Editing audio is a skill that takes years to master. Fortunately, the best audio editing software can help you get there faster.
Audio editing involves rearranging and tweaking the content of an audio file. You might want to remove or add a piece of audio to your recording, or change the volume of a specific part in your song.
But before you do any of that, you need to get your hands on some good software first.
The best audio editing software can be used for everything from simple tasks like removing background noise from a video to sophisticated editing techniques like multi-channel mixing and complex effects chains.
If you’re looking for free options, check out our list of the best free DAWs for 2021 below.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the best options available today.
Best Audio Editing Software
What Are Audio Editing Software
Mixing tracks is not a tough job. However, when you are mixing multiple tracks and you want to do it in an effective way then it becomes difficult. In such situations, the best software can help you out to make your work easy and simple.
There are several audio editing software available in the market which offer different features and options to their users. Some of these software come with advanced features that allow users to create professional quality audio files from their recordings.
If you are looking for a software that will provide all the required functionality then I would recommend Adobe Audition CC 2018 which is a powerful tool for editing and mixing audio files.
Best Audio Editing Software – Introduction
Hi, this is Rick Blue and I will be your guide in this new world of audio editing. I am very excited about this new course – Best Audio Editing Software – Introduction.
In this first lesson, we’ll talk about the various types of audio editing software, from the simplest to the most complex. Next, we’ll discuss what you need to know to make a good decision about which one will best meet your needs.
Finally, we’ll look at some of the hardware that you might need for your audio editing needs. I have been using audio editing software for almost 30 years now, so I have seen many changes in this field.
In fact, there was no such thing as an “audio editor” when I started out. We had to do everything ourselves by hand.
Nowadays, with the help of computers and high-quality recording equipment, it has become possible to record music in a studio and then edit it with special software on a computer. The first step in getting into audio editing is understanding the different types of programs out there and what they can do for you.
There are many different types of programs available for your needs:
What is the Best Audio Editing Software?
There are hundreds of audio editing software products on the market, and it can be hard to decide which one is best for your needs. Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor that has been around for more than two decades.
It works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It’s a great tool to have if you’re just getting started with audio editing because it’s easy to use, but still has a lot of features you can explore as you get more comfortable with the software.
WavePad is another free option that works on Windows, Mac, and Android. This program works with a variety of file formats, including wav (multiple variations), mp3, vox, gsm, wma, au, AIF, and real audio.
Adobe Audition is a fully equipped digital audio workstation that works on both PCs and Macs. The software includes multitrack mixing capabilities and extensive effects options such as reverb and delay.
While this program does have an extensive feature set, it also has an extensive price tag attached — it costs $20 per month for a single app license or $52 per month for all Adobe apps. Pro Tools is the industry standard digital audio workstation (DAW).
This program works on both Windows and Mac computers
1. Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition CC is a professional audio workstation, used to create, mix, and design sound effects. Adobe Audition 3.0 was released on November 8, 2007.
It has become a foundational tool for audio professionals and enthusiasts alike with its streamlined workflow, multi-track editing and numerous effects (including VST). Adobe Audition CC 2015 was released in June 2015.
It includes fixes to the previous version of Audition and adds new features such as numerous effects (including plugins), enhanced spectral editing, multitrack comping, and hundreds of personalization options. Adobe Audition CC 2017 was released in November 2016.
It adds new features to an already full list including the addition of automatic speech alignment that can automatically sync dialogue from multiple sources or video tracks as well as enhanced noise reduction effects. Adobe Audition CC 2018 was released in June 2017 and it contains updates to the Essential Sound Panel, Spectral Frequency Display, Preview Editor, and more.
Adobe Audition is free and safe to download. Adobe Audition latest version: Professional audio editor and post-production suite.
Adobe Audition started life as a simple audio editor called Cool Edit Pro until Adobe saw that th…
Features
Adobe Audition is a comprehensive toolset that includes multi-track, waveform, and spectral display for creating, mixing, editing, and restoring audio content. This powerful audio workstation is designed to accelerate video production workflows and audio finishing — and deliver a polished mix with pristine sound.
Multi-track mixing. Edit faster with real-time clip stretching, automatic speech alignment, and control surface support for the Mackie MCU and HUI protocols. Mastering tools. Create your own custom effects chains with the Effects Rack.
Preview your mix in real-time before rendering a final master file. Restoration tools Eliminate hum and background noise with the Sound Remover.
Quickly fix quiet or incomplete audio recordings with Automatic Speech Alignment.
Pros
Adobe Audition is a powerful audio editor that will help you edit, mix, and master your sound files to create perfect audio tracks. Here are 25 things you might not know about Adobe Audition and how you can use them for your editing.
- Learn to use the Ruler Tool The ruler tool in Audition allows you to measure the frequency response of a piece of audio over time. Pick an area of the track and drag the ruler to see a graph of the audio’s frequency response.
- Use Quick Key Commands Audition has a bunch of quick key commands built in that allow you to move between tracks quickly with one click. Control + Shift + 1 for Track 1, and so on up to Control + Shift + 8 for Track 8. Use Multitrack Editing View Multitrack editing view allows you to see all your tracks at once! To switch to this view, click ‘Window > Multitrack View’ or simply hit F11.
- Customize Your Keyboard Shortcuts To customize your keyboard shortcuts go to ‘Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts’ and select either Premiere Pro CC or Premiere Pro CS6 to apply all their keyboard shortcuts to your own program!
Audition is a comprehensive toolset that includes multitrack, waveform, and spectral display for creating, mixing, editing, and restoring audio content.
2. Avid Pro Tools
I have been using Pro Tools for over a decade now. I started using Pro Tools Digi 001 back in the late 90s.
I then upgraded my system to a Digi 002 and went on to use a Digi 003 system for about 5 years. I was given a HD Native Card for Christmas, so I decided to upgrade the rest of my system and purchased an Avid Omni interface.
We do a lot of recording with the band that I play drums in, so we wanted to take advantage of being able to mix down some songs in surround sound (5.1). It is an absolute blast mixing music in surround sound! The only thing that I would like to see improved on is the ability to have more than one track open at any given time.
