Xilisoft Audio Converter Pro: Complete Review and User Guide

Xilisoft Audio Converter Pro: Complete Review and User GuideXilisoft Audio Converter Pro is a desktop application designed for converting, editing, and managing audio files across a wide range of formats. This review and user guide covers features, performance, format support, practical workflows, tips, troubleshooting, and whether the software is a good fit for different user types.

What Xilisoft Audio Converter Pro does

Xilisoft Audio Converter Pro converts audio files between formats (MP3, WAV, AAC, FLAC, WMA, OGG, M4A, and more). It also includes basic editing and batch processing capabilities, profile presets for devices, and simple audio extraction from video files. The app targets users who need a straightforward Windows (and sometimes macOS) tool for everyday audio format tasks without using complex DAWs or command-line tools.

Key features

Wide format support: imports and exports common lossy and lossless formats (MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, OGG, WMA, M4A, APE, etc.).
Batch conversion: convert many files at once with a single command.
Presets and profiles: built-in presets for common devices and bitrate/sample-rate options to simplify quality/size trade-offs.
Audio extraction from video: rip audio tracks from video files and save them as standalone audio files.
Basic editing: trim, merge, and apply simple fade-in/fade-out effects.
Preview and metadata editing: listen to files before converting and edit ID3 tags (title, artist, album, etc.).
Multi-core support: uses multiple CPU cores for faster batch processing on modern machines.
User-friendly interface: clean layout aimed at non-technical users.

Installation and system requirements

Platforms: Historically available for Windows and occasionally macOS; check the current Xilisoft site for updated OS support.
Typical system requirements: a modern multi-core CPU, at least 2 GB RAM, and several hundred MB of disk space for installation. Conversion speed scales with CPU power and disk I/O.

User interface overview

On launch you’ll typically see:

File list pane — add files or folders for conversion.
Profile/output pane — choose output format or device preset.
Conversion settings — bitrate, sample rate, channels, encoder options.
Editing tools — trim/merge buttons and simple effect toggles.
Output folder/options — where converted files will be saved.
Start/Stop controls and a progress/status bar.

The workflow is linear: add files → choose profile/settings → optionally edit/adjust metadata → start conversion.

Step-by-step: basic conversion

Open the app.
Click “Add File(s)” or drag files into the file list.
Select one or multiple files in the list.
In the profile/output dropdown, choose a target format (e.g., MP3 — 192 kbps, 44.1 kHz).
(Optional) Click Edit to trim or merge tracks, or to change metadata.
Choose an output folder.
Click “Convert” (or “Start”) and monitor progress in the status bar.
When finished, open the output folder to confirm converted files.

Step-by-step: extracting audio from video

Add a video file to the file list.
Choose an audio profile (e.g., AAC or MP3).
Optionally set bitrate/sample rate for the extracted audio.
Start conversion — the program will decode the video’s audio stream and save it as a separate file.

Editing basics: trimming, merging, and fading

Trimming: open the built-in editor, set start/end points, and apply — useful for removing silence or cutting long recordings.
Merging: select multiple files and choose “Merge” (or similar) to combine them into a single output file — good for audiobooks or playlists.
Fade effects: apply fade-in/out in the editor for smoother transitions.

Metadata and batch tagging

Edit ID3 tags for MP3s and equivalent metadata for other formats.
Batch apply album/artist/genre across selected files to ensure consistent library organization.
Some versions provide automatic tag lookup — availability varies by release.

Performance and quality

Audio quality depends on chosen codecs/bitrates. Lossless formats (FLAC, WAV) preserve original audio; lossy (MP3, AAC) reduce file size with quality loss depending on bitrate.
Multi-core encoding and hardware acceleration (if available) speed up large batch jobs.
For critical quality work, use lossless formats for editing and only export to lossy formats for distribution.

Pros and cons

Pros	Cons
Simple, user-friendly interface	Lacks advanced editing features of DAWs
Wide format support	Some competitors offer better audio restoration tools
Batch processing and presets	UI and features vary by version; updates inconsistent
Audio extraction from video	Occasional issues with obscure codecs or DRM-protected files
Metadata editing	Limited advanced tagging/auto-fetching in some builds

Common issues and troubleshooting

No sound after conversion: check output codec settings (sample rate/channels) and play in a compatible player.
Unsupported codec error: source file may use a proprietary codec or be DRM-protected; try converting using VLC or re-encoding the file in a different tool first.
Slow conversion: enable multi-core support if available, close other CPU-heavy apps, or reduce simultaneous conversions.
Incorrect metadata: re-open tag editor and save; use a dedicated tagger for complex batches.

Alternatives to consider

Free/lightweight: Audacity (free, open-source — editing-focused), fre:ac (free converter).
Advanced: Adobe Audition, Reaper (editing, restoration, pro workflows).
Simple converters: Any Audio Converter, Format Factory.

Who should use Xilisoft Audio Converter Pro?

Casual users who need a straightforward, GUI-based converter.
People converting music collections between common formats.
Users extracting audio from videos for podcasts or mobile playback.
Not ideal for audio professionals needing multitrack editing, noise reduction, or mastering tools.

Tips and best practices

Keep originals: always keep source files until you confirm converted outputs are correct.
Use lossless formats for archiving master copies.
For podcasting or voice work, use a higher bitrate or lossless during editing, then export a compressed file for distribution.
Test settings on a short file to confirm quality before batch converting large libraries.

Licensing and price

Xilisoft historically offers trial and paid versions; the trial may limit features or add watermarks. Check the vendor site for the current pricing, licensing model, and any upgrade paths.

Final verdict

Xilisoft Audio Converter Pro is a competent, user-friendly tool for everyday audio conversion, extraction, and basic editing. It’s best suited for casual users and small-scale batch tasks. Pros include format support and simplicity; cons are limited advanced editing and variable feature sets across versions. For most non-professional needs, it’s a solid choice; audio professionals may prefer DAWs or more specialized tools.