The NCH Software WavePad features a Spectral Analysis (FFT), the function that allows a user to edit their projects by parts. This is a very handy option when you need to fix a short section of a track.
Effects processing might take quite some time.
This is a professional audio editing software that lets you work with almost any file format, extract audio from video files, and do this either on your computer or on a tablet (thanks to its compatibility with Android OS).
Recording, editing, restoration
Windows XP, 7, 8, 8.1, 10
Mac OS 10.5 and above
Android 2.3.3. and higher
Batch converter, Create a ringtone, FFT, TFFT, Text to speech, Navigate speech, Surround sound, Special FX, Speed and voice setting, Noise reduction, Click/Pop removal, High/Low-pass filter, DC offset correction, DirectX, VST, Reverse, Compress
MP3, WAV, VOX, GSM, WMA, AU, AIF, FLAC, REAL AUDIO, OGG, AAC, M4A, MID, AMR
14 days money back guarantee
The Adobe Audition CC offers you quite a lot of useful features to speed up your workflow. The sound remover will scan and fix your projects automatically, and you can send them to Premiere Pro and back to Audition CC while editing.
The free trial could be longer.
This DAW is ideal for audio producers who often work with podcasts since it allows recording many voices simultaneously and then editing them either separately or all together.
Recording, editing, mixing, restoration
Windows 7 SP1, 8, 10 (64-bit)
Mac (64-bit)
Amplitude and Compression, Delay and Echo, Diagnostics, Filter and EQ, Modulation, Noise reduction/restoration, Reverb, Special settings, Stereo imagery, Time and pitch, VST, VST3, Audio plug-in manager
AC-3, APE, AU, AVR, BWF, CAF (all uncompressed and most compressed versions), EC-3, FLAC, HTK, IFF, M4A, MAT, MPC, MP2, MP3 (including MP3-surround files), OGA, OGG, PAF, PCM, PVF, RAW, RF64, SD2, SDS, SF, SND, VOC, VOX, W64, WAV
7-day free trial
With the 64-bit architecture, upgraded VST engine, ARA2 support and one-touch recording function, you can enjoy quick and efficient operation. And the 32-channel processing enhances your workflow greatly by reducing latency problems.
The installation process may seem a bit long.
The Sound Forge Pro 13 has everything a music designer may need for work. It supports the VST3 plug-ins, a lot of new mastering and delay effects, multifunctional operation, Spectra Layers Pro 5, and many more to make the music creation process more pleasant.
Recording, editing, sound design
Windows 7, 8, 10 (32- or 64-bit)
Mac
Acoustic mirror, Amplitude modulation, Chorus, DeClicker/DeCracker, Delay/Echo, Distortion, Dynamics, Envelope, Flange, Gapper/Snipper, Noise gate, Pitch, Resonant filter, Reverb, Vibrato, Wave hammer, EQ and more, VST, ARA2
FRG, CDA, DSF, AIFF, ATRAC AUDIO, DOLBY DIGITAL AC-3STUDIO, AVC/AAC, MP4, VOX, IVC, DLS, FLAC, GIG, MPG, MPEG, MMV, M1P, M1A, M2T, M2P, LPEC AUDIO, MP3
30-day free trial
The program handles multiple channels and works well with lossless audio, guaranteeing professional mixing quality. It's also comparatively budget-friendly despite having as many features as some of the more expensive competitors.
It's oriented mostly on professional video makers.
The CyberLink audio editing software may be tough on new users but if you're willing to stick it out, the program will blossom and, underneath a clunky interface, you'll find a set of tools for deep audio mixing, mastering, and editing. It has some noise reduction and removal instruments that few competitors could match.