It seems as though it only allows you to have one track open per section (edit, mixer, instruments, etc.). As long as you are organized when saving your sessions and tracks, it is not too big of an issue though.
Overall, it is a wonderful program that gives the user the ability to color outside the lines in regards to their creativity!
Features
Pro Tools features a graphical user interface that provides a flexible and intuitive workflow. The software is available in English, French, and Japanese languages.
It has a wide range of tools and features. These include time stretching tools, advanced MIDI tools, clip-based effects, automatic delay compensation, sound replacement editing, and video synchronization.
It also supports Pro Control, Avid’s control surface that integrates seamlessly with the software. It is designed to be used for post-production for film, television, and games. Avid Pro Tools is compatible with most major plug-ins (RTAS, AU, VST).
Pros
The Avid Pro Tools community is one of the best places to find answers to your questions about using the software. As a veteran of the forum myself, I’m always happy to answer any Avid-related questions that newcomers have.
In this article, I will attempt to answer some of the most common questions asked by first-time users. How Do You Make a Beat in Pro Tools? The easiest way to make beats in Pro Tools is by creating MIDI tracks containing virtual instruments.
There are tons of options out there when it comes to drum sounds and synth patches, but you can even create your own custom sounds via sampling or synthesis — it all depends on what you’re looking for. You can also use virtual instruments as a starting point for creating samples that you then edit on an audio track.
How Do You Record Vocals in Pro Tools? For recording vocals, you need three things: a microphone, an interface, and headphones (or monitors). After setting up your gear, create an audio track in Pro Tools and start up a new session.
Select your input device in the Input field and start recording.
Pro Tools is an audio editing software that helps musicians, students, teachers, and audio professionals record, edit, mix, and produce unique audio content. The solution enables artists to compile various takes of a recording, fix tracks' timing, and match audio beats in real-time.
Pro Tools is an audio editing software that helps musicians, students, teachers, and audio professionals record, edit, mix, and produce unique audio content. The solution enables artists to compile various takes of a recording, fix tracks' timing, and match audio beats in real-time.
3. PreSonus Studio One
Studio One® delivers thanks to its high-dpi graphics. PreSonus spent years developing the best possible user interface for touch-based music creation.
This interface is built on the concept of dynamic controls—faders, knobs, and buttons whose function changes based on context. The result is that you don’t have to wade through menus or cryptic key commands to do common tasks.
With Studio One, you just touch the thing you want to affect and move it. Add a plug-in? Touch the insert point and select from a list of compatible plug-ins. Need to change the output routing or adjust the volume for an instrument or effect channel? Just touch it! In addition, the Studio One Browser includes drag-and-drop functionality from its search results, so if you need an instrument or effect, just find it in the Browser and drag it into your project.
Studio One also features native low-latency audio support and a 64-bit floating-point version of PreSonus’ renowned Fat Channel plug-in suite, so you can use your favorite third-party 64-bit AAX plug-ins virtually anywhere in your project with no DSP requirement—even on laptop computers that would otherwise be overwhelmed
Features
Features: Award-winning single-window workflow. Unlimited audio tracks and MIDI tracks per Song.
Drag-and-drop functionality for virtual instruments, effects plug-ins, and more. Unique Scratch Pads for song exploration, remixing, and arrangement variations.
Class A console emulation with Fat Channel XT plug-in (included). Native 32/64 bit performance with automatic switching between 32/64 bit versions of plug-ins as needed.
Automatic Delay Compensation (up to 64 samples per instance).
Pros
The user interface for PreSonus Studio One is intuitive and it is easy to get started with. The software is very stable and I have never had it crash on me.
It comes with an extensive selection of loops, samples, and instruments. It has native integration with the PreSonus AudioBox USB Audio Interface.
You can customize the the toolbar to contain the buttons you use the most. You can use third-party plugins in Studio One Pro.
Studio One supports both VSTi and AU plugins.
Studio One is a digital audio workstation (DAW) application, used to create, record, mix and master music and other audio, with functionality also available for video.
4. Audacity
Audacity is a free software developed by a group of volunteers and distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Audacity is easy-to-use, multi-track audio edito, and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.
The interface is translated into many languages. You can use Audacity to: Record live audio.
Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs. Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis sound files.
AC3, M4A/M4R (AAC), WMA, and other formats are supported using optional libraries. Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together.
Change the speed or pitch of a recording. Audacity is a free, easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.
Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs. Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files.
Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together. Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
And more! See the complete list of features.
Features
Record live audio, record computer playback on any Windows Vista or later machine, convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs. Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3 or Ogg Vorbis sound files.
Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together. Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
Pros
Audacity is completely free and open source. There are no hidden costs, spyware, or adware.
Audacity is compatible with most operating systems. It supports Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux.
Audacity is a powerful tool that can record and edit audio files. Audacity even supports the MIDI format for sound files.
The interface for Audacity is easy to navigate. The work area has a lot of room to work with audio files.
Users can edit multiple files at once in Audacity. Multiple tracks can be edited at the same time and then exported as a single file or as separate tracks.
Audacity is an easy-to-use, multi-track audio editor and recorder for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.
5. Cubase
Cubase is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by Steinberg for music and MIDI recording, arranging, and editing. The first version which was originally only a MIDI sequencer and ran on the Atari ST computer was released in 1989.
Current versions run on Microsoft Windows 7 or later and OS X 10.8 or later Cubase has existed in three main incarnations.
The first, which was originally only a MIDI sequencer and ran on the Atari ST computer, was released in 1989. Version 2 came out in 1990 with the addition of ‘audio recording’ features and at this point was renamed “Cubase Audio” on the Atari and simply “Cubase” on the Macintosh.
This is when it started to become a serious competitor to MIDI-only software such as Performer or Vision &1 Cubase is a music software product developed by German musical software and equipment company Steinberg for music recording, arranging and editing as part of a digital audio workstation. The first version, which ran on the Atari ST computer, was released in 1989.
Currently Cubase is only available for Microsoft Windows and macOS, though there exists a lightweight iOS version called Cubasis. Cubase has seen numerous major updates since its inception.
