23 Best Audio Editing Software Tools in 2024

If you’re looking for the best auto-editing software for your music projects, you will find an enormous choice. But the challenge is finding an app with the tools you need for the music you compose, record, or edit. Your required features and your available budget are also essential, so let’s see what’s available to suit your needs.

Table of Contents

Best Audio Editing Software Tools 2024

We’ve chosen the 23 best audio editing software tools, including Acoustica 6, Audacity, FL Studio, Logic Pro, and Magix Sound Forge. To help simplify your choice, we’ve listed some of their key features, the most significant pros and cons, and pricing information.

Cubase – Best Audio Mixing and Mastering Software

Cubase is one of the best digital audio workstation (DAW) apps in the industry. Originally released in 1989 for the Atari ST platform, the audio software has been updated and improved many times since then. It is used by composers, musicians, and professional audio editing producers and offers tools suitable for all music genres. Film and TV music composers love it because it works across the board for writing, recording, and mixing sound.

Key Features:

  • Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) Polyphonic Expression (MPE) support for controllers and MPE-enabled presets
  • Virtual Reality production suite with professional tools to produce content for video and VR games
  • Audio manipulation, mixing, recording, and collaboration tools
  • Virtual instruments that offer more than 6,800 presets and more than 100GB of top-quality sound
  • Video editing software and a score editor
  • VST plugins can be sorted by vendors and categories (e.g., EQs or delays)

Pros:

  • Works equally well for Apple and Windows platforms
  • A powerful and versatile DAW for all music genres
  • Studio-grade audio quality sound and effective sound editor
  • Basic controls are easy to use
  • Working and editing MIDI is a streamlined process
  • Great for mixing music
  • Flexible and stable
  • Suitable for live performances
  • The full versions of Cubase all come with the USB-eLicenser, which is a copy protection device

Cons:

  • Workflow can be challenging to navigate
  • Shortcuts are tricky to learn

Audio Editing Software, Cubase interface.

Prices & Packages:

  • 30-day free trial – You need a USB-eLicenser for the trial version of Pro 11 (about $27)
  • Elements 11 $121.38
  • Artist 11 $403.30
  • Pro 11 $706.52

Hindenburg Journalist Pro – Best Audio Editing Software for Podcasts

Audio Editing Software, Hindenburg Journalist Pro interface.
Hindenburg Journalist Pro is a versatile multitrack audio editing tool that is ideal for audio producers on the move. It’s perfect for podcast editing and audio effects, though not great for music. Intended for professional independent radio and podcast producers, it incorporates a wide range of excellent tools that will suit audio journalists and podcasters.

Key Features:

  • Magic Levels balance audio recordings and fix mixing problems automatically and enable elaborate mixing
  • Noise Reduction automatically identifies unwanted hums and hissing and works out how to reduce the unwanted sounds
  • Automatic leveling tools use advanced, up-to-date loudness standards to set levels
  • Unique clipboard that provides a bird’s eye view of all your audio material and makes organizing the audio files a breeze
  • The Voice Profiler enables you to set the EQ with one click

Pros:

  • The license may be installed on Mac and Windows operating systems
  • It works equally well for both the above platforms
  • Incorporates custom-built tools that are tops for vocal audio editing
  • Record or edit multiple tracks at the same time
  • Easy to import and merge files for editing
  • All your audio editing tools in one place
  • Live online training and webinars

Cons:

  • One of the more expensive audio editing software packages
  • Not great for music production
  • Registered for use by a single user only

Prices & Packages:

  • 30-day free trial
  • $375 one-time payment
  • Hindenburg Journalist (with fewer features) costs $95

MAGIX Music Maker – Best Free Audio Editing Software to Make Beats


Developed for beginners, MAGIX Music Maker for Windows is one of the most widely used software tools for making music. It has many customization options and is brilliant for music production. Even though it is ideal for beginners, it isn’t oversimplified. But if you think you might be overwhelmed, relax. This is the music of the future with artificial intelligence (AI) to help you.

