This article describes sound editors. They allow you to perform both simple operations (gluing tracks, cropping, changing the tone), and complex (applying effects, equalization, recording audio).
Audacity
Audacity is a free audio editor . There are versions for popular editions of Windows, Linux and macOS. The functionality of the utility allows you to compete with commercial developments.
The application interface is rude. For experienced users, large icons and buttons of the main functions will remind you of the design of Windows XP. For macOS followers, the utility design will seem archaic. Although the interface of the program cannot be called beautiful, nevertheless it is simple and understandable. In Audacity in Russian , almost all the inscriptions are presented with a few exceptions, which will allow you to start work without a long study of manuals.
The utility interface is built in such a way that even the user who previously had no experience with similar software can perform basic operations with audio data. The buttons for the main actions are located in the upper panel of the main window.
For the program to start supporting the main popular audio formats, you need to install the free codecs FFmpeg and LAME. This is inconvenient, but the developers had no other choice due to licensing issues. Experienced users will like the fact that the utility can work with uncompressed data (FLAC, WAV).
When the user finishes editing and saves the file, a free audio editor will automatically open a dialog to fill in the tags. If the user is often involved in editing audio, he does not need to enter information manually each time - the utility allows you to create templates.
To add files to the editor, a standard dialog or simple drag and drop is used. With sound, the program can do everything the same as commercial products: noise reduction, gluing, cropping, applying effects, changing the height. During operation, the source file is in no way affected. The application copies the sections of the track on which operations were performed to the project directory. When the user clicks on the "Save" button, the utility simply combines the changed and the original data to create a new file. This ensures maximum security for user data.
A program for working with sound can save the entire track or a separate part. If you are editing multi-channel audio, it is possible to save individual channels in different files.
In addition to making changes to existing tracks, the application is able to record sound from the line input of the audio card built into the mixer OS and microphone. In this case, the utility allows you to start capturing after pressing a button or upon reaching a signal level of a predetermined limit.
The program for working with sound has in its arsenal an extensive set of effects. If they are not enough, you can install any third-party VST-plugin. The frequency response analyzer as a whole works stably. But it has one significant drawback. After downloading the file, the utility analyzes only part of it.
Summary
Although the program has flaws, it is the best free audio editor. Its functionality is comparable to commercial products. After downloading the application, the user receives a powerful tool. And the price of commercial analogues with the same functionality is very high. The download link is on the official Audacity resource. Windows is the OS that is most susceptible to virus threats, so downloading the utility from third-party resources is not recommended.
Mixcraft
Mixcraft is not just an audio editor, but a whole virtual studio. Its main distinguishing feature is a large number of built-in samples, loops, effects, and virtual instruments.
All this variety of tools allows you to not only perform simple operations on audio data, but also create your own tracks and remixes.
Key Features
The program for working with sound has the following distinctive features:
- 7000 samples are supplied with the program;
- more than 20 built-in effects of a professional level;
- 11 pre-installed plugins in VST format;
- the ability to import loops from popular library containers;
- The utility supports almost all modern audio file formats.
Mixcraft is the program that is best for users involved in mixing tracks or composing. The program interface is non-standard, so the utility will take some time to master.
The only drawback is that this program for working with sound is not free. However, it can be used for two weeks without buying a license.