Features
Cubase is a music software product developed by German musical software and equipment company Steinberg for music recording, arranging, and editing as part of a digital audio workstation. The first version which was originally only a MIDI sequencer and ran on the Atari ST computer was released in 1989.
Features Cubase has been used on many hit recordings including “We Are the World” (co-written by Michael Jackson), “Roll With It” by Steve Winwood, “Raspberry Beret” by Prince, “Layla” by Eric Clapton and “Beautiful Life” by Ace of Base. Dramatic improvements were made in Cubase VST 5.1, making it arguably the most powerful digital audio workstation available at the time.
These included surround sound mixing, realtime time-stretching and resampling, video synchronization with support for video tracks, and VST System Link networking with other Steinberg products such as Nuendo. The current version of Cubase is Cubase 8.5.
Version history A list of major Cubase releases: Cubase VST 1.0 (1989) — Initial release Cubase VST 2.0 (1994) — First version to support VST instruments
Pros
All of our services are performed by experienced, well trained professionals that take pride in their work. We are one of the area’s largest and most successful repair facilities for musical instruments.
Our experience ensures that you receive a quality job at a fair price.Our reputation is based on many years of satisfied customers.
6. Sound Forge Audio Studio
Edit, repair, and enhance audio files. Remove noise and hiss.
Record audio quickly on a rock-solid platform, address sophisticated audio processing tasks with surgical precision, and render top-notch master files.
Record anywhere Capture live performances in high-fidelity sound at the touch of a button. Connect microphones, guitars, or line level sources directly to your computer via the input jacks on your computer sound card or an external audio interface.
Edit audio with ease With Sound Forge Audio Studio editing software you can easily edit wav, mp3, and other popular file formats. With a click of the mouse you can move files around the timeline and edits are instantly updated.
Pristine sound quality is maintained through 32-bit floating point processing.
Restore audio. Whether you’re recording new audio or restoring old recordings, Sound Forge Audio Studio software has all the tools you need to make your music and other audio productions sound their best. Noise Reduction 2 plug-in cleans up tape hiss and hums as well as other background noise with ease.
Also included is the iZotope Music & Speech Cleaner which removes clicks, pops, and other unwanted noise from recordings using iZotopes intelligent spectral analysis technology.
Features
* Record audio quickly on a rock-solid platform, address sophisticated audio processing tasks with surgical precision, and render top-notch master files with ease. New features include one-touch recording, metering for the new critical standards, more repair and restoration tools, and exclusive round-trip interoperability with SpectraLayers Pro.
* Sound Forge Audio Studio Features
* Record up to 32 simultaneous channels of 64-bit/192 kHz audio for the ultimate in fidelity. Sound Forge Audio Studio software supports high-resolution 24-bit, 192kHz files and sound cards for the ultimate in audio fidelity.
*The program includes a powerful set of audio processes, tools, and effects for manipulating audio.
* Easy Audio Recording & Editing. Record up to 32 simultaneous channels of 64-bit/192 kHz audio for the ultimate in fidelity.
*Sound Forge Audio Studio software supports high-resolution 24-bit, 192kHz files and sound cards for the ultimate in audio fidelity. The program includes a powerful set of audio processes, tools, and effects for manipulating audio.
* Edit Your Music Files Quickly & Easily. Use mouse or keyboard to edit your music files quickly & easily!
Pros
Sound Forge Audio Studio Cons No MIDI editors Pricing may be a bit high for some users.
Conversion of audio formats can be slow. Pros of Using Sound Forge Audio Studio.
Incredibly powerful audio recording and editing software. Over 30 native effects and processes, including amp simulator, chorus, distortion, echo, flange, phaser, and many more.
Easy to use interface with tabs to separate views and a customizable workspace that allows you to place panels where you need them.
SOUND FORGE Audio Studio provides comprehensive tools and features for editing audio digitally easily.
7. Ocenaudio
(pronounced IPA|oʃɛnawˈdjo) is a cross-platform, easy to use, fas,t and functional audio editor. It is the ideal software for people who need to edit and analyze audio files without complications. ocenaudio also has powerful features that will please more advanced users.
This software is based on Ocen Framework, a powerful library developed to simplify and standardize the development of audio manipulation and analysis applications across multiple platforms. Ocenaudio is a cross-platform, easy to use, fast and functional audio editor. It is the ideal software for people who need to edit and analyze audio files without complications.
Ocenaudio also has powerful features that will please more advanced users. This software is based on Ocen Framework, a powerful library developed to simplify and standardize the development of audio manipulation and analysis applications across multiple platforms.
Ocenaudio is a cross-platform, easy-to-use, fast, and functional audio editor. It is the ideal software for people who need to edit and analyze audio files without complications.
Features
Features Intuitive Interface Ocenaudio is very intuitive and easy to use. The interface is well organized and doesn’t require any special training. Its simple and clear workflow permits a fast learning curve, which can be especially useful when you need to finish a job quickly.
We consider that an application should not distract the user with unnecessary elements. That’s why we designed Ocenaudio’s interface to be as clean as possible, giving the user access to only what is essential.
Cross-Platform Ocenaudio is available for all major platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Full Unicode Support. The software supports all international character sets: it can display text in any language (Unicode support). allowing you to use all special characters from other languages, such as German, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Japanese and many others.
Built-in Audio Effects. You don’t need to search for third party audio effects anymore. Ocenaudio has built-in audio processing tools that can help you in your work:
Pros
Ocenaudio Pros “Ocenaudio is the best editor I’ve ever used in my life. It is easy, simple and intuitive for beginners, yet powerful for professionals.
A fantastic program.” “I have tried a lot of software audio editors to record and edit speech.
Ocenaudio is the best one I found so far. Its easy to use and has very good features like the spectrogram view. If you are looking for an editor to process speech Ocenaudio should be your choice.”
“I use Ocenaudio every time I make a video on YouTube because it’s easy and simple to use.”
ocenaudio is an audio editing software designed to help users record, edit, and analyze audio files of various sizes and formats. Based on the Ocen framework, it enables the standardization of audio files across multiple platforms such as Windows, Mac OS, and Linux while editing.
