Program for music files. Audio editors
Content
Processing audio files is considered to be the domain of specialists, musicians, and sound engineers. Several years ago this was the case. Radio programs were prepared and commercials were created. Music was born in the studios, solo and vocal parts were recorded. As a result, the market for wave editors was not rich in simple, affordable software products that you could try and get started right away.
Time does not stand still. Despite the apparent complexity of a significant proportion of modern wave editors, the majority of their users today do not even have basic knowledge of musical literacy. The popularity of mobile phones that support playback of MP3 melodies is causing increased attention to audio processing tools.
The girl bought a fashionable phone. There are constantly advertisements on TV and radio encouraging you to send an SMS and receive a new ringtone. Of course, this service costs a lot of money, and once you get into the habit of ordering a large amount of music, you can even go bankrupt. Loading original MP3 songs into your phone will quickly fill up your memory. Few people buy additional flash cards for their mobile friend, preferring to be content with the few tens of megabytes that are available by default. Additionally, mobile device processors are much slower than desktop computers, and processing large amounts of data will greatly slow down your phone.
Surprisingly, the main user base of wave editors are young girls who perform simple operations on MP3 files. The desire to stand out, to show their friends a new melody that no one else in the world has yet, drives young ladies to their personal computers. And after loading the wave editor, the melody opens, a fragment is selected and saved to the hard drive with a lower data flow rate. As a seasoning, you can add various effects, record your voice from a microphone and put it on music, or make a medley of several compositions.
Many users would like to not only enjoy beautiful music, but also write it themselves. Various computer programs will help in implementing this task, allowing you not only to create your own track from scratch, but also to edit the melodies we have. In this material, I will list the most popular programs for editing audio files, describe their capabilities, and also provide a link to a resource where you can download them.
The wealth of available music editing programs can be divided into several main types:
- amateur or professional solutions;
- specialized tools for creating mixes;
- programs for writing music using notes;
- other relevant tools.
To work with such programs, you will have to spend significant time learning their functionality. A simplified template for modifying a composition consists of loading the song into the program, transferring it to the editing panel, and making all the necessary changes there.
If you write an audio track from scratch, you will need to use the set of basic samples provided by the program, create them yourself, or use other tools designed for this. Let's now look at the most popular audio editors.
Audacity is a popular audio editor
The Audacity program is the “godfather” of free software for editing music files, one of the most famous programs for audio editing. Its capabilities allow you to work with many popular formats (mp3, wav, flac and others), it supports advanced multi-tracking, recording from a microphone, mixing audio tracks with various quality characteristics and other useful features.
This software is easy to use and has a large number of effects and plugins. At first glance it may seem a little archaic, but Audacity does its job very well. This is a great starter program for free music editing. There are versions for Windows, Mac, Linux OS.
Studio One 3 - convenient software for working with audio recordings
The Studio One 3 program has become very popular in the last couple of years. And this is no wonder, since this DAW has everything you would expect to see in a modern digital audio station. It is fast, convenient, has a friendly interface with drag-n-drop support, and is simply created for creative people.
The software is a powerful audio editor and midi sequencer, containing tools for mixing and mastering finished tracks. Supports VST effects, music mixing, VCA faders and sound saturation with support for analog modeling and other convenient features. The program runs on Windows and Mac.
Pro Tools 12 - Professional Music Editing
Pro Tools 12 is probably the most popular DAW (digital audio workstation) in the world. This product is the professional standard for mixing and audio editing. Lots of people have either total love or total hate relationships with Pro Tools.
The plugins built into the program are quite good, but the editor itself suffers from the lack of a built-in multiband compressor, which for many becomes a significant problem.
Pro Tools supports WAV, AIFF, AIFC, mp3 and legacy SDII audio formats. The program's functionality also includes the ability to edit video files, so users can import and work with high-definition video formats such as XDCAM, MJPG-A, PhotoJPG, DV25, QuickTime and others. The product runs on Windows and Mac OS.
