If you have an idea and want advice, please message me (if you're in a hurry you may want to email me at james.nielson@humber.ca as I don't like using Blackboard on my phone).
I don't do anything creative on my phone, so I am hopeless for advice about smartphone apps, but I'm sure there must be many powerful ones. Google or ask AI.
Personally, I use Photoshop and other tools in Adobe Creative Suite for most of what I do in my slides. Most Humber students don't get free access to that, as far as I can tell.
Chatbots are sometimes able to do what you want and come close enough to what you had in mind to be satisfactory. It's also worth asking chatbots what tools you should use. |I want to edit an image of ____ and change ____ to ______. What free tools can I use?" The better your prompts are, the better the results will likelybe.
I aksed ChatGPT myself to get started here. I haven't had a chance to edit this or review any of it, but I'll post it here in case it is helpful. I've asked it to focus on Windows programs, smartphone apps, and online platforms.
The first step you may need to take is getting media downloaded as files you can work with. ("Ripping")
I use a subscription Windows app (there is a limited free version) called 4K video downloader to rip video files from YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, and Facebook. It says it works with Soundcloud. Often there are also browser plugins that can help, but I can't vouch for any of them.
I rip instagram posts with Snapinsta.
Many images on web pages, and some social media (eg Facebook) you can download in Windows by just right-clicking and choosing Save image as. I use Gadwin Print Screen in Windows to capture images that aren't easily downloadable from a web page. This is a free screenshot app. I sometimes use naughty file sharing services like Piratebay and Soulseek. Shhh.
Here's what ChatGPT suggested:
The distinction to keep in mind is:
I checked current documentation and product pages; I haven’t tested each tool against individual services.
Downloading video and extracting its audio
| Tool | Platforms | Cost | What it does—and its limitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stacher | Windows | Free core downloader; optional premium features | A graphical interface for yt-dlp: paste a link and choose video or audio. My first choice for avoiding command-line work. Site compatibility depends on yt-dlp and sometimes requires updates. |
| yt-dlp | Windows; other desktop systems | Free, open source | Powerful downloader supporting thousands of sites, playlists and audio extraction. More technical; FFmpeg is needed for operations such as merging separate audio/video streams and converting to MP3. A supported-site listing doesn’t guarantee every link will work. |
| 4K Video Downloader Plus | Windows; separate Android app | Limited free version; paid annual and lifetime options | An approachable commercial alternative for YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok, SoundCloud and other sites. Saves video or extracts audio as MP3, M4A or OGG. Free use has quantity limits. |
| YTDLnis | Android | Free, open source | A phone-friendly interface to yt-dlp for downloading video or audio. Obtain it through the official website or linked GitHub releases. |
| Cobalt | Web, including phone browsers | Free | A comparatively uncluttered paste-a-link downloader. Worth trying for supported social-media links, but service availability varies by instance and over time. I would keep it as a convenient extra rather than rely on it as the sole downloader. |
Saving Instagram pictures, carousels and Reels
| Tool | Platforms | Cost | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instaloader | Windows, through a command-line/Python setup | Free, open source | Downloads Instagram photos, videos, captions and other metadata; useful for collecting multiple posts. More technical than a paste-a-link website. Login requirements, rate limits and Instagram challenges can interrupt downloads. It remains actively maintained. |
| Snapinsta | Web; Windows and phone browsers | Advertised as free | Advertises downloads of public photos, carousels, videos and Reels by pasted link. A provisional option: I verified its advertised functions, not download reliability or security. Numerous similarly named sites exist; the link here is the specific site I checked. |
| Screen recording or screenshots | Windows; iPhone; Android | Free | A practical fallback for a short excerpt or image when downloading fails. Captures the displayed version rather than the original uploaded file. Phone apps can restrict recording. |
One outdated recommendation to avoid: 4K Stogram has been discontinued, and its developer no longer provides fixes or support.