8. Ashampoo Music Studio
Ashampoo Music Studio is a tried and tested, versatile application to edit and burn audio files. It’s also your personal DJ mixer with two turntables for different tracks, professional mixing controls and a scratch function.
Cut, mix, convert, and encode. With Ashampoo Music Studio where you can create your own compilations with ease. Crop, cut, and mix in an intuitive interface with drag & drop support.
Add transitions between individual tracks to create seamless transitions. The built-in jingle creator lets you turn any song into a jingle or ringtone with ease.
Precise audio editing. If you’re looking for a quick solution to edit, convert and burn your audio CDs, Ashampoo Music Studio is the best choice available. Change the speed of playback to alter pitch and modify tempo individually or together.
Apply fade-ins or fade-outs and adjust volume levels to your liking. The new equalizer presets provide quick access to frequently used configurations while the 10-band equalizer allows for professional adjustments for optimal results.
Features
What Ashampoo Music Studio can do for you:
- Convert audio CDs to WMA, MP3 and FLAC or create your own music CDs in WMA, MP3/MP4 and FLAC formats. Rip and burn music to CD, DVD or Blu-ray Discs.
- Edit sound files with the integrated audio editor. Optimize the volume levels of your songs with normalization.
- Extract audio tracks from videos and save them as separate files. Create ringtones for your mobile phone.
- Design individual covers for your music collection.
Pros
Ashampoo Music Studio Pros The all-in-one solution for your music collection Manage, edit, convert, and burn! Create your own playlists and song lists with ease. Rip and convert your songs to common file formats or burn them onto CDs.
The program also includes an audio editor for cutting, pasting, and editing sounds. Simple audio conversion Convert audio files into several file formats such as AAC, MP3, OGG, WAV, or FLAC and preserve the quality of your music at all times while adapting it to a variety of devices.
Turn cassettes into gold! Bring back old memories by digitizing your favorite songs from tapes and use the integrated equalizer to improve sound quality. Remove annoying noise and adjust volume levels automatically or manually.
Intuitive burning software Burn data, movies, or music onto CD, DVD, or Blu-ray Discs™ with ease. Audio CDs can be quickly ripped to existing tracks without any loss of sound quality and covers can be created automatically.
Ashampoo Music Studio 2022 is a proven music software to edit, rip, organize and burn music and sounds in general.
9. Reaper
If you’ve ever used a computer to record or edit audio, you’ve probably heard of Reaper. It’s an incredibly powerful piece of software, and it’s one of the best choices for anyone looking to get into digital audio recording and editing.
Reaper is a complete multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing, and mastering environment. It is extremely lightweight – easily installed on Windows, OS X, and Linux platforms – and it has a very modest hardware footprint.
The software has been around in various forms since 2004; the first version was developed by Justin Frankel of Winamp fame as part of an audio editing tool called Cockos. The name Reaper came from Cockos’ desire to “reap” some new project from the old one and is represented by an anthropomorphic scythe-wielding skeleton in a cowboy hat as the Reaper logo.
Reaper can be used in conjunction with a number of different audio devices and media formats, including WAV, AIFF, OGG Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 (via optional plug-ins), as well as MIDI. It supports VST plug-ins on Windows and OS X platforms, as well as AU plug-ins on OS X.
Features
The best thing about Reaper is the fact that it’s extremely customizable. It looks and feels like you want it to, with custom themes and modular layouts.
If you’re a Windows user, you can even set it to look like Pro Tools. It also has amazing technical support.
The developers are very active on their forum, and even offer free video tutorials to help you get started with the program. If you want a clean interface, look no further than Reaper.
It’s simple, fast, and easy to learn — perfect for the beginner producer. Even though Reaper is affordable, it still has all of the tools you need to make high-quality music at a professional level.
You can easily emulate any other DAW by importing themes from sites like Cockos Resource Center or ReaperStash. Reaper is lightweight enough to work on older computers as well as newer ones — great for musicians who don’t have the money for a new machine but still want professional results.
Pros
Reaper Pros is a trusted, five-star rated pest control company serving Phoenix, Arizona. We are 100% focused on providing our customers the very best service in the industry.
By combining excellent customer service with the most up-to-date technology, we can guarantee you will be satisfied with your experience. We Are Family Owned & Operated Reaper Pros Pest Control was started by a single mother of 5 who decided to work from home so she could spend more time with her family.
What started as a tiny business has blossomed into a full-time operation that services over 400 homes per month in the beautiful valley of the sun. We only employ local people and have created dozens of high paying jobs for people in Phoenix.
Most of our employees have been here since we started and they are like family to us. We all work hard together and look forward to going to work every day! Our Customers Come First Customer service is not just something we say, it’s what we do! We have some of the best and most experienced technicians in the business and they have one goal – make sure you are happy with our service and that your pests are gone.
REAPER is a powerful program at a great price. I love the no-nonsense style, the power-user capabilities, and the gracious pricing that lets hobbyists use the application without breaking the bank.
10. Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab
Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab is an audio editing and mastering suite with a large set of tools. Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab is the ideal software for recording, restoring, and editing audio files.
The program features high-resolution 24-bit/192kHz support for the best possible quality and supports all common file types, including MP3 and WAV. The extensive toolset includes over 30 effects, such as noise reduction and reverb, as well as restoration tools for removing clicks, crackles, hiss or hum from your audio files.
There are also a number of presets available to allow you to quickly create sound effects such as applause, crowd cheering or birdsong. The editor itself has a range of convenient features including automatic beat detection, which makes it easy to synchronise audio with video footage.
You can also extract audio directly from video files; Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab supports video playback so that you can see what’s happening as you edit your soundtracks. The interface is clear and easy to use but it doesn’t have a lot in the way of visual customisation options; there are no themes included with the program.
Features
Features: Playback & recording: Record any sound playing through your PC, including live internet broadcasts. Record your voice or any other source with the included microphone.
Play back audio in many formats including wav, mp3, wma, ogg, FLAC and more. Save in many formats including wav, mp3, wma, ogg, FLAC and more.