Key Features:

  • Beatbox Pro (Plus and Premium editions) offers a built-in drum machine that produces fresh, authentic drum-beat sound
  • Mix and match loops by dragging and dropping sounds into your music mix
  • Song Maker AI (Premium edition only) uses 49 song templates and up to 8 Soundpools to enable you to create unique music
  • Virtual instruments include acoustic concert guitars, drums, and orchestral music
  • Voice tracks are easy to add from vocal samples or your voice

Pros:

  • The clear, easy-to-use interface comes with all editions
  • Even the free edition includes all basic functions and bug fixes
  • Special editions, including the 80s and Hip Hop, enable users to create music in their favorite genre
  • More than 400 loops and sounds are available
  • Works with MIDI
  • Powerful DAW for quality electronic music
  • Automatic pitch and tempo matching

Cons:

  • Only available for Windows
  • Not suitable for truly professional music producers

Prices & Packages:

  • Free edition $0.00
  • Plus edition $59.99
  • Premium edition $99.99
  • Special editions $19.99-$29.99

MAGIX SOUND FORGE – Best Simple Audio Editing & Mastering Software Tool


A pioneer in audio editing and mastering software, SOUND FORGE has been around for more than three decades. It’s been part of the MAGIX stable since 2016. Whether you are working with vocals and/or instruments or podcasts, it is ideal for multichannel sound recording, precise audio editing, and advanced mastering. Lots of tools are available for mastering and cleaning effects.

Key Features:

  • The Remote Recording window has all the essential options for recording in one place with just one touch
  • ACX Export WIzard automatically makes it music industry compatible for use in streaming services like iTunes and Audible
  • Steinberg SpectralLayers (Pro Suite) shows sounds as visual objects, empowering and simplifying the audio editing process
  • VST2/3 engine that improves communication between the host and plugins used

Pros:

  • Available for Windows and Mac
  • Reliable tool for easy recording, cleaning up audio, and handling and converting files automatically and manually
  • Great looping and audio processing capabilities
  • Graphic user interface with clearly identifiable icons
  • Wide choice of effects and plugins for cleaning audio files
  • Professional recording workflow lets you capture as many as 32 audio channels and monitor them in a customizable working environment
  • Export to digital stream digital and master top-quality audio CDs

Cons:

  • Relatively expensive, and the Pro 365 editions are only available on subscription
  • The SOUND FORGE Mac version is very expensive

Prices & Packages:

  • 10 to a 30-day free trial of Pro 15
  • Pro 15 $279.00
  • Pro 15 Suite $399.00
  • Pro 365 is $21.99 for one month, $14.99 per month for a year
  • Pro Suite 365 is $32.99 for one month, $26.99 per month for a year
  • Pro Mac 3 $3,999-$7,767 (new users)
  • Audio Studio 15 $49.99-$59.99 (new users)

Audacity – Best Free Audio Editing Software That is Easy-to-Use

Audio Editing Software, Audacity interface.
A free, open-source digital audio editor, Audacity is available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems. It is a full-featured software with professional audio editing options and multi-track editing features. Best of all, Audacity is 100% free and will fit the needs of any audio editor, whether professional or beginner. We rank it the best free audio editing software and add that it is also easy to use.

Key Features:

  • Audacity features the main window with major controls
  • Separate suite for advanced editing
  • Works with an audio interface or USB microphone

Pros:

  • Audacity works with all the main computer operating systems
  • Ideal for audio recording and editing beginners
  • Great for podcast editing
  • Easy audio editing using simple cut, copy, paste, and delete options
  • Supports a wide range of plugins, so you customize projects
  • Easy-to-manipulate selections and tracks using your computer keyboard
  • Allows destructive editing for noise reduction

Cons:

  • Doesn’t support instrument plugins
  • Doesn’t support MIDI
  • Not as polished as most paid audio editing software

Prices & Packages:

  • Free

Podcastle – AI-Powered Collaborative Audio Creation Platform

Podcastle - AI-Powered Collaborative Audio Creation Platform

Podcastle is an AI-powered collaborative audio creation platform that democratizes access to broadcast storytelling through easy-to-use yet professional tools. It is used by podcasters, audio creators, and educators and is the perfect tool for anyone who enjoys trouble-free audio creation. The Podcastle experience was initially available on the web platform only. Now, it has expanded, offering users the ultimate audio studio regardless of time, place, and device.

