Best free sound editors


With WavePad you can cut, copy and paste parts of recordings, add effects like echo, amplification and noise reduction. The program works as a wav editor or mp3 editor but it also supports a number of other file formats including vox, gsm, real audio, au, aif, flac, ogg and more. It is easy enough, including shift+arrow or shift+home/end selection shortcut keys (I don’t understand why some other editors lack them). WavePad can save in mp3 format (not only “export”). It is also fast enough (faster than Audacity) when opening or saving mp3 files.

Wave Editor opens audio files in MP3, WMA, WAV formats, and saves in WAV and MP3 formats. Operations: Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete * Insert Silence * Normalize * Fade In, Fade Out * Zoom in/ Zoom Out.

Wavosaur works with many files in one session; it supports all classic editing functions: cut, copy, paste, paste mix, paste replace/insert, paste to new file, trim/crop, delete, undo. If you need just basic editing operations (select, cut, copy, etc) you may like to skip this editor.

Audacity can record live audio, convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs, edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, WAV or AIFF sound files, Cut, copy, splice or mix sounds together, change the speed or pitch of a recording. Audacity is well known and tried freeware you may like to have at your disposal, even if you also use other sound editors.

Free Audio Editor lets you make and edit voice and other audio recordings. You can cut, copy and paste parts of recording and, if required, add effects like echo, amplification and noise reduction. There is also a “Master’s” Edition, which is not free. Note that the free version saves only in wav format. Prefer other editors featured on this page, if you want to save in MP3 format.

Ocenaudio is free and convenient. It lets you edit, record, analyze and convert audio files of several formats, including mp3, wav, flac, ape, aiff, asf, wma, ogg, mkv, etc. Filters and effects with real-time preview are available, editing multiple selections at once is possible, and standard editing tasks like copy and paste work flawlessly. Ocenaudio is ideal for those who need a really easy yet powerful audio editor. I’m impressed with the functionality and simplicity of Ocenaudio. If you are interested in sound editing you should definitely check out this program!

Kristal Audio Engine is a multi-track recorder, audio sequencer and mixer. It is free for personal, educational and non-commercial use. It features: 16 audio tracks; 3-band parametric EQ; 2 VST insert slots per channel; 3 VST master effect slots; file formats: WAVE, AIFF, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis; fade-in/fade-out/crossfade; unlimited undo/redo; connect your mic/guitar and play thru Kristal using VST effects in realtime, and more. For basic editing operations (select, cut, copy, etc) you need to use some other program.

Deca Dance will let you mix one or more different sounds or full tracks and combine them to record a new one. Deca-dance is easy to use, but it comes also with a detailed help file. It can be used only with wave files (WAV) and for simple mixing works (it can not replace advanced studio programs).

Shuangs Audio Joiner just joins 2 or more audio files into one; you can use it to combine WAV, MP3 and WMA of various types and qualities into a single file.