Easy-to-use interface: Drag and drop to transfer recordings from audio CDs. Supports ASIO drivers for low latency performance.
Use the waveform display to make precise edits with the mouse. Edit tools: Cut and paste sections of audio files without changing their contents.
Delete noise such as clicks, crackle, breath sounds and more.Remove vocals from most stereo recordings using Center/Surround Imaging technology — instant karaoke!
Pros
Sound Forge Audio Cleaning Lab Pros
– It allows you to create your own CDs of music.
– You can also use it to convert between different audio file formats.
– The software supports many effects, including noise reduction and normalization, as well as some sound processing features.
– It contains several tools that let you modify your audio files.
– The program has a large number of features and settings that are useful for both beginners and advanced users.
Magix SOUND FORGE Audio Cleaning Lab 4 is the perfect tool for enhancing audio from records, tapes, recordings and audio files.
11. Acoustica
Acoustica 7 is the perfect solution for audio editing, mastering, and restoration work on both Mac and PC. The application is available in a Premium Edition and a lower-cost Standard Edition.
The Premium Edition includes additional plugins and a few additional features, but most will find that the Standard Edition has everything they need. Acoustica is ideal for editing live recordings, when you want to clean up background noise or other unwanted artifacts.
The program’s extensive analysis tools also make it ideal for mastering when you want to shape the EQ across an entire mix or adjust the levels of individual elements. The software can be used to digitize analog sources as well.
If you have tapes of family events, recorded lectures, or anything else you’d like to save on your computer, Acoustica can help out there too. The program does everything in 32-bit floating point quality, which gives you plenty of headroom to get the job done without worrying about clipping or distortion.
It’s also possible to use 64-bit Floating Point if needed in the Premium Edition only (the full list of differences between Premium and Standard are at the bottom of this page).
Features
Acoustica is a beautifully designed, fully featured audio editor. Acoustica makes it easy to record, edit and process audio on your PC.
You can open or save files in many formats including wav, wma, ogg, mp3 and more (mp3 export with 56 kbit / s). With Acoustica you can: Record audio from any source your computer supports (microphone, line-in, etc.).
Edit audio files visually (cut, copy, paste, etc.) using a standard waveform display. Restore audio recordings distorted by background noise.
Apply various effects such as fade in/out, amplification, noise reduction, normalization. Batch processing allows you to apply effects and/or convert thousands of files as a single function.
Pros
Acoustica Pros is the professional division of Acoustica. We provide our services around the world, to help you with all your acoustical needs and challenges.
We have experience in implementing acoustical solutions in a wide range of different industries and applications. Examples are; – Acoustic design of concert halls, theaters, cinemas, and studios (including CAD drawings). – Setting up acoustic measurement equipment and performing acoustic measurements.
– Designing and constructing acoustic absorbers, diffusers, and bass traps (including CAD drawings).- Advice on damping, and insulation of walls, floors or ceilings.
– Calculation of reverberation times (RT60) in rooms.
A/coustica is a digital audio editor that is designed to assist media agencies, audio engineers, and individual artists with high-quality audio processing, multitrack editing, and audio restoration and analysis.
12. FAE Media
FAE Media is the parent company of FAE Magazine, which was founded in 2010. FAE Magazine is the world’s biggest and best-known magazine dedicated to fantasy art.
We feature a mix of top industry names and exciting new talent, providing a platform for established artists to share their work with our growing audience. Our aim is to showcase the best in fantasy art, and provide an outlet for some of the most talented artists working today.
FAEMagazine.com brings together many features from the print edition as well as additional content and links to further resources, creating a one-stop portal for all things fantasy art-related. FAE Media is a creative agency based in Vancouver, BC.
We are a small but dedicated team of designers, developers, and digital marketing specialists who love working with clients to build awesome websites. We work closely with our clients to ensure we understand the needs and goals of the project.
We then develop a strategic plan that will accomplish the project’s goals while staying within the project budget. Once we start building, we make sure that our clients have a good understanding of the progress and what they can expect.
Features
FAE Media Features FAE Media, a leading digital advertising company, announces the launch of its new innovative media platform. The platform is called FAE ME and it features a dynamic menu with several options to select from.
This platform also allows people to share their opinions on various topics through the use of social media.
The company has been working on this project for a while now and they are happy to announce that they have finally completed it! In addition to this, FAE Media also announced an exciting new feature which enables you to upload videos directly into your Facebook page. This feature will be available within the next few weeks so make sure you keep an eye out for it.
Pros
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We have an ever-expanding pool of talented freelancers who are skilled in different fields such as Writing, Design, Software Development, Marketing and more. Our goal is to provide you with the best solution for your projects, so that you can focus on growing your business.
You can now outsource your projects to professional freelancers at the best price available online. Our mission is to bring together the best online talent from all over the world so that you don’t have to look anywhere else for your needs.
13. Ableton Live
Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation for macOS and Windows. In contrast to many other software sequencers, Ableton Live is designed to be an instrument for live performances as well as a tool for composing, recording, arranging, mixing, and mastering, as shown by Ableton’s companion hardware product, Ableton Push.
The Ableton Live interface is divided into two main parts known as Session View and Arrangement View, which interact in a unique way specific to Ableton Live. Session View: primarily used to organize and trigger sets of MIDI and audio called clips.
These clips can be arranged into scenes which can then be triggered as a unit. For instance, a bass drum, bassline, and synthesizer riff can each be contained within separate clips in the same scene.
When moving on to the next scene (triggering the next set of clips), all previous clips are stopped. To play multiple scenes in succession (to create a song), users generally push the clip view navigation buttons.
This method provides a greater freedom for arranging music than traditional linear sequencers or track-based sequencers. The session view allows for “nondestructive” editing/recording: users can freely combine different musical ideas in any arrangement without ruining the original musical idea.
Features
Ableton Live Features: MIDI sequencing of software and hardware instruments. Real-time time-stretching and warping of AIFF, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC and MP3 files, for improvisation and instant remixing.
