Best Audio Editing Software
1. WavePad
WavePad — which comes from NCH Software that is known for the easy-to-use productivity tools — is a good-to-go, intuitive solution when you need professional-level audio editing in your PC. You can use the tool for the creation of a music fusion by blending different tracks and professional music creation through recording and all. WavePad does offer support for almost every popular audio format, such as MP3, WAV, VOX, GSM, WMA, OGG, AAC, etc. And, as it comes to the audio editing aspect, you have both advanced and standard features. For instance, WavePad offers lots of functions like copy, insert, silence, auto-trim etc. In addition, WavePad lets you apply certain sound effects to your work as well. On top of all, tab-based interface of WavePad makes more than enough sense, and you will have to get additional plug-ins if you want to enhance productivity tools.
- Price: Free and Premium Versions starting from $39.95
- Availability: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7; Mac OS X 10.4 and above; apps for Android and iOS
2. Audacity
Audacity is a completely free audio editor, result of an open source initiative! Despite all the professional-level set of features that Audacity has — such as multi-track editing and support for live recording —, the simplicity of its UI is so impressive. Audacity supports the popular audio formats including WAV and MP3 but you will have to download one separate encoder for the latter. Other notable features of Audacity include easier editing through cut and paste, the feature for noise reduction and vocal reduction, etc. Also, when we come to the editing aspect, there are a lot to talk about, such as navigation controls and different kinds of editing processes. If you check out the screenshots, you can understand how easy the User Interface is, despite its richness in terms of features. Yet another thing worth-noting about Audacity is its multi-platform support. By the way, it has some truly useful sound effects too.
- Price: Free
- Availability: Microsoft Windows 8, 7, Xp; Mac OS X 10.5 to 10.10 and Linux
3. FL Studio 12.1.2
Unlike aforementioned tools, which are actually easy-to-use audio editors, FL Studio 12.1.2 is a fully-fledged DAW — Digital Audio Workstation, which lets you mix and create music as you like. One thing that makes FL Studio 12.1.2 an impressive tool is its regular updates, through which you can have state-of-the-art features. For instance, if you have a monitor with multi-touch support, the entire process of audio editing would be just awesome, we bet. By looking at the User Interface, you can just feel the professionalism and it will be as professional as it can be when you are all set to record music and create your own tracks in the most convenient manner. Noticeable features of FL Studio 12.1.2 include enhanced file browser, availability of plug-ins, scalable UI etc.
- Price: 3 editions available, basic version starts from $99
- Availability: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, XP; Intel Mac OS X 10.8 or 10.9 (Yosemite is not supported). Mobile apps are also available for iOS (iphone, ipad, ipod touch) and Android.
4. Ardour
Ardour is yet another Digital Audio Workstation that lets you record, edit and mix tracks, using an interface that can be professional-enough as well as easy-to-get-used-to at the same time. Ardour can be useful for professionals such as audio engineers, musicians, sound track editors and composers. While Ardour lets audio engineers mix their MIDI projects with ease, the enhanced recording options would do well for musicians and composers. When we consider the features aspect, Ardour has a lot to talk about: support for editing hardware makes everything easier while multi track recording makes sense too. There are advanced options in the editing and mixing section too. For instance, you have Routing, Inline Plugin Control, etc in mixing section. It is to be noted that productivity of Ardour can be made to fit your requirement using certain plug-ins.
- Price: Pay at least $1 for full programme features.
- Availability: Intel OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) to OS X 10.10 (Yosemite); Intel/AMD Linux (2 GB RAM is recommended)
5. Wavosaur
Wavosaur is a free audio editor that actually lies between a Digital Audio Workstation and a minimalistic music-mixing tool. Using Wavosaur, it is possible for you to manage different kinds of music tracks with ease. In addition, Wavosaur offers some stunning, impressive features too. For instance, it gives you basic editing through cut, copy and paste, various processing ways, ability to use different skins to meet your requirements and tastes. It also offers some advanced features such as the batch processing ability, file exporting through third-party software, etc. In addition, you can have ASIO Support and multi-channel audio editing support with Wavosaur, making it an all-in-one solution for passionate audio editors out there. By the by, Wavosaur is often noted for its VST Support.
