For most people, audio editing may sound like a simple process. You trim the audio, make it a bit loud or soft, or mix several audio files into one cohesive file. That’s the basics of audio editing which does sound simple on paper. But audio editing is much more of a complex task. Professional audio editors spend hours to days creating a perfect audio file. While they may do these simple tasks, there are also considerations of editing multiple layers of a single audio project file such as audio normalization, audio equalizer, audio production, and other among other things. Good audio editing software can make a huge difference and it’s best to pick the best one that suits the needs of an amateur or professional audio editor. Here are some of the best audio editing software available.
14+ Audio Editing Software
1. Adobe Audition
2. Logic Pro X
3. Ableton Live
4. Reason
5. Audacity
6. FL Studio
7. AudioKit
8. Pro Tools
9. Sound Forge
10. Studio One
11. Acoustica
12. Reaper
13. Music Maker
14. ACID Pro
15. GoldWave
What Is Audio Editing Software?
In simple terms, audio editing is the process of creating audio and manipulating the audio’s data such as length and volume to create a desired audio file. Audio editing has been exclusively done through a computer using audio editing software before such software has become available on smartphones too. The proper term for audio editing software is digital audio workstation (DAW) which gives audio editors tools to create the desired audio they want to create. Besides audio editors, music producers and film scorers use DAW to create and edit music.
Benefits
Computers have made digital audio editing a much easier process with complex tools that editors can use to create and edit new sounds that couldn’t be done before during the analog era. People often underestimate that good audio can make a huge difference when watching movies and television shows, which audio editors work tirelessly to make sure the quality of the audio matches with the visuals.
- Digital audio editing gives unprecedented, powerful tools for audio editors
- Audio gives life to visual content
Features
One of the important features of audio editing software is the ability to record audio within the software or import pre-existing audio files into the editing software. The software must also be able to render audio files into commonly available formats such as .mp3, .flac, .wav, etc. Audio editing software should be able to give editors a lot of space to edit several audio files in a single project through layer tracks where editors pay attention and manipulate each layer’s data, such as volume, length, and speed. Some open-source audio editing software may be able to integrate plug-ins to fill in the lacking features of the core software.
- Record audio within the software
- Import existing audio files
- Render the audio project file into available popular audio formats
- Edit several audio elements through audio layer tracks in a single project
- Integrate plug-ins, if available
Top 10 Audio Editing Software
1. GoldWave
Launched in 1993, Goldwave has provided audio editors classic, yet still, effective tools that audio editors need such as recording and converting audio with full keyboard support.
2. Logic Pro X
Logic Pro X gave audio editors the powerful, unprecedented audio tools available for Mac computers that can do just more than simple audio editing. It was launched in 1993 Notator Logic before it was bought by Apple in 2002.
3. Adobe Audition
Launched in 2003, Adobe Audition gives audio editors industry-standard tools that include recording, editing, mixing, and restoring audio.
4. Pro Tools
Don’t let the name fool you because Pro Tools caters to different types of audio editors from amateur to professional audio editors with specific tools that should play to their strengths as audio editors in whatever level skill they are in. ProTools was launched in 1989 by Avid Technology (then called Digidesign) with over 1,446 employees in the company.
5. Audacity
Since its launch in 2000, Audacity is a classic, simple, yet still useful audio editing software for some basic and quick audio editing with an open-source system that allows plug-ins for enhanced functionality of the software.
6. Music Maker
Magix’s Music Maker provides simple audio editing tools for users with little experience that should give them the desired audio file they want to create despite limited skills. It was launched in 2017 by Magix with a focus on the consumer market as opposed to the traditional professional audio market.
7. Sound Forge
Magix’s advanced audio software is for professional audio editors who can maximize their skills with the advanced tools available.
8. Ableton Live
Ableton Live has the common audio editing tools for audio editing professionals, as well as being a unique program for live music. The company was founded in 1999 with over 350 current employees.
9. FL Studio
FL Studio is useful for music-based audio editors with the tools needed to create and edit audio and music. It was launched in 1997 as Fruityloops by Image-Line before being rebranded as FL Studio. It has earned annual revenue of $6.8 million.
10. Reason
Launched in 1994, Reason Studios provides recording studio-like tools to professional audio editors that give them the sense of them being in a studio when editing audio files.
FAQ
Can audio editors use video editing software to edit audio the same way as audio editing software?
Audio editors can use video editing software to edit audio as it does provide similar tools as audio editing software. However, video editing software’s specialty is to edit videos and its audio editing tools may be limited unless the software allows audio-specific plug-ins to be installed. Basic or casual audio editors can use them to edit quick audio that doesn’t require complex editing, but it’s best for professional audio editors to use an audio editing software as it has the tools they need to edit audio.
What file formats can audio editing software convert projects to?
Audio editing software should be able to convert audio project files into popular formats available such as .m4a, .flac, .mp3, .wav, .aac and many more.
Audio editing has come a long way from simply editing audio to creating audio within the software itself. While an underrated profession, audio editors have done a tremendous job with their editing skills that bring life to the visual content that we watch. The advantage of audio editing software is that the tools will continue to evolve, giving these editors continuously unprecedented tools that will continue to evolve over time.
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