Editing, mixing, mastering, restoration
Windows 7, 8/8.1, 10
Plosive Removal, Visual Repair, Noise Reduction, Hiss & hum removal, Click & clip removal, Noise profile presets, Boost & Fade, Trim Audio, Change Audio Speed, Auto-duration Adjustment, Reverse, Dynamic Range Control, Delay & Reverb, Phaser, Flanger, Chorus & Echo, Vocal Transformer, Equalizer, Stereo Expander-Radio, Phone, Noise Gate, Vocal Removal in Music, Surround Sound Panner, VST Plug-in Support
AIF, AIFF, APE, CAF, DSD Audio, FLAC, MP3, M4A (AAC, ALAC), OGG, WAV, WMA
30-day free trial
The normalizing feature gives you the opportunity to set the volume of all songs in a particular folder to the same level (the tracks in the folder may be recorded and played in different formats). Hence, you'll experience no volume drops with the next track.
Since it's a very comprehensive program, it consumes a lot of memory and CPU.
The Ashampoo Music Studio 7 software is quite an affordable all-in-one music suite that can help users record, rip, burn, cut, convert or mix music files as they wish. It also comes with all the comprehensive tools to let you create playlists, organize your music collections or create personalized covers easily.
Playing, Managing, Analyzing, Recording, Editing, Cutting, Extracting, Burning, Creating mixtapes and CD covers
Windows 7, 8, 10
Edit Cover, Rip&Burn, Organize, Modify, Video-2-Music, Record, Playlist Generator, and Mix Tape
MP3, OGG, WAV, FLAC, WMA, Opus
10-day trial (30 days more after free registration)
The Best Audio Editing Software
If you are looking for a comprehensive audio editor, feature-rich and reasonably priced, then WavePad is right up your alley.
This is not a DAW, so you won’t be able to actually produce music. It does support a bunch of needed tools and effects to transform an audio track to professionally-sounding music, though. Being designed primarily for editing, this program does the job perfectly.
In addition to the basic tools (cut, auto-trim, compression, and many more), you can level audio with one of the many editing effects such as EQ, reverb, envelope, amplifier, normalizer, etc. You can also work with voice recordings by changing speed, pitch, or by applying a telephone effect; plus, this audio editor allows you to record streaming audio and audio files. Besides, the WavePad supports the DirectX and VST plug-ins that offer even more useful tools and effects.
The creator has also thought about more demanding users and added some more complex features. For example, the spectral analysis (FFT) lets you analyze and fix separate parts of an audio file. Voice changer and speed synthesis (text-to-speech) give you more options on voice audio editing. There are no limits to specific types of file formats either, so you can work with almost any format including M4V, MOV MP4, MPG, DIVX, DV, WMV, etc. Plus, it can extract audio data from any video file with ease.
The WavePad isn’t designed for a PC only, though it works on Windows 10 and earlier versions as well as on Mac OS x 10.5 and above. The app lets you process your music right from your smartphone, thanks to the compatibility with Android 2.3.3 and higher. That is to say, your WavePad audio editor is always at your hand wherever you are.
Mix with Ease
Without a doubt, in audio processing, the opportunity to work with several tracks at a time is a pretty valuable option. Every DAW, as well as most of the audio editing software, allows for that. With the WavePad, if you are going to mix several audio files into a soundtrack for your video or jogging playlist, you will need to use the MixPad Multitrack Recording Software. It allows you to record and edit multiple tracks simultaneously without switching between windows. You can also produce your own beats with the beat designer or apply one of the thousands of effects from the music library. Or you can switch to VST plug-in. The latter gives you plenty of studio effects and instruments, by the way.
After your masterpiece is ready, all the changes are done, and you are pleased with the result, it’s time to select the file format for your soundtrack. And frankly speaking, you’ve got plenty of options here, too. You can choose any file format starting from MP3s to WAV files with studio quality. If you wish to share your project, the software allows you to upload it to Google Drive, Dropbox, or SoundCloud.
