eWord Solutions recommends the following software programs and resource materials for your dictation and transcription projects.

Audacity Audio Recorder and Editor (Audacity)

Audacity is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for Mac OS X, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.
http://www.audacity.sourceforge.net/download/

Switch Audio File Converter (NCH Software)

Switch can convert numerous audio file formats to mp3 and wav for free. It is light and easy to use. Just add the files you want to convert to the list, select the format you want to use, and then click the convert button. Converts a variety of audio file formats to mp3 or wav such as: wav, mp3, mp2, mpga, m4a, ogg, avi, mid, flac, aac, wma, dct, au, aiff, ogg, raw, msv, dvf, vox, cda, atrac, gsm, dss, sri, shn, dss, msv, wmv. When you download Switch Audio File Converter you receive a 14-day trial plus added features.
http://www.nch.com.au/switch/switchsetup.exe

VLC Media Player (VideoLAN)

VLC media player is a highly portable multimedia player and multimedia framework capable of reading most audio and video formats (MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, DivX, MPEG-1, mp3, ogg, aac ...) as well as DVDs, Audio CDs VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Winamp (Nullsoft)

Winamp is a free multimedia player. It supports numerous audio and video formats. It also plays streamed video and audio content, live and recorded, authored worldwide. It has an extremely customizable media library, and allows you to rip and burn your favorite music CDs. Winamp has thousands of skins and plugins that allow you to change the look-and-feel of the player, as well as add new features.
http://www.winamp.com/player/

DFX Audio Enhancer for Winamp (FXSound.com)

Give your digital audio files more vibrancy with DFX audio enhancement for Winamp. DFX enhances your listening experience by improving the sound quality of mp3, Internet radio, Windows Media and other audio files. Renew stereo depth, add 3D surround sound, restore sound clarity, boost your audio levels, and produce deeper, richer bass sounds. DFX also features optimization for headphones usage, audio spectrum analyzer, finely-tuned music presets, powerful music and speech audio modes, and many free stylish skins. With DFX you can transform the sound of your PC into that of an expensive stereo system placed in a perfectly designed listening environment.
www.fxsound.com/dfx/pages/download/