Recording sound or video as it plays
| Tool | Platforms | Cost | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audacity | Windows | Free | Record the computer’s playback directly, then trim, edit and export the recording. Uses Windows WASAPI loopback, rather than recording the speakers through a microphone. It may capture notification sounds too. |
| OBS Studio | Windows | Free, open source | Record an application window or screen with its sound. Windows versions support application-specific audio capture, useful for excluding unrelated programs’ sounds. |
| iPhone Screen Recording | iPhone | Included | Convenient for short audiovisual excerpts, saved as video in Photos. Some apps prevent recording their content or audio. |
| Android Screen Recorder | Android; options vary by device | Usually included | Records the screen, with audio options on supported devices. Useful for short excerpts; available settings depend on the phone. |
For your particular audio-remix purpose, Audacity is probably the most useful addition. Its basic Windows setup is:
That records digital playback internally. Compatibility still depends on the application and its playback restrictions.
Spotify and similar music services: watch what “downloader” means
Spotify’s own offline-download feature is for listening within Spotify; it doesn’t supply an ordinary MP3 to import into an editor.
spotDL is a free tool worth knowing about, but its name can mislead: it reads Spotify song or playlist information, finds matching recordings on YouTube, and downloads those. It does not extract Spotify’s audio stream. Consequently, inspect the result for live versions, remasters, clean edits or incorrect matches. It is more technical than Stacher.
For recording playback yourself, use the Audacity or OBS routes above where supported. I wouldn’t assume a commercial “Spotify-to-MP3” subscription offers something uniquely necessary.
Finding downloadable audio and video elsewhere
| Source | What you can obtain | Cost / qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Bandcamp | Actual music files, including MP3, WAV and FLAC | Usually purchased; prices depend on the release. A good source when you want a clean file rather than a recording of playback. |
| SoundCloud | Creator-enabled downloads | Available where the uploader has enabled the platform’s download functionality. |
| Internet Archive | Music, speech, radio, films and miscellaneous historical media | Many items have direct file downloads. Especially promising for historical-media collage; available formats vary by item. |
| Free Music Archive | Downloadable independent music | Free downloads with track-specific licences. If remixing is the objective, check the individual licence: some restrict adaptations. |
My practical shortlist for you: Stacher + Audacity + OBS, with Instaloader if Instagram collecting becomes a regular activity. Keep downloaded audio in its original format—or recordings in WAV—while editing; convert to MP3 when you need the final smaller file.
For a free starter toolkit, I’d shortlist BandLab for audio, Clipchamp or VN for video, and Photopea for images. Each lets you import existing material and make the editing decisions yourself.
I’ve concentrated on tools for cutting, layering, rearranging and transforming media. Some include AI assistance—particularly for separating vocals or removing backgrounds—but you remain in control of the composition.
Costs and restrictions were checked against current official pages. Where prices depend on country, app store or account, I’ve indicated the payment model rather than given a potentially misleading Canadian price. ★ marks my strongest starting choices. Ease ratings are my assessment.
Audio: mashups, sampling and sound collage
| Tool | Platforms relevant to you | What you can do with other people’s media | Cost and practical limitations | Ease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ BandLab | Web; iPhone; Android | Import recordings onto separate tracks; cut, loop, layer and add effects. Its Sampler lets you turn snippets into playable sounds. A good starting point for combining a speech, drum loop and fragments of songs. | Free core studio, with paid memberships for extras. Some sounds and advanced functions require payment. | Easy–moderate |
| ★ Audacity | Windows | Precisely cut and rearrange recordings; combine multiple tracks; change speed or pitch; reverse sounds and apply effects. Especially useful for spoken-word collage and carefully constructed audio mashups. | Completely free and open source. More manual work than a DJ app when matching songs’ beats. No official smartphone version. | Moderate |
| Mixxx | Windows | Mix songs using virtual DJ decks, synchronise beats, loop sections, alter key and apply effects. Particularly suitable for experimenting with two songs playing together. | Completely free and open source. Its workflow centres on performing a mix rather than assembling clips on an editing timeline. | Moderate |
| ★ Koala Sampler | iPhone; Android; also Windows | Load snippets of recordings—or extract sound from video—then chop, pitch, reverse and play them on pads to build a new piece. Particularly appealing for hands-on sampling. | Inexpensive one-time purchase, with optional paid additions. The Samurai upgrade adds useful remix functions, including time-stretching and automatic chopping. Check your platform’s current price. | Easy–moderate |
| Moises | Web; Windows; iPhone; Android | Separate a recording into components called stems, such as vocals, bass and drums. Export those components to another editor to build a mashup. | Free tier: five uploads per month, each up to five minutes. Paid subscriptions expand access. Think of it primarily as a tool for taking songs apart before recombining them elsewhere. | Easy |
BandLab also has a Splitter that separates recordings and sends the resulting parts directly into its studio, making it worth trying before subscribing to a separate stem-separation service. Separation quality depends on the recording.