Key Features:

  • Extremely intuitive and simple UI enabling effortless recording and editing
  • The multitrack interview recording feature
  • AI-powered tools, including background noise and silence removal
  • Allows you to easily translate any text into audio and vice versa
  • You can convert web pages into podcasts via the Podcastle extension

Pros:

  • Available both on the web and on iOS devices
  • Allows to conduct group interviews with up to 10 participants, recording separate, high-quality audio tracks for each
  • 19 human-like voice skins for converting text to speech
  • All features are available online and for free
  • MP3 audio cutter that makes it easy to cut, trim and split audio tracks
  • Royalty-free music and sound effects library
  • Mp3 to Wav converter that works both ways
  • Podcastle constantly updates their toolset

Cons:

  • Not suitable for music production
  • Track automation isn’t available
  • Not available for Android devices yet

Prices & Packages:

  • Free
  • Storyteller plan for $14.99 per month
  • Podcastle Pro for $29.99 per month
  • Enterprise Custom plans are also available

Ocenaudio – Best Free Cross-Platform Audio Editing Software

Audio Editing Software, Ocenaudio interface.
Ocenaudio is a cross-platform audio editor that works with Windows, Mac, and Linux. Even though it doesn’t have as many features as Audacity (above), Ocenaudio is also an excellent free audio editor. It’s uncomplicated software, but it does have some powerful features to suit more advanced users.

Key Features:

  • Cross-platform support is a winner that makes Ocenaudio suitable for everyone
  • Real-time effects preview is much simpler than EQ, gain, and filtering, but it’s quick and effective
  • VST plugins support gives users immediate access to many different effects
  • Multi-selection tool for editing complex audio files

Pros:

  • It incorporates a powerful set of audio editing, analysis, and manipulation tools
  • The multi-selection tool lets you select different parts of audio files simultaneously so you can list, edit, and apply effects to them
  • Enables efficient editing of large files without wasting computer memory
  • The spectrogram tool is awesome, allowing analysis of the spectral content of your audio signal with maximum clarity

Cons:

  • Doesn’t enable multi-track editing
  • No MIDI support
  • Not suitable for serious music producers

Prices & Packages:

  • Free

Adobe Audition – Best Live Music Mixing Software


Top-quality, professional-grade audio editing software from the leading media production company, Adobe, Adobe Audition is widely used throughout the radio, television, and movie industries. It’s also great for adding audio effects to podcasts. It offers a professional solution for multi-track editing including recording an audio track and adding music elements, as well as customization.

Key Features:

  • A comprehensive toolset that includes everything you need to create, restore, mix, and edit audio content
  • Integrate music clips and record and adjust multitrack sessions seamlessly
  • An essential Sound panel is a pro tool for music editing that lets you reduce the volume of your music and adjust the clarity of sound across an entire track
  • DeReverb & DeNoise effects enable you to remove background sound easily and quickly
  • The visual keyboard shortcut editor displays all the shortcuts that need modification

Pros:

  • Advanced EQ presets
  • Sophisticated adaptive noise reduction and music-mixing tools
  • A huge selection of motion graphics templates is available
  • Superior audio editing features that enable users to apply effects quickly and easily
  • Handles multiple audio formats
  • Destructive editing for effective noise reduction

Cons:

  • Relatively expensive subscription rates
  • It might be challenging for a novice audio editor to use

Prices & Packages:

  • 30-day free trial
  • $20.99 per month
  • $52.99 per month as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite (Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere Pro, etc.)
  • Students and teachers pay $19.99 per month
  • Creative Cloud plans available for business
 

Get Adobe Audition Now

REAPER – Best Audio Editing Software for Live Stage Performance

Audio Editing Software, REAPER interface.
A cross-platform DAW and MIDI sequencer software, REAPER is an acronym for Rapid Environment for Audio Production, Engineering, and Recording. Developed by Cockos, it enables live audio and the recording of virtual instruments. You can’t record them at the same time, but you can record separate tracks and add these together. It also allows real notation editing along with a full mixing console. It is suitable for all digital audio applications from commercial and home studios, broadcast, and education, to sound design and development of games.

Key Features:

  • Records multiple audio channels of audio instruments simultaneously
  • Tiny download footprint
  • Full automation capabilities

Pros:

  • Windows, Mac, and Linux versions
  • Inexpensive
  • Unlimited free updates, often weekly
  • Cross-platform and a host to most industry-standard plug-in formats
  • Very fast and easy to customize
  • Multi-channel audio recording, mixing, and mastering
  • MIDI-friendly with MIDI hardware and software support

Cons:

  • Even though you can install license keys on multiple computers, you can only use the software on one computer at a time
  • No built-in loops or instruments
  • Lacks an intuitive interface, so it can be difficult to master
  • Suitable for all digital audio applications: commercial and home studios
  • No free trial version

Prices & Packages:

  • Free download
  • Discounted license for individual, personal users $60
  • Commercial license $225

Audiotool – Best Free DAW & Audio Editing Software for Music Production

Audio Editing Software, Audiotool interface.
Audiotool is a powerful, free, online, browser-based software tool that can be used to produce music and distribute it. Users can remix and collaborate in real time, creating and publishing tracks using Creative Commons licenses.