Your Personal Software Library
When you install the WavePad you get something on top of it – the NCH software suite. This is a software library that includes a bunch of different programs for video and audio editing, graphics design, and more. As we have mentioned before, you get MixPad Multitrack Mixing Software, Tone Generator Software, and SoundTap Streaming Audio Recorder in addition to your audio editor, all in one package. In case you wish to expand your opportunities, you can get any program from this source instead of searching it on the Internet. Quite handy, right?
All in all, the WavePad is a pretty good audio editor that can help users of just about any skill level to complete a set of particular audio editing tasks. It offers not only editing options but also a lot of advanced features that can be quite interesting for both novice and professional users.
Your Trustworthy Assistant in Audio Creation
Indeed, there are very few people out there who haven’t heard about Adobe. The Adobe Photoshop is rightfully called the world’s best imaging and design app, not mentioning their Adobe Acrobat Reader that is installed on every other PC to work with PDF files. But these programs are only a drop in the bucket in comparison to the variety of options this company offers to its customer. It actually doesn’t matter what your goal is, whether you need to create an audio or a web page, Adobe has professional software for any taste.
This review, though, is focused on audio so we would like to give the most of our attention to the Adobe Audition CC. This is a great DAW with a comprehensive arsenal of audio mixing, recording, and mastering options. In other words, there isn’t much this audio editor won’t do.
If you often work with different podcasts, a multitrack recording will be quite helpful for you. It allows recording several voices at a time and then leveling and editing them individually with EQ. You can also apply the necessary effect to the whole audio track or to an individual audio clip. With the latest Audition CC version, you also get the dynamics effect. It includes an expander, compressor, noise gate and limiter for more professional and time-saving editing.
Improved Audio Processing
Among all the helpful features that Adobe Audition CC supports, it provides the user a sound remover, preview editor, Noise Generator, Pitch Manager, roundtrip editing workflow, and ITU loudness metering.
These features may seem not the major or the most important developments, yet they definitely improve the working process. For instance, the sound remover will scan your audio track and fix it for you automatically. You can check all the modifications in a multiple file section and make a quick change before saving the final version if the need be.
The roundtrip editing will also optimize your workflow greatly. It lets you send your projects from Adobe Premiere Pro to Adobe Audition CC while editing it. As for the ITU loudness metering, it is a radar panel that displays your audio tracks in a visual manner so that you could find those passages that need to be fixed and lower their volume level.
Benefit from the “All Apps” Package
The Adobe Audition CC is a monthly paid program that will cost a user $20 a month on an Annual Plan. At the same time, the company offers customers its Creative Cloud for only $50 a month on an Annual Plan. This is quite a bargain, isn't it? This package includes all the Adobe programs for audio, video, image, and website creation. That is to say, if you use video editing software, Photoshop, and other content creating software, buying the all-in-one package, you buy at a profit.
By the way, the good news is you don’t have to pay straight away. You can install Creative Cloud and try the programs you are interested in for free. Such a trial will differ with the type of software you choose. Adobe Audition CC offers 7-day free trial. This is not all that much, true, and you will probably have not enough time to explore the app far and wide but a week is more or less enough to decide if you at least need a further subscription.
A New Level in Sound Production
The Magix Sound Forge Pro 13 is an improved DAW for professional music creation both at home and in a studio. It combines all those well-loved features that older versions had with improvements that help take music creation to a new level.
You can still produce audio, mix and master it, but now, the process is much simpler and more efficient. With the 64-bit architecture, upgraded VST engine, and the one-touch recording function, you can forget about having tons of windows on your desktop while mixing and mastering. The program allows you to process up to 32 simultaneous channels on the main screen without annoying latency issues. The import and export of Direct Stream Digital (DSD) audio files is another pleasant addition to the Sound Forge Pro. It lets you work with PCM formats, Super Audio CDs, and archive your audio in higher quality.
Editing is also a pleasure with this professional audio creating software. In addition to basic editing options, you get the SpectraLayers Pro 5 that lets you not just hear but also see the spectrogram of your audio track and edit every sound separately, repair damaged artifacts and many more. You also have the opportunity to edit a new audio file with the Sound Forge while your completed soundtrack is being processed and rendered. Quite a time-saving option, isn’t it?