Ableton Live - high-quality editing of electronic tracks
The world's top electronic music producers use Ableton Live, a convenient and multifunctional software for conducting life sets. Although the program lacks some advanced editing and mixing capabilities, its tools are regularly used by many famous DJs. You can use this product both in studio work (arranging, mixing) and during live performance (DJ-ing).
The program supports different variations of audio output (Core Audio, Asio) and audio plugins (Audio Units), as well as “Rewire” technology. Like other DAWs, the program boasts various audio effects, as well as a library of presets that support them. The product runs on OS Windows and Mac.
Cubase Pro - innovative software for audio editing
"Cubase Pro" is a popular music editor based on innovation, stability and user friendliness. The program works based on a number of proprietary technologies, such as “ASIO Guard” (eliminates sound dropouts under heavy loads) and “render in-place” (allows quick rendering of a fragment of audio or MIDI track to a new track).
Working with Cubase Pro This software works well with internal windows, supports VCA faders, VST plugins, and has other useful features.
Cakewalk Sonar - Audio Editing Software Tool
“Cakewalk Sonar” runs exclusively on the Windows OS, has an excellent user interface and many possibilities for working with sound.
Product functionality includes:
- multi-channel recording and parameter automation using envelopes and midi messages;
- flexible signal routing;
- double precision audio processing.
The program has many stereo and surround effects from Vozengo and Sonitus, an editable instrument selection menu is available, and instrument formats such as DX/DXi, ReWire and others are supported.
This software also uses proprietary AST technology, which allows you to control virtual instruments in accordance with the hardware controller available in the system.
Oceanaudio - a simplified editor for working with sound
"Oceanaudio" is a new and fairly simple music editor with a simple and quite colorful user interface. The product is easy to use, fast, and is a kind of simplified version of the famous Audacity. This program supports many effects (including compression, EQ, and reverb) that you can use in real-time editing.
Many free music editors are destructive (recording effects directly onto audio), so when working with them you have to rely on the “pre-listen” button. This is how, for example, the above-mentioned “Audacity” works. But in the "Ocenaudio" I'm reviewing, you can change the parameters of the effect, and immediately listen to the changes you make.
This program supports VST, so you can easily use your own plugins. It provides many other features (such as a spectogram) that will be useful for more advanced users. There are versions of the program for Windows, Mac, and Linux OS.
Conclusion
In this material I have listed the most popular programs for editing music tracks. If you are just starting your journey in music processing, then you should start with programs like Oceanaudio or Audacity, and if you are interested in professional solutions, then opt for Pro Tools 12 and other tools with an abundance of specialized capabilities.
Audio editing programs offer versatility and advanced sound settings. The options provided will help you decide on the choice of one or another software, depending on your goal. There are both professional virtual studios and lightweight editors with basic recording editing functions.
Many of the presented editors have support for MIDI devices and controllers (mixers), which can easily turn a PC program into a real studio. The presence of support for VST technology will allow you to add plug-ins and additional instruments to the standard capabilities.
Software that allows you to trim an audio recording, remove noise and record sound. Voice recording can be overdubbed over music. An interesting feature is that the program allows you to cut out fragments of a track with silence. There is an arsenal of different audio effects that can be applied to the recorded audio. The ability to add additional effects expands the range of filters for the audio track.
Audacity allows you to change the tempo and tone of your recording. Both parameters can be changed independently of each other if desired. Multitrack in the main editing environment allows you to add multiple recordings to tracks and process them.
Wavosaur
A lightweight program for processing sound recordings, which has the necessary set of tools. Using this software, you can cut a selected fragment of a track or combine audio files. In addition, it is possible to record sound from a microphone connected to the PC.
Special functions will help clear the sound from noise, as well as normalize it. The user-friendly interface will be understandable even for inexperienced users. Wavosaur supports Russian language and most audio file formats.