Key Features:

  • The modular structure enables users to add everything they need to the app’s desktop
  • Cloud production means you can access your work from anywhere in the world
  • Superb instrument tools, including Heisenberg for sounds, the modular polyphonic synthesizer Pulverisateur, and classic Bassline and Beatbox composers
  • Superior mixing and routing tools, including Audiotrack and Centroid, a consistent mixer tool
  • Numerous effects, from the effect device Rasselbock and Graphical EQ to Autofilter, Stereo Enhancer, and Exciter, are designed to help you beef up your music

Pros:

  • Friendly interface for creating, mixing, and modulating the music
  • International collaborations are enabled because of across-the-board compatibility
  • Cloud-based library with more than 250,000 samples and more than 50,000 devices presets
    Works with MIDI

Cons:

  • 2D musical instrument controls
  • You need top-speed internet to avoid any lag
  • It can be confusing to amateurs

Prices & Packages:

  • Free

FL Studio – Best DJ Audio Editing Software

Audio Editing Software, FL Studio interface.
Originally called FruityLoops, FL Studio is a DAW that is great for producing all kinds of music. It’s available for Windows and Mac and is very popular with top DJs and music producers. It’s designed for users to mix and master music to high professional standards. You will find all the features you need to produce complex, effective results. These include advanced automation, audio sends, and effects chains.

Key Features:

  • Audio editors are included with all but the Fruity, an entry-level music studio
  • Instruments and effects come with all packages
  • Instrument Tuner is built-in
  • Track Consolidation is great for creating a more efficient workflow and is useful for plug-ins
  • VFX Level Scaler is a plug-in that lets you scale the properties of notes in real-time

Pros:

  • It offers a huge number of features, plugins, presets, and samples
  • It supports MIDI
  • Offers great audio mixing and music creation tools
  • Audio processing and VST instruments are good
  • Whichever FL Studio edition you buy, you get all future updates for free
  • The content offered is all copyright cleared
  • Wrapper support for MIDI

Cons:

  • Quite a steep learning curve for beginners
  • All prices are for one license only
  • The entry-level Fruity package doesn’t include audio editors

Prices & Packages:

  • Fruity $99.00
  • Producer $199.00
  • Signature $299.00
  • All Plugins Edition $499.00

GarageBand – Best Free Audio Editing Software for Mac

Audio Editing Software, GarageBand interface.
Perfect for beginners, GarageBand has remarkably advanced abilities and music compatibility too, unlike Audacity (discussed earlier), which is also great for beginners. While Audacity does have professional audio editing options, it’s a digital audio editor rather than a DAW. The design of the GarageBand software is modern and intuitive, and incredibly easy to learn and use successfully. It suits a wide audience, from musicians undertaking multi-layer audio projects to podcasters without any audio experience.

Key Features:

  • Sound library with presets for voice and guitar, as well as session drummers and percussionists from a range of genres, so you can create without an instrument if you wish
  • Transform Pad Smart Control for synth sound effects that you can tweak
  • Logic Remote, a companion app for Apple’s Logic Pro digital audio workstation, comes with GarageBand

Pros:

  • Works well for voice audio and songs
  • Compatible with MIDI
  • Supports instrument plug-ins
  • Lots of useful recording and editing features add power to your performance
  • Touch Bar features for MacBook Pro
  • Add tracks using your iPhone or iPad

Cons:

  • Only available for Mac
  • Doesn’t have more advanced options that other software options have

Prices & Packages:

  • Free

Ableton Live – Best Audio Editing Software for New Music Producers

Audio Editing Software, Ableton Live interface.
Ideal for recording vocals, Ableton Live is an excellent choice for electronic dance music production. It appeals to singers and songwriters who want software that offers multi-track recording opportunities. And DJs and creative bands choose it for its professional audio production tools. It works as well for studio productions as it does for live performance recording.