For utmost convenience and, consequently, increased productivity, the manufacturer has made this software customizable. Additionally, the Magix Sound Forge Pro 13 now allows users to adjust the interface to your lighting conditions. To be more precise, you can choose from White, Light, Medium or Dark color schemes. Also, the interface boasts newly designed icons that make it easier for users to find needed functions.
New Effects
Among a quite extended arsenal of effects that you get with the Sound Forge Pro 13, you can definitely benefit from the coreFX mastering effects - 2-Point Compressor, Limiter, VolumeFormer, Expander, Compressor, and Gate. This way, you'll get more flexibility when compressing dynamic range; set the maximum value of the processed audio signal level; create a pump effect; suppress noise and increase your range; eliminate volume differences between soft and loud music; suppress quiet sections in the signal transmission.
As for the coreFX delay effects, they include:
- Delay that creates echoes, i.e., a simple delay effect based on analog circuits.
- Chorus produces a time-delayed duplicate of the audio signal, thus, creating the perceptible doubling and beating effect.
- Flanger makes a dynamic, colder sound.
Professional Music Making
Obviously, the Magix Sound Forge Pro 13 is mostly created for music designers, the users who need not just conventional audio editing software, but a feature-rich program that can help them manipulate the sound in every sense of the word. It doesn't mean this digital audio workstation won't be helpful for music editors. On the contrary, we believe that making a ringtone or mixing several songs together may be pretty exciting work. Plus, a very intuitive user interface allows even a novice to master this software with ease.
Restore and Rejuvenate
Those that frequently work with audio and music from the old days know that noise and click removal is a large part of the process. Few programs can honestly say that they cut out the unwanted noise without damaging the track itself. However, the CyberLink AudioDirector 10 certainly joins these honored ranks as it has a powerful array of tools specifically for restoring damaged audio.
For example, you could take an old cassette, rip the audio to your PC and, with the help of the CyberLink AudioDirector, remove hisses and hums that are pretty much expected from older recordings. The slight imperfections in quality may be endearing in music but those who need to decipher old interviews or audio-diaries will be glad to know that the program cuts out any external noise quickly and effectively.
We do expect more than just noise removal from our music editing software as many people use these programs to write their own music. Sadly, that’s quite obviously not what the AudioDirector was designed for. The program does have a sample library and some loops and tools to mix new tracks. However, these instruments are sparse and seemed aimed more towards fixing pre-existing tracks rather than making all-new creations.
For Professional Video Makers
At some point in your experience with the CyberLink AudioDirector 10, you’ll probably realize that the program seems to offer quite a lot of high-end tools for professional video makers. The software definitely gives a broad choice of options for syncing audio with the picture, adding new audio tracks to the video, and more.
One of the more useful things is the AI Wind Remove. Artificial intelligence can help you remove wind gusts from audio clips with just one click. Another perk is the Punch & Roll Recording function that records lengthy voiceovers or podcasts, making corrections to your dialogue tracks.
The new Visual Spatial Audio Editing process audio tracks for 360˚ videos in a visual preview window, allowing you to tune audio direction and elevation precisely.
Also, the new edition boasts enhanced Restoration Tools including Dialogue Contour, Plosive Removal, Noise Reduction, Declip, Declick, Hiss Removal, and Hum Removal.
Final Thoughts
Although this software definitely gives a broad choice of options for syncing audio with the picture, nobody’s stopping you from using the available tools just for audio manipulation. For example, the voice modulation instruments are pretty broad and could certainly find good use in experimental music genres even if full compositions may be a bit finicky to put together due to the program’s complicated interface, which definitely seems to be aimed at professionals. But those that stick it out and master the software will indeed dig up some really cool tools that will spice up your music and audio-editing capabilities. We acknowledge that it may be too much for beginners but few audio editing programs are that amateur-friendly in the first place.