Nondestructive editing with unlimited undo. Multitrack recording up to 32-bit/192 kHz.
A comprehensive selection of built-in audio and MIDI effects. Instrument, Drum, and Effect Racks.
VST and Audio Unit support.Time signature changes.
Multiple automation lanes. Group tracks.
Track Freeze
Pros
The Ableton Live 9 Suite gives you everything you need to create, produce and perform music. The program itself is also one of the most intuitive and best designed for studio use or for live performance.
Its two main views, Session View and Arrangement View are designed to work in tandem with each other. The Session View is used for live performances and recording your ideas, while the Arrangement View has all the tools you need for actual production.
It allows you to clip launch audio in real time or with MIDI notes or automation. You can freely improvise or create patterns that trigger loops, samples or synths. The Ableton Live 9 Suite also comes with 13 software instruments and 43 effects to add some sound design capabilities to your workflow.
The package includes a variety of synthesizers as well as electric pianos, strings and drums. The effects include reverb, delay, compressor and EQs.
Ableton Live 9 Suite allows you to compose in ways that traditional software can’t match. Its Session View is a blank canvas where musical ideas can be tried out freely without the pressure of committing them to a timeline.
Ableton Live is a digital audio workstation for macOS and Windows developed by the German company Ableton.
14. Magix Samplitude
It’s really good that Magix Samplitude’s interface is so customizable. Without that ability, the program could feel a bit confusing to those who are new to digital audio workstations.
I like the ability to keep your tracks contained in the main window and be able to move freely through them. I also like how easy it is to record multiple tracks at once.
Any number of tracks can be recorded simultaneously, and you can set each track to record as an individual file or all at once. That way, if you’re recording a band, you can easily separate the instruments on a finished track.
I do wish there were more free sounds and loops included with the software. There are a small number of samples included, but most of the sounds have to be purchased separately or created using external programs.
These small issues aside, Magix Samplitude has some great features and I definitely recommend it for musicians looking for an affordable digital audio workstation.
Features
Magix Samplitude’s Key Features Magix Samplitude has an intuitive interface that lets users easily navigate through different functions including:
- Sequencer. Audio mixer.
- EQ effects. Dynamics processing.
- Instrument plug-ins. Advanced MIDI tools.
Pros
The standard version of Magix Samplitude Pro X3 is a powerful DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) with a full range of tools and effects. This includes: – A great collection of high-quality mastering processors, including reverb, chorus, flanger, equalizers, dynamics processors, and more.
– A huge library of virtual instruments that covers almost any conceivable sound you could want. – A large collection of audio loops that you can use to create your own songs and compositions.
– An intuitive user interface that makes it easy for anyone to learn to use the program.
MAGIX Samplitude/ Sequoia is a computer program made by MAGIX for recording, editing, mixing, mastering and outputting audio.
15. FL Studio
FL Studio (formerly known as FruityLoops) is a digital audio workstation (DAW) developed by the Belgian company Image-Line. FL Studio features a graphical user interface based on a pattern-based music sequencer.
The program is available in four different editions for Microsoft Windows and macOS, including Fruity Edition, Producer Edition, Signature Bundle, and All Plugins Bundle. Image-Line offers lifetime free updates to the program, which means customers receive all future updates of the software for free.
Image-Line also develops FL Studio Mobile for iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. FL Studio can be used as a scratchpad for your ideas or to produce completely mastered tracks ready for publication.
The app was previously known as Fruity Loops but has undergone a transformation from a MIDI sequencer to a full audio editing app. The program is available in three different editions for Microsoft Windows, including Fruity Edition, Producer Edition, and the Signature Bundle.
FL Studio is compatible with most popular formats so you’ll have no trouble importing projects from other DAWs such as Reason or Pro Tools and it’s fully compatible with VST plugins so you can use instruments and effects from other developers within it.
Features
FL Studio is a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) for Windows PCs and macOS. FL Studio is a complete software music production environment, everything you need in one package to compose, arrange, record, edit, mix, and master.
FL Studio is the fastest way from your brain to your speakers. Manage multiple midi-ins. Multi-touch support.
Live music performance including video effect visualization. Real time Stretch and Pitch Shift.
Mix and remix audio including apply realtime audio effects including delay, reverb & filtering.
Pros
FL Studio is a fully-featured, open-architecture music creation and production environment for PC. It features a graphical user interface which is based on a music sequencer.
This digital audio workstation has everything you need in one package to compose, arrange, record, edit, mix and master professional quality music. FL Studio comes in three editions: Signature Bundle (All plugins – most complete version), Producer Edition (Some plugins – good all-around value) and Fruity Edition (No plugins – entry level).
These three editions all include lifetime free updates. Here are some of the features you get when you purchase FL Studio: Fully reworked scalable interface – Any screen size or resolution you use, FL Studio will always fit.
Multi touch – Multi-touch ability extends to the Mixer. Browser – New category tabs and the ability to delete content on right-click.
Channel Menu – The Channel Options Menu have moved from the Toolbar Menus to the Channel rack. Channel settings – Have been integrated into the Plugin Wrapper (no more Channel settings pop-up).
Pattern Menu – The Pattern Menu has moved from the Channel rack to the Toolbar Menu and Pattern Selector. Piano
FL Studio 12 is a complete software music production environment or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).
What is Audio Editing Software?
The following are common types of audio editing software. Digital Audio Workstation Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) is a software application that records, edits, and mixes audio tracks.
DAWs can be used for mixing, changing the speed or pitch of audio tracks, recording music, adding effects, and more. DAWs typically include a MIDI sequencer for editing music and other MIDI files.
Audio Editing Software Audio editing software is used to edit individual audio recordings or batches of related audio files. These programs include non-destructive editing tools allowing users to try different effects on their recordings without losing the original version.
Some also include destructive editing tools which permanently change the original file. Audio Recorder Software Audio recorder software is used to record one or more audio tracks from an external source such as a microphone or instrument.
These programs typically support both internal and external microphones and have options for adjusting input levels and noise reduction. Some also have built-in effects such as echo cancellation and reverb to improve the quality of recorded tracks.