Key Features:

  • Linked track editing keeps everything in time across tracks, even when two or more are linked and edited simultaneously
  • MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE) capability allows users to control multiple parameters of every single note in a chord
  • An exciting range of devices enables the music editor to transform sound, create musical effects, and produce recordings in a wide range of genres
  • Three instrument packs, upright piano, brass quartet, and string quartet, are designed to capture musical threads

Pros:

  • Pro tool for audio editing
  • Brilliant graphical user interface
  • MIDI production and editing features and effects
  • Professional audio editing software
  • A wide range of instruments, sounds, and effects enables creative experimentation
  • Create your own music in the studio or record live
  • Certified training is available in 39 languages in 56 countries

Cons:

  • Cost – it’s one of the most expensive digital audio workstation offerings in the audio editing software market
  • Lacks automation capabilities for previously recorded tracks
  • Not as intuitive as it could be

Prices & Packages:

  • 90-day free trial
  • Lightweight Intro version $99
  • Standard version $449
  • Suite version $749

Pro Tools – Best Professional Audio Editing Software

Audio Editing Software, Pro Tools interface.
Designed for professionals, Pro Tools is perfect for extensive editing and the very best for high-quality sound. It’s fantastic for film and television, as well as studios and soundstages. But it’s also an ideal audio editing solution for anyone wanting to create, edit, mix, or produce music of any genre. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t a pro, even beginners and intermediate users can give the free version a try and get started.

Key Features:

  • Audio post-production tools that enable synchronization take your music to a new level.
  • Advanced audio editing tools enable the manipulation of sound during music production.
  • Multi-track recordings even in the free version
  • Support for multiple video files in a single timeline

Pros:

  • Works equally well for Apple and Windows platforms
  • Pro plugins at all levels – the more you pay the more you get
  • Supports MIDI and allows audio to MIDI in the paid packages
  • Quickstart templates that make song production a breeze
  • Updated features are released often to anyone with an active plan
  • Integrated hardware options work with the editing software, accelerating your workflow

Cons:

  • Only subscriptions are available, making it costly
  • The free and lower-priced version is limited in features

Prices & Packages:

  • First version $0.00
  • Regular version $29.99 per month
  • Ultimate version $79.99 per month

Logic Pro X – Best Apple Audio Editing Software

Audio Editing Software, Logic Pro X interface.
Anyone with an Apple device will welcome Logic Pro X, a digital audio workstation and MIDI sequencer software application for the Mac operating system. Suitable for a range of users from intermediate to expert, it is incredibly powerful and enables mind-bending creativity. It isn’t free, like Audacity, but its audio editor is considerably better than Audacity’s free audio editor.

Key Features:

  • Live Loops offers recording software that enables users to create and arrange music in a dynamic way
  • Remix FX lets you introduce DJ-style effects to individual tracks or entire mixes
  • Logic Remote allows you to use your iPad or iPhone to control Logic Pro on your Mac using Multi-Touch signals from anywhere in the room
  • Novation Launchpad is supported by Live Loops

Pros:

  • One of the highest-quality audio editing Mac experiences
  • Offers straightforward but powerful editing tools
  • Seamless integration with the Mac operating system
  • Huge library of sounds, effects, and plugins
  • Sophisticated DAW that enables everything from simple edit audio functions to specialized effects including 24 instruments
  • Audio editing software that supports MIDI editing

Cons:

  • There isn’t a free version and the price tag is quite high
  • It is only available in the Mac file format

Prices & Packages:

  • 90-day free trial
  • $199.99

AudioLab – Best Amateur Audio Editing Software for Android

Audio Editing Software, AudioLab interface.
Designed for beginners, AudioLab is an audio editor recorder that enables basic audio file editing for Android devices. It can also be used for making ringtones. According to the folks at HitroLab, where the audio editing software was developed, it was inspired by Audacity, which is a totally free audio editor.

