the material is weak, all you'd have is a bad song that sounds great. The content is key, and all other aspects of music production serve only to capture and present the best possible rendition of a song.

Music producers can refine and arrange material prior to recording to help musicians flesh out a final version of a song. Some producers and musicians are more hands-on than others. Some musicians only provide the music for production and play their instruments. Others are involved in every stage of recording and post production – and many are producers in their own right. Whether you're a musician, producer or both, your production style will depend on your knowledge, experience and relationships with the artists you record.

Production: What You Need to Succeed

When it comes to production, the equipment's the limit. In other words, what you can do depends on what you have to work with. If you're just starting out, you'll need to assemble the basics:

The Bare Essentials

Computer with audio production software

Studio-quality headphones

USB microphone or a USB audio interface with XLR or line inputs

One or more high quality microphones with boom stands and cables

Recording space such as a room or basement

Musicians and their instruments

Other Basic Equipment

USB midi interface and midi controller

Additional sets of studio-quality headphones OR

Two monitors with a wide frequency-response range (at least 60Hz -– 20kHz) AND

An amplifier to run the speakers and connect them to your computer

A mixer with four (or more) channels

Vocal microphone with stand and pop filter

Additional instrument microphones and stands

Soundproofing materials

Once you have the necessary equipment, you can begin to record. The best way to learn how to record audio is by doing it. Try different mic configurations, filters, settings, effects and environments to get the sound that you and the artists want.

Post Production: All Together Now

Post production covers everything that happens after you've recorded all the tracks for a song. For the purpose of this discussion, let's say that you've recorded a rock song with drums, bass, guitar and vocals.

Mixing is the first step. Start by setting the volume and panning for each track, and cut out any parts of a track that are silent, such as pauses between the verse and chorus on a vocal track. Then route all the tracks for each instrument to a bus track. That way, you can change the volume, panning and effects for the instruments all at once.

Mixing Drums

Drums are often the most time-consuming instrument to mix. If you record drums to a single stereo track, they are much easier to mix but don't sound as crisp as they do when you record each element of the drum kit on its own track. Pan the drums to fill the stereo field from left to right, with the kick drum in the center, the snare and high hat on the left, the ride cymbal on the right, and the toms from right to left according to their placement on the kit, with the floor tom the farthest to the right. They should sound like you're listening to them in the drummer's seat. Compression is an invaluable tool for mixing drums.

Mixing Bass

Bass can be the most difficult instrument to mix. EQ is the best tool for the job. Cut out any muddy frequencies to get a sound with low-end presence and low-midrange punch. Bass sounds best as a mono instrument panned to a specific spot in the stereo field – generally near the center, right on top of the kick drum.

Mixing Guitars

You have a lot of freedom mixing guitars. You can pan them anywhere and add innumerable effects. One tip for getting an interesting guitar sound is to record two separate takes of guitar and pan one to the left and the other to the right. This gives the sense of a wide stereo field, and the small differences between the takes add a compelling, dynamic effect to the overall sound.

Mixing Vocals

You have a lot of freedom to mix vocals as well. You can add effects while recording or record dry and add effects such as reverb in post. EQ and compression are useful tools for mixing vocals.

Mixing & Mastering

Once you've adjusted each instrument individually, the next step is to combine all the elements into a coherent song. Start by adjusting the volume of the instruments relative to each other. Use the panning controls to separate the instruments and give them their own places within the stereo field. Apply effects such as reverb and compression to fine- tune the sound of the song as a whole. When you and the artists are satisfied with the mix, you have a finalized version of the song.

The final step in post production is mastering, which we won't go into here. Mastering is its own art. It's a bit like mixing, but mixing a series of songs rather than instruments within a song. Mastering is about creating cohesion – i.e., consistent, similar volume levels – between all the songs on an album.

Summary

You can visit our audio production software review site to learn more about the variety of music software that is available and to compare audio production software to find the program that will best suit your music production style and goals.

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Can Encrypted Email Replace Faxing?

Many people praised the dawn of email. Before email, companies had to send snail mail, pay a carrier or hand deliver documents. The internet, once it moved out of the basements of geekdom, changed the entire landscape of business as we knew it. However, a few industries such as health care, legal and finance still rely on fax technology for secure transfers.

Why fax? Because fax transmissions over phone lines are considered more secure than standard email. That is changing. Many large, multi-location companies already employ secure online fax and or encrypted email services. In addition, many small companies have never owned a fax machine and leaped straight to using an online fax service. Fax services have the advantage of being able to send documents to standard fax machines, whereas secure email services do not. However, compliance and regulatory industries are now accepting certain methods of transmission, even for Personally Identifying Information (PII) and information that must be transmitted in a HIPPA-compliant manner by email or internet.

Some people even argue that encrypted emails are more secure than standard fax transmissions. Here are few reasons:

1. Documents do not sit on the fax machine available to peering eyes before the recipient picks up the papers.

2. Items do not have to be printed before transmission. Sensitive information waiting at a printer is vulnerable.

3. Secure emails go only to the targeted recipient, and the sender can employ a variety of identification methods before they are allowed to view it.

4. Messages can be archived and secured digitally, which is easier and more affordable than trying to secure traditional file cabinets.

5. Encrypted emails are difficult to lose. You might misplace a fax or physical folder, but it is difficult to lose an electronic file that is redundantly stored.

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Are Your Kids Safe on Facebook?

