Here are the best free audio editor software programs that can take your music production to the next level without breaking the bank.
With options for Mac users, Windows, Linux, and even online browsers, these programs cater to music producers, musicians, and audio editors of all skill levels. Free audio editors offer a wide range of features and support various file formats, making it easy to create, edit, and improve your audio quality.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced audio editor, these free software programs provide the tools you need to achieve professional-sounding results while saving money in the process.
Best Free Audio Editor Software Programs
- Audacity
- AudioMass Audio Editing Software
- Wavosaur
- Hya-Wave
- Qtractor
- TwistedWave Online
- Bear Audio Editor
- Beautiful Free Audio Editor
- Ocenaudio
- DVDVideoSoft Free Audio Editor
- Power Sound Editor Free
- WaveShop Free Audio Editor
- Sodaphonic
- Audio Editor
- Audio Trimmer
1. Audacity
Audacity is a versatile and user-friendly audio editor program that caters to the needs of producers, musicians, podcasters, content creators, and anyone looking to create or edit files.
Audacity is free, open-source software that runs seamlessly on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Audacity offers a comprehensive suite of features that make audio editing a breeze, even for beginners.
Record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from other media.
The software supports multiple file formats, including WAV, AIFF, AU, FLAC, and Ogg Vorbis, making it easy to import, edit, and combine sound files.
You can also export your recordings in various formats, including multiple files at once.
For more advanced users, Audacity supports a range of plugins, including LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST, and Audio Unit effect plug-ins, allowing you to customize and expand the software’s capabilities.
Editing audio files is simple with Audacity’s intuitive Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete functions.
The software also provides unlimited sequential Undo and Redo steps, so you can experiment and tweak your project without the fear of making irreversible changes.
Audacity also features a wide selection of built-in effects, such as Distortion, Echo, Limiter, Paulstretch, Phaser, Reverb, and Reverse, adding depth and character to your audio creations.
Features:
- Record live audio through a microphone or mixer
- Import and export multiple file formats, including WAV, AIFF, AU, FLAC, and Ogg Vorbis
- Supports 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit audio
- Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete functions
- Export MP3 files with the optional LAME encoder library
- High-quality resampling and dithering for sample rates and format conversion
- Unlimited sequential Undo and Redo
- Plug-in Manager for easy installation and management of effects and generators
- Built-in effects like Distortion, Echo, Limiter, Paulstretch, Phaser, Reverb, and Reverse
- Record at sample rates up to 192,000 Hz
- Noise Reduction Features
- Non Destructive Audio Editing
- Record multiple channels simultaneously
- Free Audio Recording To Record Voiceovers
- Audio Effects to Create Sound Effects
- VST Support
Pros:
- Free and open-source software
- Cross-platform compatibility
- Easy to use, suitable for beginners
- Wide range of features and effects
- Extensive support community
- Edit Audio Clips
Cons:
- May require additional downloads for certain functions (e.g., LAME encoder library for exporting MP3 files)
- Advanced users might find some limitations in comparison to professional-grade software
Audacity | PC, Mac, Linux
2. AudioMass Audio Editing Software
AudioMass is a versatile, free, and open-source web-based audio editor designed for music producers, musicians, and creators.
Running directly in your browser without the need for plugins, it offers a wide range of audio effects and editing capabilities, making it the perfect tool for all your audio projects.
This user-friendly audio editor boasts a dynamic, responsive interface for seamless editing and supports over 20 hotkey combinations for speedy navigation.
With AudioMass, you can easily visualize frequency, add distortion or peak signaling, cut, paste, trim, invert audio, and more.
Enjoy access to this powerful audio editing tool from any location with an internet connection.
Get started with AudioMass by simply dragging and dropping an audio file into the app or experimenting with the included sample.
The intuitive interface allows you to navigate the waveform, zoom, pan effortlessly, and select regions for editing.
Features:
- Frequency visualization
- Distortion and peak signaling
- Cut, paste, and trim audio segments
- Audio inversion and reversal
- MP3 conversion
- Volume level modification
- Fade in/out
- Audio compressor
- Normalize audio
- Reverb
- Delay
- Distortion
- Pitch shift
- Offline support
- Zoom and pan
Pros:
- Free and open-source
- Web-based, no plugins required
- User-friendly interface
- Wide range of audio effects and editing capabilities
- Accessible from any device with an internet connection
- Over 20 hotkey combinations for faster editing
Cons:
- Requires a stable internet connection
- It may not have all the advanced features found in professional audio editing software
- Not suitable for very large audio files due to browser limitations
3. Wavosaur
Wavosaur is a free, user-friendly audio editor program designed for Windows users, making it perfect for editing, processing, and recording sounds.
This powerful audio editor supports VST plugins and ASIO drivers, allowing you to produce high-quality music loops and record audio with ease.