Key Features:

  • Audio Trimming enables all the basic functions including cutting, cropping, copy-and-pasting, adding silence, fade, and undo and redo
  • Audio Mixing that includes all the usual DJ-effect options and filters as well as Mix Four Audio, and Change SPeed & Pitch
  • Detailed features including Tag Editing, Audio Recorder, Audio Merging, Audio Converter, and Music Player
  • Instant Preview that lets you monitor your editing process every step of the way

Pros:

  • Includes all the audio editing features you will need to create great audio tracks
  • Includes numerous high-end audio tools and lots of useful audio data
  • Top features include an equalizer and multichannel editing
  • Their paid package is a pay-for-what-you-want model that costs from $1.49 to $14.99

Cons:

  • Only available for Android devices
  • Lots of ads in the free version
  • Mixed reviews report lots of negative audio recording and editing issues
  • Not very powerful and not suitable for pro use

Prices & Packages:

  • Free version
  • Maximum $14.99 for paid versions

PreSonus Studio One – Best Innovative Pro Audio Editing Software

Audio Editing Software, PreSonus Studio One interface.
PreSonus Studio One is a sophisticated DAW that offers harmonic editing for MIDI and audio. The aim is to help users effortlessly create perfect harmony. The audio editing software incorporates 5 integrated tools that allow you to create music without boundaries. Easy-to-use, it is intuitive and allows you to drag and drop everything. You can even drag-and-drop MIDI to audio or audio to MIDI.

Key Features:

  • Harmonic Editing enabled for audio and MIDI
  • Instrument Track lets you extract chord notes directly from audio and drag them to an instrument track
  • Chord Track lets you change chord progressions and mix them in any way
  • ScratchPads let you test arrangements with a simple click of your mouse
  • Arranger Track lets you move sections of songs instantly and effortlessly
  • Splitter plug-in allows you to run multiple plugins parallel on one single channel

Pros:

  • Well-priced
  • Compatible with Windows and Mac
  • Fully developed Score Editor based on Notion
  • You can drag and drop everything including virtual instruments, plugin effects, audio loops, and presets
  • Supplied with a complete suite of plugins
  • Studio One has a collection of virtual instruments that you can combine to create your own unique sound library
  • No uninstalling or reinstalling when you buy a license after your free trial

Cons:

  • Console view and user interface can be confusing for beginners
  • Limited instruments available

Prices & Packages:

  • Studio One 5 Prime $0.00 for a 30-day free trial
  • Studio One 5 Artist $99.95
  • Studio One 5 Professional $399.95
  • Crossgrades and Upgrades are also available
  • Collaborative and networking tools for a monthly or annual fee

Descript – Best Audio/Video Editing Software for Podcasters

Audio Editing Software, Descript interface.
Descript is an all-in-one audio and video-editing application that the makers call the world’s first audio word processor. Described by some reviewers as the holy grail of podcasters, Descript allows users to record, edit, mix and transcribe audio and video. It offers a web-based and desktop application, both of which include a remote recording option, filler word removal, and overdub.

Key Features:

  • Transcription is automatic and human-powered, with almost instant turnaround
  • Cloud sync provides instant access for you and your collaborators, from anywhere
  • Full-featured video editing that is fast and fun
  • Overdub for voiceover using your voice or stock voices

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Overdub lets users create text-to-speech models of their own voices
  • Easy-to-use
  • Users’ data is kept super-safe and secure
  • Super-simple podcasting and video editing
  • Correcting recording using Overdub is as simple as typing

Cons:

  • The free version doesn’t include Overdub
  • Transcription from speech to text isn’t 100% accurate

Prices & Packages:

  • Free version for screen recording
  • Creator $12 per month (-20% per year)
  • Pro $24 per month (-20% per year)
  • Enterprise Custom for 20+ user teams

WavePad – Best Free Music & Audio Editing Software for Beginners

Audio Editing Software, WavePad interface.
WavePad is a full-featured professional audio and music editor that enables you to record and edit voice, music, and audio recordings. It has a highly intuitive interface that lets you cut, copy, and paste recordings and add all kinds of effects. It is popular with a wide range of users, from music producers, teachers, and students, to voice actors and podcasters. Use it online or offline.

