The best free programs to edit music, audio and sound on Mac, Linux or Windows (2022)
What programs can you use to edit audio and music on Mac, Linux, Android or Windows in 2022 (mp3, wav…)? What is the best program to edit sound and trim songs? If you want a software to edit mp3, wav or any other audio file, I am going to recommend you the best free options.
- We are going to recommend the best music editing programs for your computer. And you can download them right away. They are for free.
On other occasions we have already talked about Audacity , one of the best options for editing audio on various platforms, but the world does not end with this software. There are other really interesting options that can provide us with really new features.
If you are looking for a good tool to help you create a soundtrack for your video movies, or you need an app to help you convert your collection of recordings and cassettes into MP3 format, you have a lot of free sound editors that are very easy to use. use.
They’re perfect for easily cutting songs, normalizing the volume of multiple songs, cleaning up audio that doesn’t sound right, or recording your voice or gaming sessions.
Top 10 free audio and music editing software in 2022: trim songs, record your voice or edit music online
| Free audio editing program | Opinion |
|---|---|
| Â Audacity | Flexible and powerful. Open Source. All platforms. |
| oceanaudio | Great interface for editing. For Windows, macOS and Linux. |
| wowsaur | Light and simple for Windows. Perfect for editing, processing, recording, analyzing and converting audio. |
| Lexis Audio Editor | Publisher for Android. |
| mp3DirectCut | To record and edit songs. For Windows or Linux (via Wine). |
| WavePad Audio Editing Software | To edit audio for non-commercial use. For Windows and Mac |
| TwistedWave | Online music editor. |
| Garage Band | To edit audio on macOS. |
| Ardor | To record and edit audio on Linux, MacOS or Windows |
| Quicktime or App voice notes | Quick option on macOS. |
1.-Program to edit music and audio perfect for everything:Â Â Audacity
The GPL audio editor par excellence. Flexible and powerful, Audacity is the best free audio editor of 2022.  You can download it for any desktop platform: Mac, Windows, Linux. It is one of the classic programs in Linux .
eye! They just updated to version 3.0 in March 2021 (we’re already on version 3.1 now), a big step forward for the program. The main change that has taken place in this update is that now instead of saving your projects in an .aup file, you will save them in an .aup3 file:
« … in the past the data files and the .aup file were separate and users reasonably expected the .aup file to contain the entire project. Well, the new .aup3 file also contains the data. The technical detail is that we are using an open source database, SQLite3, to store everything in an .aup3 file. This all happens ‘behind the scenes’ .”
- Audacity is free software. You can use it for any personal, commercial, institutional or educational purpose, including installation on as many different computers as you like. You may also copy, distribute, modify and/or resell Audacity, under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) as published by the Free Software Foundation. In granting you this right, the GPL requires that the source code you distribute be made available under the GPL. (Source: Audacity )
The interface might seem a bit intimidating at first, but then you realize that it’s pretty easy to use. Audacity is equipped with an extensive number of built-in tools that allow you to edit pre-recorded files, capture sounds through a microphone, or even listen to music and podcasts. It has support for a wide range of audio formats and a range of effects.
You’ll also find a large selection of third-party plugins to make it even more powerful, and a comprehensive help manual for beginners.
2.-Program to edit audio with a great interface:Â Â Ocenaudio
The first thing that surprises about Ocenaudio is its careful interface. It seems that in this sense they have adapted to modern times, something that is appreciated. Its interface is simple and very easy to use, but don’t be fooled: it’s a really powerful editor.
It is capable of opening any audio and video format. You can have several audios open at the same time and edit them without much problem. We can also export the audio files and upload them to an FTP server or even create ringtones for iPhone.
It doesn’t have as many effects or features as Audacity, but it’s very easy to use and a better choice for beginners. It is available for Windows, OS X and Linux.
3.-Program to edit really light audio:Â Â Wavosaur
A really lightweight tool that is capable of editing, processing, recording, analyzing and converting audio. The only problem is that it only supports certain formats like MP3, OGG, and WAV, and it hasn’t been updated since 2013.
It is also a really easy program to use although it has a lot of features that can intimidate the novice audio editor. It is available for Windows.
4.-Program to edit audio on Android:Â Â Lexis Audio Editor
This is a professional app for Android (and as an app for Windows 8) that comes with a few options for processing audio. The interface opens with the typical “wave” area and you can work with them easily by copying, cutting and pasting.
It also allows us to change the tempo and speed, fade in/out and has an equalizer. The free version does not let you save the files in mp3, but we can save them in WAV, FLAC or WMA format.
5.-Program to edit audio with all the basics:Â Â mp3DirectCut
You can record directly in the program or edit tracks of all kinds. It doesn’t have the best design in the world, but it has all the basics to be able to work with your sound files. You can cut songs, normalize audio, increase volume or fade. It even has an option to apply effects to an entire folder of audio files. Couldn’t ask for more for free. Available for Windows or Linux (via Wine).
6.-Program to edit audio for non-commercial use:Â Â WavePad Audio Editing Software
Another great option for Windows and Mac. It’s a music editing program that you can use for free as long as it’s for non-commercial use (otherwise you need to buy a $70 license). It supports file formats as disparate as .WAV, .MP3, .M4A, .WMA, .FLAC or .AAC. Its interface is very intuitive and you can work with several files at the same time. It has effects and voice manipulation.