Wavosaur is compatible with Windows and doesn’t require any installation or registry changes.
- Multiple Document Interface for working on multiple files simultaneously
- Classic editing functions like cut, copy, paste, trim, and delete
- Advanced processing options such as resampling, pitch shifting, and vocal removal
- Support for multichannel audio files, real-time effect processing, and audio output up to 192 KHz, 24 bits
- VST plugin support with the ability to chain effects, save presets, and display multiple VST GUIs at once
- Analysis tools like 2D and 3D spectrum, sonograms, and real-time oscilloscope
Pros:
- Free and easy to use, making it accessible for beginners and experienced users alike
- No installation or registry changes required
- Supports a wide range of audio file formats, including WAV, MP3, AIF, and OGG Vorbis
- Extensive editing and processing capabilities
- Robust VST plugin support for enhanced audio production
Cons:
- Only available for the Windows operating system
- Some advanced features might require a learning curve for new users
- No built-in support for multi-audio track editing, limiting its functionality for complex projects
Wavosaur | PC
Wavosaur Tutorials
4. Hya-Wave
Hya-Wave is a user-friendly, web-based free audio editor designed for music producers, musicians, and music creators of all skill levels.
This intuitive program allows you to edit and create high-quality audio samples, making it a valuable tool in your music production arsenal.
The Hya-Wave audio editor is packed with features that streamline the editing process, including real-time FX, cloud storage for loading and saving projects, undo and redo capabilities, and a sleek interface.
Users can record samples directly from their microphones or simply drag and drop files into the browser window to begin editing.
Features:
- Real-time FX for instant audio manipulation
- Cloud storage for easy loading and saving of projects
- Undo and redo functions for hassle-free editing
- Audio wave exploration for precise adjustments
- Cut, paste, and crop tools for efficient editing
- Material design for a clean and modern interface
Pros:
- Web-based, meaning no software installation is required
- Intuitive design for easy navigation
- Cloud storage prevents loss of work
- Supports various audio formats
- Edit Audio Recordings
- Suitable for beginners and experienced users alike
Cons:
- Requires a stable internet connection for optimal performance
- May lack some advanced features found in paid alternatives
Hya-Wave | Browser ( Google Chrome )
5. Qtractor
Qtractor is a versatile and user-friendly Audio/MIDI multi-track sequencer application designed for Linux-based systems.
Ideal for musicians, music producers, and music creators, Qtractor provides a powerful and comprehensive solution for your home studio.
As free, open-source software, Qtractor offers a wide range of features that can help you create and edit your music projects with ease.
Features:
- Multi-track audio and MIDI sequencing and recording
- Non-destructive, non-linear editing
- Unlimited tracks, clips, and plug-ins per project
- Support for various audio file formats and MIDI files
- Built-in mixer, monitor, and connection patch bay controls
- Extensive plug-in support, including LADSPA, DSSI, VST, VST3, LV2, and CLAP
- Audio/MIDI clip editing and automation
- Time-stretching, pitch-shifting, and sample-rate conversion capabilities
- Integrated metronome and tempo/time-signature mapping
- MIDI clip editor and instrument definitions
- Configurable PC keyboard and MIDI controller shortcuts
Pros:
- Free and open-source
- Comprehensive feature set for professional-quality music production
- Wide range of supported plug-ins and file formats
- Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- Regular updates and active community support
- Supports virtual instruments
- Advanced tools
Cons:
- Limited to Linux operating systems
- Some optional features require additional libraries for full functionality
- May have a learning curve for users new to digital audio workstations
Qtractor | Linux
6. TwistedWave Online
TwistedWave is a browser-based audio editor. You only need a web browser to access it, and you can use it to record or edit any audio file.
TwistedWave | Web Browser
7. Bear Audio Editor
A brand new online audio editing tool that is based on HTML5 and doesn’t require you to upload audio files to the server.
Bear Audio Editor Features
- Cut and delete audio
- Combine audio, songs, and ringtones together
- Fade in and fade out audio
- Mute and adjust the volume
- Supported import formats: MP3, WAV, OGG
- Export format: WAV, MP3, M4R, OGG, AAC, WMA
Bear Website | Web Browser
8. Beautiful Free Audio Editor
The Beautiful Free Audio Editor is an experimental audio editor designed for music producers, musicians, and music creators.
With its user-friendly interface and wide range of features, this audio editor makes editing audio files a breeze.
