Sound editing is kind of routine work for many of us, especially people related to multimedia industry. No matter if you are working with audio files on a daily basis, several times a month or just a few rare times in a year, a nice free sound editor can save much time and effort while granting you more control over your work and more creativity to reveal your talent. This post will be focusing on helping you choosing the best sound editor software.
Many sound editor programs are not easy to use – pros may benefit from them but for a vast number of new users, complication is a bummer that kills any passion and idea. Meanwhile, the price tag does not help when you are trying to do some high-quality editing work while on a budget. How can we solve this problem without paying a dime? An excellent piece of reliable sound editor freeware can be your way out.
Best Sound Editor Software 2018
1. Power Sound Editor
Power Sound Editor is a popular free sound editor, which offers many of the editing functions users usually look for. With this application, you can upload audio tracks in the most popular formats, record directly in the application, and make many different edits. There are over 25 built-in audio effects to choose from including Reverb, Chorus, and Echo. Beyond that, it is easy-to-use, making it a fantastic option for beginners who are not familiar with sound editing.
Power Sound Editor Free, as free sound editor software, provides many editing features as others while working even more efficiently and professionally than some payware out there. Before jumping to conclusion, let’s check its features to find out how it meets the standards of “the best sound editor software“.
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2. WaveShop
One of the most popular free sound editor programs for Windows users is WaveShop. A large part of WaveShop’s popularity comes from the fact that this program is bit-perfect. This means that when audio tracks get uploaded into the program, they do not get altered unless deemed necessary by WaveShop. In other words, your audio will not be altered without your person. WaveShop also has a ton of amazing editing features and tools, like changing the audio format, fading audio in and out, amplifying audio, and so much more. It is a fairly easy-to-use app that also accepts a wide range of audio file formats.
Pros:
- Bit-perfect software, meaning WaveShop will not needlessly change your audio in any way without your consent.
- Supports a wide range of file formats, including AAC/MP4, MP3, FLAC and Ogg/Vorbis.
- Easy-to-use application, making it very user-friendly for all skill levels.
Cons:
- Does not offer certain editing and filter options, like pitch and tempo changing.
3. Nero WaveEditor
Nero WaveEditor is another option to consider when looking for a free sound editor. While it may not offer all the same bells-and-whistles as a more advanced sound editing program, the Nero Wave Editor is still powerful and can accomplish a lot. But, with a lack of user support, this editing tool may be best for those with a sound editing background, rather than complete beginners. But, it is still an excellent tool for basic audio recording and editing.
Pros:
- Compatible with all the major audio file formats.
- Create editing presets if you use the same tasks repeatedly, to help speed up track editing.
- Bit-perfect program; audio will not get needlessly altered upon upload.
Cons:
- Not as many tools and filters for audio editing as other programs offer.
- A lack of in-app and web support can make it hard for inexperienced users to learn.
4. Acoustica Basic
As the name implies, Acoustica Basic is a free version of a paid sound editor. This means that in terms of appearance, Acoustica looks great and is perfect for newcomers to sound editing. It is more advanced than tools like MP3 Cutter and Editor but still not as well-rounded as other sound editors like Audacity. But, when it comes to basic audio editing, then Acoustica Basic is a great tool to consider for yourself.
Pros:
- Sleeker and more stylish design than the open-source options available.
- Easy to navigate the application, making it a great option for first-time users.
Cons:
- There have not been updates to the free basic version, meaning you may not have access to the most recent features.
5. Wavosaur
Wavosaur might sound like a dinosaur of some sort, but it is another great free sound editor to consider downloading. It is a more lightweight editor, which means it will not take up a whole lot of space on your hard drive. But, that does not make it any less powerful; you can record, edit, batch convert, and so much more with Wavosaur. It is easy enough for a beginner to use, but even more advanced users will find Wavosaur as a great, straight-forward option.
Pros:
- The quality of recordings is high and on-par with uploaded audio.
Cons:
- Users have complained that the vocal remover tool does not work well, not allowing them to create instrumental tracks.
6. WavePad
WavePad is another great free sound editor program available for Windows users. This full-featured program is of professional-quality and includes a wide range of editing tools and options. WavePad also accepts various file formats, including everything from WAV files to FLAC and OGG. Like with Acoustica Basic, WavePad is a free version of the WavePad Master’s Edition, which comes with extra editing tools and features.