Online Audio Editor Online audio editors are web-based applications that allow users to upload and edit recordings using a desktop or mobile web browser.
What Should You Look For in Audio Editing Software?
There are a lot of great audio editing programs out there, and your choice largely comes down to personal preference. Some people need the absolute best tools to get their job done, while others just want something quick and easy.
Whether you’re looking for free or paid software, or if you have a specific platform in mind (like Mac or Windows), we’ve got you covered. Below we’ll run through the top options for each scenario.
Free Audio Editing Software Free audio editing software may not have all the bells and whistles of a paid program, but it still delivers excellent results. If you’re new to audio editing and looking for a great way to start, here are our top picks: Audacity (Mac/Windows) – A robust suite of tools that includes multitrack editing, real-time effects previews, and more.
WavePad (Mac/Windows) – An intuitive interface and helpful features like bookmarks make this one of the most user-friendly options out there. Hya-Wave (Web) – Anyone can use this web app without installing any software.
It’s easy to use and works on any device that has an internet browser.
How Do You Use Audio Editing Software?
If you’ve ever listened to a song on YouTube and thought, “I’d like to make music like that,” you’re not alone. In fact, there are a lot of people who think that every day.
The good news is that with the right audio editing software, anyone can learn how to make music. The first step in making a great piece of music is to have a great recording. The second step is to find the great software.
There are lots of audio editing programs out there, so it’s important to find one that is easy to use and has all the features you will need. The best way to learn how to create music using audio editing software is by watching other people do it.
But if you don’t have access to these types of videos or tutorials, there are still some things you can do on your own. Here’s what I recommend: Find an online tutorial for the program you want to use.
This will help you get familiar with the basic functions of the software and also give you an idea of what kinds of sounds can be made with it. Play around with different sounds and effects until you find something that works well for you.
1. Audio Editing Software Load Audio File
- Open your audio editing software. From the Edit menu, choose Preferences and then select Devices.
- Choose the audio input device that you want to use for recording from the Input Device list. Make sure you select your sound card as the output device.
- Click OK and return to the main program window. Go to File > Open and load your audio file into the program window, or simply drag it from its folder into the program window.
- Play back the audio file by clicking on Play in the Transport controls at the top of the program window, if you want to check that everything is working correctly before recording your own material. Load Audio File.
Load audio file by clicking File -> Open, or click open button on toolbar, In this case, the audio file is loaded into WaveForm area and Spectrogram area, you can select audio file format in “File Format” tab on “Profile” dialog. Save Audio File.
Save audio file by clicking File -> Save or click save button on toolbar, In this case, the audio file is saved in wave format, you can select audio file format in “File Format” tab on “Profile” dialog.
2. Audio Editing Software Select Regions
Our handy guide to the best free music-making software for a decent home studio setup, including Garageband and Audacity for Mac and PC The best free music making software is Apple’s GarageBand, which is the perfect introduction to music production and provides a clear path to Apple’s pro-level DAW. It’s packed with instruments and templates so you can start making professional-sounding productions right away.
But it’s not just Apple users who get all the fun. There are loads of applications available for Windows, Mac and Linux that can be downloaded and used at no cost – or in some cases bought with a one-off payment.
You’ll still end up paying more if you want to upgrade to the pro version in some cases, but there are plenty of freebies that don’t limit what you can do (or come with very generous trial periods). It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking to make beats, play virtual instruments or record real ones: there are specialist applications aimed at newcomers and those that even pros will find useful.
Here we’ve rounded up the best free recording software for several operating systems.
3. Audio Editing Software Channel Selection
Audio Editing Software Channel Selection. One of the most useful features in audio editing software is “channel selection”.
It allows you to separate the left and right channels of a stereo track by using the “Split Stereo Track” feature. This lets you edit the track in mono and make it sound like a stereo track. To do this, follow these steps:
- Open your audio editing software and import your stereo track in an audio editing software. Select the area, which you want to convert into a mono track.
- Right click on the clip > Split Stereo Track > Unlink (Note: You can also use the shortcut keys Ctrl + Alt + U). Now you will see two separate tracks; one for left and one for right channel.
- Move one channel slightly ahead or behind of the other channel by dragging one channel (left or right). The amount of time that you move ahead or behind is up to you but it should not be more than 0.5 seconds because anything more than that would sound unnatural when played back with headphones or speakers.
- If the voices have been recorded from only one side then mute the other side by clicking on its volume button.
4. Audio Editing Software Multichannel Recording
All things considered, the recording is the most important part of music production. If you fail to record a good performance, you can’t fix it in post-production.
However, these days, most musicians don’t enter professional studios to record their albums. Instead, they buy audio editing software and do everything on their computers.
This gives them full creative freedom at an affordable price. When buying audio editing software, you should pay attention to several important features: Multichannel recording – the ability to record as many inputs as necessary. This will depend on how many microphones and instruments you want to use in your project.
Alternatively, you can choose a recording interface that can handle all of your inputs and just connect it to your computer with a USB cable. Audio effects – equalizers, compressors and other types of audio effects are essential if you want to enhance the sound of your recordings or produce music from scratch.
Plugins – plugins are add-ons for your DAW (digital audio workstation). They expand its functionality by offering additional audio effects and synthesizers.
Most DAWs have built-in plugins but also support third-party ones. Virtual instruments – virtual instruments are software versions of real instruments that allow.
5. Audio Editing Software Play Recording
Playback is the easiest way to get started with editing audio. Let’s say you want to record yourself speaking and then build a soundtrack of music and sound effects around it. There are only a few things you need to do as easily as possible.
- Create a new project and name it Audio Playback. Select the sample rate and bit depth appropriate for your project — 44.1kHz and 16-bit is fine for most projects, but you can use 48kHz or even 96kHz if you need higher quality.
- Create a new track in your project by clicking on the + icon in the Track List at the top left of Audacity. Name it Narration. Click the red record button at the top left of Audacity, wait for three seconds, and then speak into your microphone for about 30 seconds (or whatever amount of time you want).