OceanAudio
Free software for processing recorded audio. Despite the small amount of occupied disk space after installation, the program cannot be called insufficiently functional. A variety of tools allow you to cut and merge files, as well as get detailed information about any audio.
The available effects make it possible to change and normalize the sound, as well as remove noise and other interference. Each audio file can be analyzed and flaws can be identified in it in order to apply the appropriate filter. This software has a 31-band equalizer designed to change the sound frequency and other sound parameters.
WavePad Sound Editor
The program is aimed at non-professional use and is a compact audio editor. WavePad Sound Editor allows you to delete selected parts of a recording or combine tracks. You can enhance or normalize the sound thanks to the built-in filters. In addition, using effects, you can use reverse to play a recording backwards.
Other features include changing the playback tempo, working with an equalizer, compressor and other functions. Tools for working with voice will help you optimize it, which includes muting, changing pitch and volume.
Adobe Audition
The program is positioned as an audio editor and is a continuation of the software under the old name Cool Edit. The software allows you to post-process audio recordings using wide functionality and fine-tuning various sound elements. In addition, it is possible to record from musical instruments in multi-channel mode.
Good audio quality allows you to record audio and immediately process it using the functions provided in Adobe Audition. Support for installing add-ons increases the potential of the program, adding advanced capabilities for their use in the musical field.
PreSonus Studio One
PreSonus Studio One has a truly powerful set of different tools that allow you to efficiently process your audio track. It is possible to add multiple tracks, trim them or combine them. There is also support for plugins.
The built-in virtual synthesizer will allow you to use the keys of a regular keyboard and save your musical creativity. Drivers supported by the virtual studio allow you to connect a synthesizer and mixer controller to a PC. Which, in turn, turns the software into a real recording studio.
Sound Forge
A popular software solution from Sony for audio editing. Not only advanced but also inexperienced users can use the program. The convenience of the interface is explained by the intuitive placement of its elements. The arsenal of tools contains various operations: from trimming/merging audio to batch file processing.
You can burn an AudioCD directly from the window of this software, which is really convenient when working in a virtual studio. The editor allows you to restore an audio recording by reducing noise, removing artifacts and other errors. Support for VST technology makes it possible to add plugins that will allow you to use other tools that are not included in the program’s functionality.
CakeWalk Sonar
Sonar is software from Cakewalk, the company that developed the digital audio editor. It is endowed with wide functionality for providing audio post-processing. These include multi-channel recording, audio processing (64-bit), connection of MIDI instruments and hardware controllers. The simple interface can be easily mastered by inexperienced users.
The main focus of the program is on studio use, and therefore almost every parameter can be adjusted manually. The arsenal includes various types of effects created by well-known companies, including Sonitus and Kjaerhus Audio. The program provides the ability to fully create a video by combining video with sound.
ACID Music Studio
Another digital audio editor from Sony that has many features. It allows you to create a record based on the use of cycles, of which the program contains a large number. Full support for MIDI devices significantly increases the professional use of the program. This allows you to connect various musical instruments and mixers to your PC.
Using a tool "Beatmapper" You can easily create remixes to tracks, which in turn allows you to add a series of drum parts and apply various filters. The lack of Russian language support is the only drawback of this program.
The arsenal of functionality provided by each of the individual programs will allow you to record sound in good quality and process the audio. Thanks to the solutions presented, you can apply various filters and change the sound of your recording. Connected MIDI instruments will allow you to use the virtual editor in professional musical art.
Audio editor is a simple and convenient service that makes working with music tracks as easy as possible. Technology is developing faster and faster every day, and today any novice user will be able to work with audio recordings without turning to professionals for help. Each person at home can give the soundtrack an original effect, cut out the chorus of a song, or mix several melodies and record their own remake of the track.
The user will also be able to change the format of the audio recording. You can not only use installed programs on your PC, but also work with music online through special services on the Internet. For maximum convenience, we will consider several utilities and services.