Pros:
- The free version offers enough features, users of all levels should find what they want.
- Small download size means the program does not take a lot of hard drive space.
Cons:
- If you do not download directly from their site, you will only have trail access.
- Need to pay to access more advanced features, which is expensive.
7. Ocenaudio
Ocenaudio is a free, fast, and overall great free sound editor. It is a great option for those who are only looking to do light editing, rather than full-on audio editing. Because it lacks the bells and whistles you find in more advanced applications, like Audacity, which is also on this list, it takes up less hard drive space and works much faster. Like all applications on this list, Ocenaudio supports the most common media files and provides users with a large display as they work to edit it to their liking.
Pros:
- The application is easy to install and does not take up a lot of hard drive space.
- Easy even for beginners, with a useful help section.
Cons:
- Some users have issues switching between stereo and mono viewing modes.
8. Audacity
Audacity may very well be the most well-known sound editor around. It is a freeware program that is one of the most professional ones available. This program specifically allows users to edit and record audio easily and accepts all of the major audio file formats. Another feature that makes Audacity so popular is the fact that all of the functions can easily be controlled directly from the keyboard, saving you from having to constantly reach for your mouse to choose something or undo a change.
Pros:
- Offers all of the popular audio filters and tools for editing files.
- Accepts all of the major audio file times for uploaded tracks.
Cons:
- Can take time to learn how to use, making it not-so-user-friendly.
- May occasionally crash, and if work is not saved, it can easily get lost.
9. MP3directcut
Finally, there is also MP3directcut, This is another non-destructive sound editor application for Windows that allows users to copy, paste, and cut audio into the program wit \h ease. It supports several of the major audio file formats and has a sleek interface. Additionally, completed files are compressible, making them take up less space on your had drive.
Pros:
- Non-destructive application; it will not alter audio unless necessary, just like other applications on this list.
- Both convenient and intuitive in how it is set up and works, making it easy once users get the hang of it.
Cons:
- It is difficult to install with the self-extracting ZIP because the automatic installation does not function well.
- It is best to extract the download file manually simply.
Verdict – Best Free Sound Editor
Power Sound Editor Free is the best free sound editor software. Both newbies and experts can have fluent audio editing experience working with it. It is recommended because of the resons below:
Free to Use
It’s not all about money but hey, we gotta admit that price is almost the first factor to consider, especially when you need to decide if you want to get the same thing by paying a few bucks or $0. Power Sound Editor Free is such a tool to provides high-quality editing features and resulting audio files for free.
Security
Yes, there are many free tools out there but none of them are safe enough for your system to use. They secretly install stuff on your computer: malware, spyware, adware, bloatware, trojan, virus, etc. You’ll never know what’s on the way. Some else may be better but they require your personal info for registration: mail address, email, cellphone number, credit card … Why risk your info while you can’t assure they won’t leak them to third-party groups? Power Sound Editor Free asks nothing in return.
Sound Recording
Sound recording is one of the most important features of a multifunctional audio editor application because you won’t find all the audio you want anytime, anywhere – sometimes you just need to record it while you can hear it. Power Sound Editor Free is able to record audio from whatever sound resources – stereo mix, microphone, line-in, LP, online streaming, etc. It can record the sound you hear and then automatically load the recording in the audio editor for further editing.
Sound Editing
As for its inborn duty, Power Sound Editor Free does the audio editing like most other sound editors do, nothing less: Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Silent, Mix, Undo/Redo, etc. You can perform all the operation visually on a waveform with Bookmark and Region Marker tools. Meanwhile, there is a sub-millisecond selection tool to upgrade your ability to manipulate audio to a professional level. Power Sound Editor Free can edit an existing audio file or load an audio track from an audio CD directly.
Audio Effects and Filters
It’s almost impossible to make amazing stunning & ear-catching music without audio effects and filters. Power Sound Editor Free provides a series of audio effects and filters to tweak your audio.
Effects provided: Fade in/out, Echo, Delay, Vibrato, Phase, Flange, Equalize, Amplify, Normalize, Envelope, Compressor, Chorus, Reverse, Reverb, Invert, Stretch, Pitch Shift, Mix Stereo, etc.