- You should see your narration appear in the Time Ruler/Track View window as a green waveform:
6. Audio Editing Software Audio Recording
Audio recording and editing software can be used for a variety of purposes. Using these programs, you can write and record your own music, voice, and other audio recordings.
Whether you’re a professional DJ or just someone who enjoys creating cool mix CDs, music editing software can be an invaluable tool for your PC. Music editing software is useful for both novice and experienced musicians alike.
Novices can use the music editor software to create simple tunes, while more advanced users can use the programs to compose full-length songs. In addition to composing original music, you can also edit existing songs with music editing software.
Whether you’d like to slow down a song to write out the notes or correct a bad note you’ve played on your instrument, there are many reasons to use audio recording and editing software. This is a list of audio editing software.
The criterion for inclusion in this list is the ability to perform non-linear, non-destructive editing of audio waveforms. For a list of free software programs that can manually transcribe speech, see List of dictation software.
Audio Editing Software – Frequently Asked Questions
What is audio editing software? Audio editing software is a program that can be used to edit digital audio. Examples of such software include Pro Tools, Ableton Live, Audacity, and Logic Pro X.
What can you do with audio editing software? You can create and mix music, record voiceovers for video projects, edit existing audio files and much more. What is the best free audio editor? Audacity is considered one of the best free audio editors.
It’s simple to use and allows users to record live audio, convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs, cut, copy and splice sounds together, and in general, modify an existing piece of audio in any way desired. Are there any open-source DAWs? DAWs are proprietary by nature, but there are a few that allow you to have access to the codebase.
Ardour, LMMS and MusE are all examples of open-source DAWs. Audio editing software, also known as digital audio workstations (DAWs), is used to record, edit and produce audio files.
Used in everything from music production to film making, there are a wide variety of options on the market. Here’s a look at some common questions people ask about audio editing software:
What does audio editing software enable you to do?
Whether you’re recording a song or creating an audiobook, you want to make sure your project sounds professional. Audio editing software enables you to do this.
Audio editing software is designed to help audio professionals and average users alike produce high-quality audio recordings. Audio editing software helps you edit existing audio files.
Many programs also enable you to record sound from scratch as well. With the right program, you can cut, copy and paste parts of recording, add effects like echo and reverb, attach images and videos, adjust loudness and more.
Why use audio editing software?
If you’re recording music, podcasts or voiceovers, it’s essential that your finished track sounds great. However, the raw audio that comes out of the microphone might require some adjusting before it’s fit for public consumption.
Audiobook narrators need to edit out awkward pauses and re-record sections that were poorly read the first time around. Podcast hosts may want to insert sound effects into their shows or splice together multiple takes of a single interview.
Audio editing software is a necessity for these types of projects. An advanced audio editor can help you do everything from cleaning up background noise to adding in new sound effects or voices.
What are the basic features of audio editing software?
Cut, copy, and paste: Every audio editing program has these three basic features. You can use them to cut out unwanted parts of a recording, copy and move segments between tracks or to different places in the same track, and combine recordings in new ways.
Digital effects: Filter out background noise, adjust the bass and treble levels, and change the tempo without changing the pitch – most programs have many effects that you can add. Some programs have a built-in library of sound effects.
Automatic volume control: Some programs are able to adjust the volume level of different tracks so that they all stay at about the same level. This is useful for making a song louder or for increasing the volume of spoken words on a video soundtrack.
Mixing: This feature allows you to adjust the ratio between two tracks so that one part is more dominant than another part. For example, you might want to increase the volume of one part of a conversation while decreasing the volume of another part so it isn’t as dominant in your mix.
I am using audio editing software for the first time. How do I use it to edit a song?
There is a lot of audio editing software out there that you can download and use. I personally use the one from Adobe called Audition but whatever works for you is fine.
The first thing to do is to import your song into the program. You can do this by clicking on file and then import.
Then select your song that you want to edit. Once this is done, you will see a waveform of the song that looks something like this: img url: https://apollo-singapore.akamaized.net/v1/files/5ig1q068mh9a1-SG/image;s=850×0 This is what you should see once your song has been imported into your audio editing software Once you have imported your song, it’s time to start cutting! The first step would be to find out where the beat drops and where the chorus begins.
The simplest way I know how to do this is by listening to the song closely and finding out where these “transitions” occur in the song, or maybe even watching a lyric video of it so you can follow along with it visually as well. Once you know where these transitions occur, zoom in on them so they
Can audio editing software be used to remove unwanted portions of the soundtrack?
The answer is definitely yes. There are many different audio editing software packages on the market.
Some are free and some are not. The best place to start may be to research the different types of programs available, as well as read reviews on these products to get an idea of what to expect from them.
You will find that there are numerous places online where you can download audio editing software for free. Some of these downloads are for trial versions only, while others offer a fully functional software package for no cost at all.
There is a range of types of audio editing software available for download, including professional sound editors, multitrack music mixers, software with support for plug-ins, and more basic programs designed for simple tasks such as removing unwanted background sounds from your recordings. Audio editing software can help you edit your soundtrack.
There are numerous audio editing programs available, many of them free. You will find a good selection at https://www.download.com/Audio-Editors/.
I suggest you download several of the programs and try them out to see which one works best for you.
Best Audio Editing Software – Wrapping Up
When it comes to audio editing, there are a few things that I refuse to compromise on. Sound quality and the ability to handle multiple files at a time are two of them.
When it comes to free options, Audacity is my go-to recommendation. It has all of the features you need to edit and mix your audio, so there’s no reason to seek out other programs.
If you have a little spare cash and want to invest in something with a little more functionality, there are some great options available for only a little bit of money. Wavepad is my top choice here.
It’s simple enough for beginners, but powerful enough for professional use, and includes some nice effects like noise reduction and sound reduction that most other programs don’t offer. And then there’s Pro Tools, which is the industry standard for professional audio editing and mixing.
If this isn’t an option, however, I would recommend sticking with one of the options above as they are much cheaper and still offer great results.
Soundbug should be on this list! It’s macOS only, but a great new audio editor. It has many nice DSP and analysis features that can’t be found in any other app.
Thanks for the recommendation, Mike, I’ll take a look.