Features:
- Copy, snip, pan, and record audio
- Flexible fade volume with envelopes
- Apply and move effects like filters and compression amongst tracks
- Import audio files
- Export projects as WAV files
- Save projects to local files or Google Drive
- Undo and redo commands
- Vary audio speed
- Volume envelopes
- Recording capabilities
- Zooming capabilities
- Keyboard shortcuts
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- No plugins needed
- Flexible fade volume with envelopes
- Recording capabilities
- Zooming capabilities
- Keyboard shortcuts
Cons:
- Only works on Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox
- Limited range of effects compared to other audio editors
Visit Website | Web Browser
9. Ocenaudio
Ocenaudio is a user-friendly, cross-platform audio editor that is fast and functional.
This program has many features that make it the ideal software for both beginner and advanced users who need to edit and analyze audio files without any complications.
With its real-time preview of effects, users can hear the processed signal while adjusting the controls for a desired result.
This program supports VST plugins, which allow users to access numerous effects, and it offers a fully-featured spectrogram that enables users to analyze the spectral content of their audio signal with maximum clarity.
Here are some of the key features of Ocenaudio:
- VST plugins support
- Real-time preview of effects
- Cross-platform support
- Multi-selection for delicate editions
- Efficient editing of large files
- Fully featured spectrogram
Pros:
- Easy-to-use interface
- Real-time preview of effects
- Supports VST plugins
- Multi-selection for delicate editions
- Efficient editing of large files
Cons:
- Limited Features
- Limited options for audio export formats
Ocenaudio | PC, Mac, Linux
10. DVDVideoSoft Free Audio Editor
Free Audio Editor is an easy-to-use audio editing tool whose key functions are to delete unwanted audio parts and split audio files.
Hya-Wave Features
- Supports many audio formats: MP3, WAV, AAC, AC3, M4A, MP2, OGG, WMA, FLAC.
- Convert audio to a wide range of formats
- Adjust audio volume
Visit Website | PC
11. Power Sound Editor Free
Create, record, edit & share audio easily. Power Sound Editor Free. Visually edit audio files with all the familiar commands. Record sound from any sources with high quality. Apply 25+ built-in audio effects.
Power Sound Editor Features
- Visually edit audio files with all the familiar commands
- Record sound from any sources with high-quality
- Apply 25+ built-in audio effects
- Extract and edit audio from video or YouTube
- Support all key audio formats
Power Sound | PC
12. WaveShop Free Audio Editor
WaveShop is a user-friendly and powerful free audio editor designed for music producers, musicians, and creators. This free, open-source program works with Windows.
WaveShop is not only fast and lightweight but also bit-perfect, ensuring that audio samples remain unaltered unless necessary.
WaveShop’s impressive range of features includes peak, RMS, spectral analysis, normalizing, fading, sample rate conversion, audio generation, plug-ins, and more.
Users can also take advantage of unlimited undo functionality and comprehensive help resources.
Features:
- Bit-perfect audio editing
- Fast, lightweight, and efficient
- Supports multiple file formats
- Clipboard functionality for easy editing
- Unlimited undo
- Audio analysis tools
- Surround sound editing
- Real-time spectrum analyzer
- Recording capabilities with no limit but disk space
- Access to various effects via LADSPA plugins
Pros:
- Free and open-source
- Easy to use for beginners
- Bit-perfect editing preserves audio quality
- Comprehensive help resources
- Versatile audio analysis and editing tools
Cons:
- Available only for Windows operating systems
- No native support for VST plugins
WaveShop | PC
13. Sodaphonic
Sodaphonic is an easy-to-use and versatile free audio editor program designed for music producers, musicians, and music creators who want to create, edit, and enhance their audio projects.
It offers a user-friendly interface and a variety of powerful tools that enable users to record, cut, trim, and modify their audio tracks with ease.
With Sodaphonic, you can quickly record audio and make precise edits to your sound recordings by cutting, copying, and pasting sections of sound to create the perfect audio clip.
The program also includes time-stretching capabilities, allowing you to adjust the duration of your audio without affecting its pitch.
Features:
- Easy audio recording
- Cut, copy, and paste editing tools
- Time-stretching capabilities
- Reverse audio
- Normalize volume levels
- Fade-in and fade-out transitions
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Wide range of audio editing tools
- Perfect for music producers, musicians, and creators
- No software installation is required
- Free to use
Cons:
- Internet connection required for use
- Limited advanced features compared to professional audio editing software
- May not be suitable for complex or large-scale projects
14. Audio Editor
Free browser-based audio editor, offering free access to edit a wide range of audio formats, including MP3, WAV, and various other formats.
15. Audio Trimmer
With Audio Trimmer, you can easily and quickly trim your audio files online without any hassle. This online tool allows you to trim your MP3 tracks and other audio files on the fly, without the need to install any complex software.
What is your favorite free audio editor software program?
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A good list. I’ve been using audacity for a while. By far, it has been a good experience, but before moving on to a professional software like the adobe audition, I wanted to see if there are other free audio editing programs which are like audacity.
Thanks for sharing the list
You didn’t mention NCH Wavepad