Filters provided: Equalizer, Peaking Equalizers, Notch Filter, High Pass, Band Pass, Low Pass, High Shelf, Low Shelf, etc.
Presets
Not all of us know all the techy stuff like a pro – that’s why some presets are needed when editing your audio. It describes a set of complicated parameters with easy and understandable words so that we know what to expect when we choose a certain option. It provides preset for all the sound effects and you can pre-listen to the processed before you actually apply them to the sound file. It also provides presets for quality adjustment when you output the audio.
Meanwhile, the fast access of the presets can also help pros to do some quick work. The manual parameter settings is still provided and recommended for experts with very specific needs.
Noise Reduction
If you have recorded some music from the old vinyls and cassette tapes, the noise is unavoidable. However, Power Sound Editor Free can minimize the harm those noises do to your recording. It can reduce the pops, hiss, cracks, breath, etc. to make your audio usable.
(Please notice that what we do is trying our best to reduce them, but 100% removal of noises is not possible for any audio editor software no matter how they brag about their noise removal ability.)
Tag Editing
For music fans who have countless musical files, tag info is necessary. It can help set items like filename, released year, album, artist, genre, cover art, etc. and it can be useful to link a lyric file and find duplicate music files. Power Sound Editor Free enables you to embed data stated above via an MP3 tag editor (for MP3 format) or a WMA info editor (for WMA format).
Audio CD Burning and Ripping
People use CD less frequently now but still, it is a method to backup, play and share your music. Power Sound Editor Free has an Audio CD burner that can burn your recording or edited audio into standard Audio CD that can be played in a CD player.
Meanwhile, you can directly load a track from an Audio CD into the editor and save it as an audio file to your harddrive. Before ripping the track, you can click a button to link to a free CD database to get all the tracks automatically renamed according to the published album.
Text to Speech
A text to speech tool is built-in to convert your text into human voice. You can paste your words to make them spoken and save the voice as an audio file; also, you can directly convert the text to speech and insert it into any position of the loaded audio.
(Note: you need to have at least a voice package install on your system)
Audio Extraction and YouTube Download/Conversion
Power Sound Editor Free provides tools to extract audio from video as well as download YouTube videos and convert them to wanted video/audio formats.
How to Edit Sound and Add Sound Effects with the Best Sound Editor Software
Download Power Sound Editor Free
Step 1. Load a Sound File
Launch Power Sound Editor Free, the Best Sound Editor Software and drag the sound file you want to edit into the program. Or you can click “Open” to navigate to the source folder to add the file. The added file will be displayed as a waveform.
Step 2. Edit the Sound File and Add Audio Effects
Drag the cursor on the waveform to select the part you want to perform the editing operations you want. You can also use the selection tool at the bottom to specify the start & end time of the selection.
Under the “Edit” tab, you can edit the part you select; under the “Effects” tab, add audio effects to it. If you don’t select any part of the waveform, the audio effects will be applied to the whole audio file. Use the bookmark and region maker tools if you need to memorize and jump between multiple points/regions.
Step 3. Save the Sound File
Before you save the sound file, you must ensure it is the exactly the result you want. Click the play button at the bottom to play it back. If it is not what you expect, you can always undo the operations to make things right. Click “Save” to save the edited file. If you don’t want to overwrite the source file, choose “Save as” to generate a new sound file. Now you’ve successfully edited your audio file with the Best Sound Editor Software.
More to Expect with Power Sound Editor Free
Power Sound Editor Free is one of the Best Sound Editor Software around and it works for free. It could be a steady assistant for your routine or a temp solution to save the day.
Download Power Sound Editor Free
- Capture and perfect any sound you hear and save it to a playable audio file;
- Digitize your analog audio and reduce noises as much as possible;
- Add awesome audio effects to your music;
- Create fantastic cellphone ringtone;
- Edit a track from an Audio CD and rip it to your harddrive;
- Get sound extracted from video;
- Download YouTube video and video from other video sites and convert them to MP3;
- Burn a birthday/party mix CD for a happy get-together;
- Edit you interview recording, lecture or podcast content;
- And more.