- Price: Free
- Availability: Microsoft Windows XP, 7, Vista
6. Adobe Audition
Adobe Audition is a part of Adobe Creative Cloud and you can rely upon the tool when you need professional-level editing tool for your musical projects. Adobe Audition offers superb capabilities such as multi-track editing as well as the non-destructive editing/mixing environment for you to work. The latest version of Adobe Audition, being a part of Creative Cloud, is available as a 64-bit application, which offers advanced performance in supported systems. The tool comes with a UI that is similar to that of other Adobe products and you can get started with it, easier than you’d really think. Yet another feature of Adobe Audition is that you can have expert tutorials that you can depend upon at the official site of Adobe Audition.
- Price: Part of Adobe Creative Cloud Package (Offers 30 day trial) – $29.99 a month
- Availability: Windows 8 , 7; Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard
7. Sound Forge Audio Studio 10
Sound Forge Audio Studio 10 from Sony is often called the home studio for audio production and the list of features and capabilities will force us to affirm that. Almost every aspect of music creation, from the high-quality recording of audio source to using effects and other methods to refine your input, will be possible through Sound Forge Audio Studio 10. The concept of the tool is rather easier, we would say. You can use it in the professional manner if you do need so. Otherwise, you can go with the easy-to-use section of it, where editing and mixing is a matter of clicks. Sony has included 24-bit/192 KHz support in Sound Forge Audio Studio 10, letting you deal your project with no kinds of compromise in terms of quality of input. Talking of editing, some preinstalled audio effects are there, which you can use for making your music impressive. Also, we have to add VST audio plug-in support to the list, when talking about Sound Forge Audio Studio 10.
- Price: $59.95
- Availability: Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X
8. Steinberg Cubase
Steinberg Cubase, commonly known as Cubase, is a popular software when it comes to music production tools and Digital Audio Workstations. The latest version of Cubase — Cubase v8 — brings a handful of impressive features with a truly professional interface. Steinberg Cubase is known for the features that prioritize creativity rather than a set of useless tools. Many professionals, including songwriters, bands and producers, are using Steinberg Cubase for their music production purposes and Cubase has suitable features for all the purposes. For instance, seamless integration with your existing music studio hardware and award-winning audio engine help music producers, it helps all those songwriters to record and listen to their songs, quite easily. Also, different plans are available for Steinberg Cubase.
- Price: 99.99 Euros for Cubase Pro 8
- Availability: Windows 7, 8; Mac OS X 10.9, 10.10
9. LMMS
Linux MultiMedia Studio, now known as LMMS, is a free audio editor software, which can be a superb-enough alternative for FL Studio, but completely free to use! LMMS offers a huge number of impressive features as a whole, including the FX Mixer, Automation Editor, support for MIDI Keyboard, some in-built audio effects and instruments and compatibility with some popular standards in Digital Music Production and editing. The UI of LMMS is truly professional one and the availability of plug-ins can take the productivity to a new extent too. so, when you are not ready to pay, LMMS is a solution you can depend upon for easier editing and mixing of music. Of course, there are a few perks of being an Open Source project, such as wide range of support. Also, to be noted, LMMS is made by a set of musicians!
- Price: Free
- Availability: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X and Linux.
10. PreSonus Studio One
A truly professional audio editor, PreSonus Studio One deserves a place in the list, at least for the set of professional-level features one can have from the tool. PreSonus Studio One is commonly used for several kinds of purposes such as recording and mastering. The Interface may seem tough for a beginner, but when you have got the taste of digital audio production, you will find it damn productive, we bet. Despite this, it offers drag-and-drop and other features for management of media and effects, which is a big deal, indeed. It is to be noted that PreSonus Studio has three different versions and that availability of features varies according to the version you choose. If you want 64-bit performance, for instance, you have to choose PreSonus Studio One Professional version. In short, it is a good-to-go professional solution for musicians.
- Price: Free & Feature-limited version available. Artist version for around $85
- Availability: Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X
1 comments:
commentsSuperb...post. And I want to recommend a few more free audio editors. Check this post. 5 Best Audio Editors for Free
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