Key Features:

  • Effects and editings include 20 filters for voice recording
  • Mixing and splitting tools include a frequency analysis, pop/click repair, text-to-speech generator, and a tone generator
  • Voice Over tools enable users to create their own voice-overs for videos
  • Effects include echo, reverb, and normalize
  • Fast editing tools for compression and cut, copy and paste, and auto-trim

Pros:

  • Available for Mac and Windows
  • iPhone/iPad, Android, and Chromebook versions
  • Affordable pricing
  • Easy-to-add effects like amplification, echo, and noise reduction to clean up audio clips
  • Powerful tools for batch processing, scrub and search audio, and spectral analysis
  • Professional editing features include reducing vocals from a music track and trimming sound bites from longer audio files

Cons:

  • If you choose not to buy license upgrades after the free trial, you can continue to use it, but the advanced features will be disabled
  • The software only works with single audio tracks

Prices & Packages:

  • Free Standard edition for non-commercial use
  • Master’s Edition free 14-day trial
  • Sound Editor Master’s Edition $49.99 (discounted) $99.00 (normal price)
  • Sound Editor Standard $29.99 (discounted) $60.00 (normal price)
  • Sound Editor Master’s Edition – quarterly plan $3.88 per month

Ashampoo Music Studio – Best Free Audio Editing Software for Windows

Audio Editing Software, Ashampoo Music Studio interface.
Ashampoo Music Studio is music management software designed for Windows operating systems. The makers call it a Swiss army knife for music! It offers easy music production, editing, trimming, mixing, and straightforward organization of audio files. A top feature is the outstanding DJ Mix Tape tool that analyzes and harmonizes track speeds for the perfect mix.

Key Features:

  • DJ Mix Tape uses the latest technologies to help users create professional song mixes
  • Quick Rip lets you extract audio from discs extraordinarily fast
  • Splitter that removes momentary gaps in live recordings
  • Advanced editing options to maintain constant levels and change volume levels globally

Pros:

  • Allows you to rip and burn songs very quickly
  • Remarkably easy to turn recordings into songs
  • New formats include APE and CUE are bundled with ingenious device presets
  • Device presets include Android, Microsoft, and Apple, set new standards in device compatibility
  • Lots of shortcuts let users work faster
  • Extract audio tracks from videos
  • Drag and drop to move tracks
  • Allows you to burn to CD or hard drive

Cons:

  • Only available for Windows

Prices & Packages:

  • Music Studio 2020 free full version
  • Music Studio 8 – 10-day trial version
  • Music Studio 8 $29.99

Acoustica 7 – Best Audio Editing Software for Audio-Restoration & Post Production

Audio Editing Software, Acoustica 7 interface.
Acoustica 7 from Acon Digital is a great product for audio editing, the creation of podcasts, mastering, and audio restoration. Available for Mac and personal computers, there are two versions, both of which incorporate a powerful, sample-accurate clip editor. The Premium Edition is more expensive, but it has many more features.

Key Features:

  • High-quality audio quality that maintains a high-quality recording
  • Analysis tools, including spectrum, spectrogram, and wavelet, are available
  • Spectral editing with powerful retouch algorithms available in the Premium Edition
  • Multi-channel audio recording supported by the Premium Edition

Pros:

  • Real-time preview audio processors
  • Available for Mac and Windows
  • Single and multi-track functionality

Cons:

  • Audio Units (AU) are for Mac only

Prices & Packages:

  • Free 30-day trial
  • Standard Edition $59.90
  • Premium Edition $199.90
  • Premium Edition 7 + DeVerberate + DeFilter $299.90

Zortam Mp3 Media Studio – Best Audio Editing Software to Manage Mp3 Files

Audio Editing Software, Zortam Mp3 Media Studio interface.
Zortam Mp3 Media Studio enables you to batch auto-tag Mp3 files with the Zortam database. It is an all-in-one application with several modules including those we have listed in the Key Features below. It’s a particularly good tool for organizing karaoke collections. It’s in a niche market and is currently the only application that can auto-tag Mp3 music collections via its internet database.

Key Features:

  • Zortam Mp3 Auto Tagger to tag (or name) your music files so you can search for them
  • Mp3 Organizer & ID3 Tag Editor that let you catalog your music files
  • Mp3 Player so you can listen to the music
  • Mp3 Normalizer to adjust volume levels
  • BPM Analyzer that analyzes the beats per minute of your music
  • CD and DVD Ripper with lyric and album cover support
  • Mp3 to Mav Converter that works both ways

Pros:

  • The software recognizes millions of music tracks
  • Its database is good for organizing Mp3 files
  • Zortam releases regular updates to the software

Cons:

  • Only available for Windows
  • There is free software with similar specifications

Prices & Packages:

  • Mp3 Media Studio Pro $15.95
  • Mp3 Media Studio Pro (with a lifetime license) $24.95