Video: found-footage montage, new soundtracks and combinations of sources
| Tool | Platforms relevant to you | What it is particularly useful for | Cost and practical limitations | Ease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Clipchamp | Windows; web on a computer | Assemble excerpts from different videos, add images and titles, and combine them with a new soundtrack. My first suggestion for straightforward Windows editing. | Free exports up to 1080p without watermarks. Premium assets or features can prevent export until you upgrade or remove them. | Easy |
| ★ VN | iPhone; Android; also Windows | Combine video and audio layers, trim clips, add transitions, change speed and animate elements with keyframes. A strong phone-first option. | Its core editor is advertised as free, with no watermark. Optional purchases/features may differ by platform. | Easy–moderate |
| Shotcut | Windows | Build montages, overlay videos, use green-screen effects, blend layers and apply experimental visual filters. | Completely free and open source. More to learn than Clipchamp, but useful when you want more control without subscribing. | Moderate |
| DaVinci Resolve | Windows | Detailed video editing, compositing, sound editing, colour manipulation and more elaborate audiovisual remixes. | Substantial free version. Studio is listed at US$295. The most demanding option here in learning time and computer resources; I would start elsewhere for quick projects. | Advanced |
| CapCut | Windows; web; iPhone; Android | Fast editing with effects, overlays, templates and tools geared towards short videos. | Free tier plus subscriptions. Export restrictions vary with features, resolution and platform; some tools can be previewed free but require Pro to export. | Easy–moderate |
| Kapwing | Web; best on a computer | Combine clips, stills, text, subtitles and sound in one browser workspace. Useful for captioned mashups and collaborative projects. | Limited free tier with watermarked exports and a 250 MB upload limit per file. A paid subscription is more practical for regular use. | Easy |
Images: photomontage, collage, memes and visual appropriation
For combining sources, look for layers, selections and masks: these let you place elements from different pictures together and control which parts remain visible.
| Tool | Platforms relevant to you | What it is particularly useful for | Cost and practical limitations | Ease |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Photopea | Web; best on a computer | Cut figures out of images, combine backgrounds and objects, blend layers, add text and build detailed photomontages. A particularly good fit for Dada-style image combinations. | Free core editor, supported by advertising; optional paid access. Includes layers, masks and Photoshop-style tools. | Moderate |
| GIMP | Windows | Detailed image manipulation and collage using selections, layers, masks and effects. A good choice for working locally with substantial projects. | Completely free and open source. More learning required than a template-based collage app. | Moderate–advanced |
| Paint.NET | Windows | Simpler image combinations, text, effects and layering. Worth considering if Photopea or GIMP feels unnecessarily elaborate. | Free direct download; the Microsoft Store edition is paid. Supports layers and blending modes. | Easy–moderate |
| ★ Canva | Web; Windows; iPhone; Android | Quickly combine uploaded pictures, text and graphics into collages, posters, memes or short videos. Particularly convenient for assembling and presenting a remix. | Useful free tier; paid subscriptions. Background removal and various advanced editing features require Pro. Less precise than Photopea for intricate photomontage. | Easy |
| Picsart | Web; iPhone; Android | Phone-friendly image remixing with cutouts, collages, stickers, text and effects. | Free tier plus subscriptions. Advanced tools and premium content are restricted; availability varies between web and mobile. | Easy |
| Pixlr | Web; iPhone; Android | Quick image edits, collages and effects; its browser Editor offers a more detailed workspace. | Limited free tier; low-cost Plus subscription removes ads and unlocks unlimited saves. Free saving limits make Photopea the more attractive starting point for extensive experimentation. | Easy–moderate |
My suggested starting combinations:
One practical consideration: these tools generally work best with actual media files—MP3, WAV, MP4, JPG and so on. Access to a song or film through a streaming subscription does not necessarily provide an editable file.