7.-Online music editor:Â Â TwistedWave
And what if you just want to edit songs online occasionally without downloading any software? The perfect free option (with a free account, you can edit mono files up to 5 minutes long) is TwistedWave. You only need your browser and a song to upload to the editor. The entire process is managed on your server. It even has an option to import songs from Soundcloud.
8.-Perfect program to edit audio on Mac:Â GarageBand
The best Apple has to offer for its Macs. GarageBand turns your Mac into a music studio thanks to its comprehensive sound library that includes instruments, guitar and vocal presets, and a good selection of drummers and percussionists. It has a modern and intuitive design. GarageBand makes it easy to learn, play, record, create, and share your music. It’s free.
9.-Program to record and edit audio on Linux, MacOS or Windows:Â Ardor
Another free code program that you can use on all three platforms for free. Its interface is really professional as you can see in the image.
You can record, edit and mix audio without problem. It has a lot of plugins and instruments: AudioUnit, LV2, LinuxVST and LADSPA Formats. FX plugins. Software instruments. MIDI processors.
10.-Quicktime or App voice notes
Quicktime, the app for watching videos in MacOs by default, has an option to record audio located in the File > New Audio Recording menu .
Really easy to use it. It will allow you to edit audio in a simple and unpretentious way. And it’s free and already installed on MacOS.
It lets you select the microphone you want to use and the quality (High or Maximum). It also allows you to record screen or record videos. It’s the first thing you should try.
You can also try the macOS Voice Memos app if you want to make simple recordings:
You can find it with Spotlight or in the Applications folder and it has sound editing tools with functions such as shorten, replace and you can keep only the parts that you like the most. It syncs with iCloud.
The best programs to edit audio that are not free?
1.-Â Adobe Audition
One of the best audio editors in the world thanks to its many features such as multi-track editing and mixing. You will even have your own AI “Adobe Sensei†that will allow you to adjust the volume of the sound in the parts that need it.
Its track editing system is really good, it has many plugins for Nadir functionalities and supports all kinds of audio formats such as MP3, WAV, AC-3, AIF, AIFF, AIFC, AAC, HE-AAC, CAF, FLAC. , PCM, OGG, WMA… and many video.
It can be a complicated program for beginners to understand and it has one big drawback: it is a subscription software. You can try it for 7 days for free. It is available for Windows and Mac.
2.-Â Logic Pro X
If you have an Apple computer with macOS, Logic Pro X is one of the programs that shouldn’t be missing if you dedicate yourself to editing music and audio. It is the perfect program for both professional and amateur editors.
It comes with all the basic features and lots of extras like pre-recorded sounds and more that you can use in your projects (60+ GB). You can fix out-of-tune vocals and change the melody of recorded audio with Flex Pitch, and easily manipulate the timing and tempo of any recording with Flex Time.
The pity is that it can only be used on MacOS and that it costs about 230 euros.
Where should you save your audio files? On an external hard drive or NAS
You’re going to need to buy a good external hard drive, to store the audio files you’ve worked on, or even buy an external hard drive fast enough to work directly on it.
I will recommend 3 models. The first two are perfect for backing up your audio files, the third one is suitable for working directly with your files. Then I recommend 2 4-bay NAS for professional use.
1.-WD My Passport – 4TB Portable Hard Drive
Buy on Amazon PRICE: €200.00 PREVIOUS PRICE: DISCOUNT
- Password protection with hardware encryption
- Storage capacity up to 4TB
- USB 3.0 port (compatible with USB 2.0)
- For Windows. It is compatible with Mac (requires reformatting)
The good thing about this hard drive is that it is very reliable. It comes with WD Backup software, which can back up photos, videos, music, and documents automatically. You just have to select the time and frequency of the backup.
It does not need a power supply and comes with a USB-A to USB micro-B 3.0 cable. It’s really fast. Perfect to always carry with you and use with laptops.
2.-Seagate Backup Plus Hub – 6TB Hard Drive
Buy on Amazon PRICE: €154.63 PREVIOUS PRICE: DISCOUNT
- Two integrated high-speed USB 3.0 ports on the front
- Formatted for Windows computers but compatible with Mac.
Just download their free backup software and start making copies of your audio files. You have several purchase options with up to 10 TB. It reaches transfer speeds of up to 160 MB/s. Perfect hard drive for desktop computers. It doesn’t get hot, it doesn’t make noise and you can always have it on.
3.-SanDisk Extreme – SSD portable hard drive (500 GB, up to 550 MB/s Read Speed)
Buy on Amazon PRICE: €107.19 PREVIOUS PRICE: €151.99 29% DISCOUNT
- Shock-resistant SSD hard drive for increased durability
- Compact and pocketable
- For PC and Mac users
- Up to 550MB/s Read Speed
The perfect hard drive to edit videos and audios directly on it due to its high transfer speeds. It is IP55 certified, so it is resistant to water, dust and drops. The drive is equipped with a USB 3.1 Type-C connector. You have 500 GB, 250 GB, 1 TB and 2 TB models.
4.-And buy a NAS to edit video and audio?
This may be the most professional option, since you can buy a 4-bay NAS, mount a RAID and work directly with your data on your local network with the certainty that your files are protected against possible failures.
The world of NAS is quite complex at first, but it is best to go for a QNAP or Synology model depending on your needs.
It should have at least 4 hard drive bays so that you can make full use of the possibilities that RAID storage gives you.