If you have paid attention to the news lately, you probably have heard reports about the dangers kids face while using the internet, including cyberbullies, sexting and predators. Your kids are using social media a lot and are vulnerable to these dangers and more. They may even be experiencing some of them right now, but your son may be too embarrassed or afraid to tell you he is being cyberbullied, or your daughter may have friends who have no idea why they shouldn't post and tag her in every photo they think is funny. Whether your kids are experienced social media users or not, here are some things you can do as a parent to help keep your kids safe while they use social media like Facebook.

Set Clear Rules

You don't need to draft a 300-page constitution to govern your family's use of the internet, but setting some clear, easy-to-follow rules that everyone can abide by is a step in the right direction. Make sure you seek input from your kids and partner before laying down the law, or they may be more inclined to be sneaky or resentful.

Don't make the rules too complex – keep it simple. For example, "Billy and Susan can use Facebook for one hour a day at home after their chores are done" is an example of giving concrete guidelines about what is required to use Facebook and for how long. You may even want to print out the agreed upon rules and post them where everyone can see and be reminded.

Parental Controls

Even after you set clear rules, you still don't know what your child is dealing with in the social media jungle. Most likely, you never told your parents everything that went on in your young life, and your kids won't tell you everything, either. Facebook parental control software can help you discover how your kids are spending their time online.

The best parental controls don't turn you into a spy, but help you keep tabs on your child's online activities and alert you to potential threats to their reputation, safety and general well being. While these tools are valuable and give you insight into your child's life, remember it is up to you to respect their privacy and not become paranoid or meddle too much.

 Adjust Facebook Settings

Many settings can be adjusted within Facebook itself to help keep your kids safer. The first thing you can do is to make sure their password is not a common word or something easily discovered on their Facebook profile. A secure password is only the first step to having a safer Facebook experience.

You can also disable certain features and adjust all privacy settings to "Friends Only." This helps keep strangers from looking and finding information about your child. You can also disable the chat function to reduce exposure to unsolicited chats. Take the time to learn how Facebook or your child's other favorite social media works. The more understanding you gain, the easier it will be to know how to adjust settings. Google can be an invaluable tool in figuring out exactly how to change settings.

Open Discussion

While many proclaim only gloom and doom about the internet and social media, it's not all bad. People can advocate for good causes online, and since so many people connect on Facebook, it is easy to communicate and have fun. Yes, there are things out there that make social media potentially dangerous, but that is where talking with your kids comes into play.

Don't be afraid to sit down with your children and discuss what they might face and how they can protect themselves as they venture into the unknowns of cyberspace. This is not as hard as it seems, you just have to open your mouth. The hardest part of an open discussion is for you as a parent is to be quiet and listen to what your kids have to say. It may take some practice, but try not to make snap judgments or discipline. Your kid is growing up, and if you are able to keep your relationship open, they will be more likely to come to you when they have a serious problem.

Facebook and social media are fun, valuable tools that can make a lot of good things happen. But as with all technology, you need to be smart and safe while you use it. Your desire to keep your children safe while they are online is commendable, and getting involved in their lives now is the key to helping them be safe and street smart online. Facebook monitoring software is just one of the tools available to help protect them. Remember that you are growing with your kids. If you teach them what to look out for and are respectful of their privacy, they will be able to grow up safer and have more trust in you, their parent.

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Best Antivirus Software for Windows 7

We know that the security built in to Microsoft Windows 7 is better than it is in Windows XP and not as good as it is for Windows 8. We also know that Microsoft's motive to include increasingly better security in Windows operating systems is to provide a base-level of protection for naïve users who try to get by without installing third-party security software. If the topic of cyber security interests you, we invite you to read more articles about antivirus software. Most XP users will upgrade to Windows 7 rather than Windows 8. Let's focus on the best: Bitdefender, Kaspersky and Norton. For more information we invite you to read articles about antivirus software for Windows 7.Antivirus for Windows 7 Software: What to Look For

Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, Kaspersky Anti-Virus and Norton AntiVirus do what antivirus products are supposed to do: protect your computer from malware attacks. Because no security software is perfect, they can also detect and disable infiltrations. If you are tempted to use the security native to Windows 7 only, please realize that it always loses to Bitdefender, Kaspersky and Norton in third-party tests. How products perform in objective tests is one of the most important things to consider when you look for antivirus for Windows 7 software. Two other important considerations are the software's features and the company's help and support. Let's consider these buying criteria a little more closely.

Performance

AV-Test, a German security software testing lab, looks at performance in terms of software's ability to defend against malware, detect and eliminate existing infections, and its usability. During summer 2012 tests, AV-Test results show that Norton AntiVirus is better than Bitdefender Antivirus Plus and Kaspersky Anti-Virus in terms of usability. However, Norton did not do as well as Bitdefender or Kaspersky at repairing pre-existing infections. Bitdefender and Kaspersky both beat Norton in tests designed to measure security software's ability to protect computers from malware infiltration. 

Features

While you examine the features of antivirus for Windows 7 software, focus on the essential. Is it easy to install and use? Does it block malware that attempts to attack via web browsing, instant messaging, email and USB thumb drives? Can you schedule scans to run during times when you are not using the computer? All these questions relate to key features.

Help & Support

All three of our top recommendations for antivirus software for Windows 7 provide support via live chat, telephone and email. These vendors understand the importance of providing excellent help and support, and they make appropriate investments to maintain good reputations in this area. Some lesser competitors do not provide all three methods of support.

Don't settle for the security native to Windows 7. Yes, it is better than XP's security, but that isn't saying much. Even though Microsoft improved security in Windows 7, it did so only to better protect people who refuse to spend money on third-party virus protection for Windows 7. Bitdefender, Kaspersky and Norton are all excellent for Windows 7 internet security. Buy one and don't look back.

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