Downloadable editors
All changes to the audio track can be made using a specific program. By downloading it, you can get an advanced melody editing tool, which even includes such simple functions as trimming a music track or changing its format.Audacity
A standard and accessible utility for processing audio tracks, consisting of a large set of functionality. Audacity appeared back in 2000. More than 15 years have passed since its release, and during this time the project is regularly supplemented and developed. The last update of this software was released in March 2015. The program can work with many audio formats and codecs: AIFF, WAV, MP2, MP3, Ogg, AU and others. Any format can be transcoded very quickly. For ease of use, the Audacity utility has a huge number of different audio tracks for combining, special effects and filters that allow you to make any composition more vibrant and original.
Wavosaur
Wavosaur is a free music editor that is considered the most functional and easy to use. One of the advantages of this program is that you can work in it via the Internet without downloading it to your computer. What makes Wavosaur unique is the ability to present each audio track in 3D. The service opens many audio formats: WAV, AIFF (AIF), MP3, Ogg, etc. An unlimited number of melodies are processed in real time. The program works on all operating systems except Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. If the user has OS data installed, he will have to find an alternative program for working with music tracks.
Audio Editor Gold
Compared to those listed above, the Audio Editor Gold utility is not free. The demo version is available for 30 days, after which a reminder to register the program constantly appears. The interface is very convenient and simple, therefore, despite the paid basis, this service is also very popular among music lovers. You can edit a track on the displayed wavelength of the audio recording, which can be scaled to more clearly highlight sections of the audio track. Transcoding any audio file using Audio Editor Gold will happen very quickly, so the process of creating creative compositions will not take much of your time and will not turn into a routine.
Online audio editors
The Internet is developing, and today users of the World Wide Web have the opportunity to use many programs online. Each Internet client can very easily edit any audio track without installing programs on their PC.TwistedWave
TwistedWave is one of the utilities that you do not need to install on your computer. The program has the functions of trimming, transcoding and using the desired filter to change the audio track online.
TwistedWave contains decay effects for the sound of the entire melody or its individual section, about 40 VTS effects. In addition, the program's feature set includes a convenient option for saving the edited melody in the network cloud. The following formats are supported: WAV, FLAC, MP3, WMA, Ogg, MP2, AIFC, AIFF, Apple CAF, etc. Even the bitrate can be set manually (from 8 kB/s to 320 kB/s). All of the above allows us to judge TwistedWave software as a multifunctional audio converter.
Free processing is only possible for mono mode. You will have to pay extra for processing a recording in two or more channels.
Online MP3 Cutter
One of the simplest and easiest-to-use utilities for editing audio tracks. Online MP3 Cutter allows you to create effective melodies, spending a minimum of time and effort on the processing process.
For example, to cut a chorus from a composition, you just need to select the desired melody, open it, select the desired section and save the finished audio segment to your computer. At the same stage, the track is re-encoded into the desired format. Online MP3 Cutter works with five audio formats: WAC, AAC, AMR, Apple CAF and MP3. You can use any of the functions of this software absolutely free, be it reformatting audio compositions, trimming or applying various musical effects. The ease of working with the service and a pleasant interface make the Online MP3 Cutter program one of the most popular among most users.
Make Your Own Ringtone
Make Your Own Ringtone is one of the most convenient online programs, the functionality of which is aimed at creating original ringtones. Unlike the Online MP3 Cutter service, Make Your Own Ringtone uses about 16 different overlay effects on the recording.
Track encoding formats: MPC, OGG, MP3, M4R, AAC and MP4. You can save the created melody to your computer, mobile device, or send the finished track to the specified email to any user. Make Your Own Ringtone can be used as an online program. All declared formats are very easily and quickly converted and saved into the required formats. You can trim the audio track, or you can simply save it again in the desired format.
With new technologies, working on audio recordings is no longer the sole responsibility of professionals. Now every home PC user has the opportunity to trim, mix and apply effects to sound files.
What can we say about transcoding them into various formats. Along with installed programs, online services also allow such actions. The most convenient of the programs and services will be discussed further.