Comprehensive Software
The Ashampoo Music Studio 7 is probably one of the most comprehensive programs for audio files you can find on the market. With it, you'll be able to do almost everything you want with music. To clarify, this multifunctional music software solution is capable of playing, managing, analyzing, recording, editing, cutting, extracting, and burning high-quality audio files as well as creating mixtapes and CD covers.
However, primarily, there are two major functions this music suite performs. It organizes the music you already like, i.e., it assigns titles to the music you already have. And the other function is the music creation - either through an external microphone or through extracting the music from existing videos.
Lastly, we would like to say that the software comes with all the tools necessary for creating playlists and organizing music collections. It supports lots of formats including Flac, Ogg, and even Opus Ape. As seen above, just anyone will benefit from using this all-in-one suite for music management. The Ashampoo Music Studio 7 can be particularly useful for DJs, helping them create fresh playlists and do perfect mixing.
User-friendly Interface and Handy Features
The software has a very user-friendly interface with all the functions clearly organized. And if multiple options are available within those functions, they will pop up once you click on them. A straightforward interface organizes all the features into eight categories: Edit Cover, Rip&Burn, Organize, Modify, Video-2-Music, Record, Playlist Generator, and Mix Tape. Each of the said features brings up some more options, settings, tools, and features. And below, we review some of them.
- Rip and Burn Files allows you to create copies of music files on CDs. You can rip files or burn the CDs in different formats.
- Create Playlists lets you re-organize your messy music collection by automatically renaming and moving your files easily and quickly. Also, you'll be able to create your own playlists depending on the genre, artist, or event you choose.
- Modifying music files is one of the most important features. It enables you to edit your favorite tracks, delete portions of them, or split files into separate tracks. On top of that, you get the opportunity to convert one format to another.
- Mix Tapes. As the name suggests, this function does the mixing to add some freshness within your playlists. So, your audience will feel no boredom during the next disco.
Extended Trial Period
The Ashampoo Music Studio 7 software suite is available for download on any computer that supports Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. You can enjoy a free trial period that basically lasts for 10 days. However, the free registration extends that period up to 40 days. And within that time, you get full support and other advantages of prepaid version. If you like the program, you'll need to pay $19.99 for limitless access. So, it's quite an affordable all-in-one music suite that can help users record, rip, burn, cut, convert or mix music files as they wish. It also comes with all the comprehensive tools to let you create playlists, organize your music collections or create personalized covers easily.
What Is Audio Editing Software?
Audio processing is accessible for everyone today. Seriously, it was a long time ago when recording an audio track and processing it afterward was available to a few. Today, it doesn’t matter whether you are a music enthusiast or a professional audio and video editor, you will find a lot of good-to-go editing programs to meet your requirements and taste.
Just think about it, only 30 years ago, a novice audio producer had to buy a mixing console, audio converter, control surface, data storage, and a lot of other expensive equipment for music production. Now, you just need your laptop, reliable software, and a pair of high-quality headphones to get yourself started. Of course, you can still opt for professional audio creation equipment, but this is more like an optional decision than must-have hardware, especially for a beginner.
If you have just started to explore the world of audio processing, you might get confused by the variety of programs and the differentiation between audio editing software and digital audio workstations (DAW). The main difference between them is in the number of options they offer. Music editors support basic options for audio processing such as voice setting, noise reduction, trimming, etc. A DAW, at the same time, is a more complex piece of software that allows you to not just edit but also produce audio on your computer by using your mouse and keyboard as input devices or with the help of an external MIDI control lab. You can also mix multiple tracks and master your soundtrack afterward with a DAW.
The good news is that as well as all DAWs have basic editing options, all professional music editors offer their user various DAW-like functions. On this account, the best audio editing software for you will mostly depend on your personal needs and workflow.