Calling MP3 Music Suite a suite is, to be blunt, a bit of a deception. Calling it four programs bunged onto a CD is far closer to the mark. For a suite, by its very nature, hints at some glue to hold everything together. In this case though, there's not even a menu. When you put the CD in your drive, it simply pops up with an explorer window offering four executables and four PDF files outlining the rules. A poor start.

Fortunately, things improve. The four programs that make up this jumble are, in fact, really quite capable on the whole, and while they lack the spit and polish of a Nero-esque package, there's quite a lot to admire.

Starting with MP3 to WAV Converter, which is a useful app that pretty much does exactly what it says. Once installed, all you need do is right click on an MP3 file, and select the Convert to WAV option. The program then gets to work, and will convert a single MP3 song to a WAV file in a matter of a few seconds. However, its tricks don't end there. You also have the option to convert to and from MP3 and WMA, and the options menu allows you to vary the quality and conversion rate of the finished file. A simple tool, then, that's undeniably useful.

Next up is the MP3 CD Burner, which got off to a bad start on our machine by failing to recognise our CD burner. A quick trip to the update page fortunately sorted things out. As for the utility itself, it's not the greatest burning package out there, but it does its job well enough. It happily compiles both audio CDs and MP3 CDs, and includes ripping tools, will search your PC for songs and compile them into lists, import pre-compiled playlists and also has an option for CD label creation. However, the latter is a tease, as it produces a pop up window plugging Acoustica's own CD and DVD label making software rather than launching directly into an app.

Fortunately, CD/DVD Label Maker is the next program in the package. You can choose to follow the in-built wizard or make your own way through the program, and either way it's not too tricky to come up with something half decent. It supports audio CDs, jewel cases, DVD cases and DVDs, along with mini and pocket audio CDs. There are plenty of designs included, although you might be better off importing your own graphics. Either way, it's simple enough to do, and plenty of label types are supported for when it comes to printing off the finished product.

Finally, MP3 Audio Mixer allows you to easily edit your music files. You can record, mix and overdub across many simultaneous tracks, and apply numerous effects. Again, you'd be hard pushed to call this a first-rate program, but it's nonetheless an accomplished tool, albeit one with a bit of a learning curve.

If you're wondering where you've heard of some of these before, individually Acoustica has enjoyed success with them all via the shareware scene. In fact, demos of all of them are available on the Acoustica Web site. Still, MP3 Music Suite can be picked up for £30, and for that you're getting some good applications that all do what they're supposed to with very little fuss. And while there are no frills about the presentation, and not even the merest hint of an instruction leaflet, you do get good value for money.

It has to be said that this is hardly a suite in the true sense of the word, but you do get four useful programs in a well priced package.