DRmare – Best Audio & Media Converting Software

Audio Editing Software, DRmare interface.
DRmare software enables users to bypass digital rights management (DRM) limitations on a wide range of files. So, for instance, if you want to play songs from iTunes but don’t have an Apple device, you can convert the software so that you can use it on whatever device you own. There are several DRmare software packages available to suit various needs

Key Features:

  • Highly advanced decryption technology
  • Reliable audio ripper feature
  • Music Converter downloads and converts OGG Vorbis to MP3, AAC, and so on without losing quality
  • TidiKit Music Converter enables users to download and convert HiFi/MQA music to MP3 and similar and to download music at 5X conversion speed
  • Audio Converter enables users to convert M4P songs, M4A and M4B audiobooks, and AA/AAX audiobooks to MP3 with up to 30X faster conversion speed
  • Audio Capture lets users record multiple music tracks from streaming websites and services on a desktop and trim and edit them
  • M4V Converter converts and unlocks M4V videos for Android and other devices

Pros:

  • Available for Mac and Windows
  • Easy to use with a clutter-free interface that maximizes usability
  • Access to lots of advanced options for output formats
  • It can be used as a standalone audio player
  • Customizable option for ID3 tags that include track titles, album year, artists, and other details

Cons:

  • A legality issue rather than a con: you cannot distribute media content that has had its DRM removed

Prices & Packages:

  • Music Converter $14.95 (discounted) $19.95 (normal price)
  • TidiKit Music Converter $14.95 (discounted) $19.95 (normal price)
  • Audio Converter $14.95 (discounted) $19.95 (normal price)
  • Audio Capture $29.95 (discounted) $34.95 (normal price)
  • M4V Converter $29.95 (discounted) $34.95 (normal price)

Soundation – Best Audio Editing Software to Develop Soundtracks

Audio Editing Software, Soundation interface.
Soundation provides an excellent introduction to DAWs and helps to show beginners how to work with loops and edit audio and music files. You can make your own beats, record and edit audio and MIDI, mix, and collaborate using the software.

Key Features:

  • Automate the knobs and sliders to add life and movement to your music mix
  • Pro music tools to create your own beats
  • Audio effects to shape your sound and make it special
  • Control sound using MIDI

Pros:

  • East to navigate
  • More than 12,000 royalty-free loops
  • All plans include instruments and effects, including easy-to-use drum machines and synthesizers.

Cons:

  • Changes to the interface in updates can be confusing

Prices & Packages:

  • Starter $4.99 per month (10 projects)
  • Creator $9.99 per month (unlimited projects)
  • Pro $29.99 per month

Best Audio Editing Software Tools according to Reddit:

Audacity (free) for raw audio recording, Craig Bot for backup audio on Discord meetings, and Davinci Resolve (free) for editing with lots of online tutorials available.

You might be interested to check those related posts as well:

FAQ

Should you have audio production hardware before investing in software?

You only need audio production hardware if you are producing professional audio files. In most cases, you can use a reliable Mac or Windows computer for audio editing. But the stability of your computer is critical. If you don’t have the basics, then don’t spend a lot on software.

What makes a great audio editor?

Auto editing software provides you with the digital tools you need to record, edit, and produce audio files. But there are so many different elements to being an audio editor. You need to assess which one meets your needs the best. Ideally, you want a user-friendly interface with lots of tools and effects.

Can you edit audio in the Windows Media Player?

Yes, you can edit audio files in the Windows Media Player. There is a Windows Media plugin that you can use. You may, though, need an auto editor to trim your audio files. But you can certainly edit the media info in all songs.

What do professionals use to edit songs?

We have included software that professionals use to edit songs. But, like everything in life, preferences vary. FL Studio is a popular choice. Other top audio editing software choices include, in alphabetical order, Adobe Audition, Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, GarageBand, Descript, Audacity, Sound Forge, and Studio One.

Does Windows 10 have an audio editor?

There are several audio editors available for Windows 10. One popular example is the Lexis Audio editor, which has a very simple interface. You can create new audio files using this editor and edit existing files. Its black background is a bonus during long editing sessions.

Are there any audio editing software programs that are functional offline?

Most audio editing software is either functional online or offline. But, WavePad is a great audio editing software program that we have included in our choice of the best audio editing software. You can use it online and offline.

Conclusion

If you are in the market for audio editing software, you have a vast and varied array of choices. Our 23 chosen software options will surely help you decide which one is best suited for your music or media projects.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest

Table of Contents

Related posts