Downloadable editors
The traditional way to edit audio is to use installed programs.
Such programs provide ample opportunities, but for solving simple tasks, such as transcoding a file or trimming a composition, there are “too many” of them. However, many users prefer to use programs.
"People's" program for sound processing. With a free distribution model, it offers a solid toolkit.
The first version of the software became available to the public in 2000. Since then, the project has been continuously developed and improved. The latest version for today was released on March 29, 2015.
Audacity supports reading and writing many formats, and various codecs, including: WAV, AIFF, AU, Ogg, MP2 and MP3. A wide range of options for transcoding audio signals between formats is available.
In fact, any source file can be recoded into any format supported by the program.
Among other features, it is worth mentioning an unlimited number of tracks for mixing and a large number of additional filters and effects.
Audio editor: Wavosaur
A free music editor that can seriously compete with other audio processing programs. In this case, the program does not require installation and does not make any changes to the system registry. A special feature is the ability to display a detailed track in 3D mode.
Wavosaur supports the most common formats: WAV, MP3, OGG, AIF, AIFF.
Ample opportunities are available for signal transcoding between formats, editing an unlimited number of tracks and processing in real time.
A significant drawback of the editor is that the supported operating systems are limited to the range from Win XP to Vista. Owners of the common 7, 8 and 8.1 will have to look for an alternative.
Audio editor: Audio Editor Gold
Audio Editor Gold, unlike previous programs, is not distributed free of charge. Trial access is limited to 30 days and constantly pops up a reminder to register. It features a friendly interface.
Track editing is done on a wave model, which can be scaled in detail to more accurately highlight sections of the track. You can edit each channel separately.
The software supports free transcoding between all supported formats, including WAV, WMA, Ogg and MP3. Any file can be freely recoded into one of the available formats.
Online audio editors
Network technologies are evolving. Their current level makes it possible to transfer the functionality of many programs to the browser. Editing audio and video using network resources is no longer fiction, but a reality accessible to any network user.
Audio editor: TwistedWave
With TwistedWave, there is no need to download and install proprietary audio editing software. The service offers the ability to trim, re-encode or add a filter to an audio recording using a browser.
Among the possibilities are about 40 VTS effects, fading effects over the entire track or sections of it, transcoding and saving the finished track in the cloud.
The service supports working with many formats: WAV, MP3, FLAC, Ogg, MP2, WMA, AIFF, AIFC, Apple CAF. TwistedWave allows you to freely transcode files between supported formats.
For the saved recording, you can manually set the bitrate from 8 kB/s to 320 kB/s. That is, the service turned out to be a good audio converter.
Info! Free processing is only possible for mono mode. You will have to pay extra for processing a recording in two or more channels.
Audio editor: Online MP3 Cutter
With this service, cutting music will turn into a simple process that takes a minimum of time. To get the required segment of the composition you will need only three steps: open the file, determine the segment and download the finished piece of the song.
The saved segment can be recoded into a more convenient format. The service supports five formats: MP3, AMR, WAC, AAC and Apple CAF. It is also convenient to use for simple audio transcoding.
It is enough to simply not define the segment to be extracted from the composition, and choose to save it in a different format. That is, despite the fact that cutting music is the main purpose of Online MP3 Cutter, it can be used to successfully reformat audio.
Payment will not be required at any stage of using the service. A simple and intuitive interface with a minimum of necessary features is ideal for everyday use.
Audio Editor: Make Your Own Ringtone
A convenient online service designed to create your own ringtones. Unlike the previous audio trimming service, it has 16 effects that can be applied to the recording.
Six audio encoding formats are supported: MP3, OGG, AAC, M4R, MPC and MP4. The finished file can be saved either to a computer or to a mobile device. It is possible to send the finished cut by email.
Make Your Own Ringtone can also be successfully used as an online music converter. All supported formats are freely convertible. That is, it is not necessary to trim the composition, you can simply save it in the desired format.
