Quality audio software is essential for music producers, podcasters, audiobook creators, field recordists, and anyone who needs to work with audio. Whether you want to produce the next chart-topping album or simply edit some recordings from a recent field trip, having the right audio editing tools can make a world of difference.
In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll highlight nine of the very best options for recording, editing, mixing and mastering audio on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and the web. We‘ll cover both free and paid software so you can find the perfect fit regardless of budget.
Best Free Audio Editing Software
1. Audacity
As a free, open-source and cross-platform audio workstation, Audacity is used by podcasters, musicians and audio engineers around the world. It‘s enormously powerful yet easy enough for total beginners.
Audacity lets you record live audio, convert tapes and records into digital recordings, edit OGG, MP3, WAV and AIFF files, mix tracks, apply effects like reverb and echo, create multi-track recordings and more.
With support for unlimited undo/redo along with keyboard shortcuts for faster editing, Audacity gives you the flexibility to carefully craft your recordings until they sound perfect.
Key features:
- Record live audio from microphones, guitars etc.
- Import and export all key audio formats
- Cut, copy, splice and mix tracks
- Chains of effects can be applied
- Supports VST, LV2 and Audio Unit plug-ins
- Cross-platform (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Audacity is ideal for podcasters on a budget, musicians working on demos and small audio editing jobs. The interface is intuitive enough for novices but it also sports more advanced features like spectral selection for precision editing.
2. Ocenaudio
Ocenaudio is another outstanding free and cross-platform audio editor. The clean, uncluttered interface is incredibly easy to use making Ocenaudio perfect for beginners.
It covers all the audio editing basics like cutting, copying and pasting sections of recordings plus more advanced features like support for VST plugins, audio analyzers and the ability to work with video files.
Key features:
- Streamlined interface using drag and drop
- Powerful audio analysis tools
- Support for VST, VST3 and AU plugins
- Batch processing of files
- Available on Windows, Mac and Linux
You can analyze recordings in great detail using tools like spectrograms, spectrum analyzers and stat displays. Applying filters, changing pitch/tempo and removing background noise can all be done with just a few clicks.
If you want a friendly audio editing program but also need support for third-party plugins, Ocenaudio perfectly fits the bill. The clean interface lowers the learning curve while advanced users can still get plenty done.
3. Garageband (Mac Only)
Garageband is Apple‘s entry-level DAW (digital audio workstation) that offers an inviting and unintimidating introduction to audio editing and music production.
As it‘s only available for Mac OS and iOS devices, Garageband is an obvious choice if you work exclusively within the Apple ecosystem. It lets you record podcasts, voiceovers, instruments through microphones and even allows easy song composition.
Key features:
- Huge collection of free loops, presets and instruments
- Multi-track recording up to 32 tracks
- Smart Controls simplify editing
- Wide range of free effects and amps
- Easy export to iTunes or web
For beginners, Garageband lowers the barrier to songwriting thanks to its intuitive interface and massive sound library. Simply tap out a rhythm or melody using the on-screen instruments to easily build complete arrangements.
The ability to control everything through a connected iPad using the GarageBand App makes this DAW surprisingly powerful for such readily-available free software.
Best Paid Audio Production Software
Once you outgrow entry-level audio editing tools, paid options with more advanced capabilities are the next step. They enable meticulous audio crafting for professional results.
4. Adobe Audition
As part of Adobe’s impressive Creative Cloud suite, Adobe Audition offers pro-grade audio production tools for editing speech, music, sound effects and other audio.
The powerful workflow includes multi-track, waveform and spectral displays for surgical editing. Meanwhile, pro-quality effects from reverb to distortion open creative options.
Adobe Audition also features excellent tools for cleaning up problematic recordings by minimizing background noise. For precision, the frequency spectrum analyzer shows exactly where issues are occurring.
With automation levels for effects parameter and volume mixing, you can easily shape a perfect soundscape. The app even analyses calibration issues to ensure top audio quality throughout.
Key features:
- Advanced multi-track editing
- Hundreds of effects and presets
- Spectral frequency editing
- Background noise reduction
- Suite-wide integration including Premiere
- Scripting capabilities for complex edits
For serious audio production work on Windows 10, Adobe Audition has the meticulous toolset the pros rely on. While the learning curve is steep, the app is extraordinarily powerful.
5. Ableton Live
As a trailblazer in digital audio workstations, Ableton Live excels at electronic music production as well as conventional recording. It offers a unique live performance-focused workflow centered around Clip View editing.
Arranging is handled linearly like a typical DAW while sound manipulation occurs in the Session View. You can improvise with musical ideas without stopping the overall track.
An almost overwhelming array of virtual instruments, effects, packs and plugins are included making this extremely versatile production software. Third-party VST plugins also expand possibilities even further.
Key features:
- Clip-based Session View for improvisation
- Automatic warping for matching tempos
- Huge library of sounds and plugins
- Instruments and effect racks for custom devices
- Efficient MIDI editing and manipulation
For electronic producers, DJs and live performers, Ableton Live offers an unparalleled platform. It has shaped studio albums from Deadmau5 and Steve Aoki while also empowering artists to remix tracks live on stage.
The Session view promotes and streamlines experimentation. From techno to trance, electronica to EDM, Ableton Live is the gold-standard.
6. FL Studio
Representing over 20 years of innovative development, FL Studio (formerly FruityLoops) focuses on music production through step-sequencer-based workflow.
The pattern-oriented arrangement view sets FL Studio apart from traditional track-style DAWs. You build full songs by connecting sequences of timed note blocks rather than recording live instruments.
With stellar sampling options, a huge plugin library and seamless integration of VST instruments, FL shines when crafting electronic genres like house, industrial, IDM and more. However, songwriters focused on traditional instruments may find FL Studio overly rigid.
Key features:
- Step sequencer for quickly arranging patterns
- Huge range of synthesizers and samplers
- Mixing and effects tools for polish
- Excellent automation options
- Fast, fluid workflow for beatmakers
Thanks to the versatility, this DAW helped launch mega EDM artists like Martin Garrix and Porter Robinson as well as iconic hip hop producer 9th Wonder.
For electronic music creation, especially hip hop beats, FL Studio lets producers realize their creative visions with exceptional depth, all without needing traditional instrumentation.
7. Pro Tools
Created by Avid, Pro Tools represents the industry standard platform for professional audio production and mixing with a decades long legacy in recording studios worldwide.
While the high cost limits hobbyists, for commercial work, no DAW matches Pro Tools for meticulous editing, polished mixing and bulletproof session management.
With unrivaled roundtrip workflows to recording hardware plus excellent metering and analysis tools, Pro Tools lets engineers craft perfect tracks. Robust organizing features handle even the most complex projects.
Key features:
- Precision editing and ultra-accurate mixing
- Tight integration with pro audio hardware
- Powerful track freezing to manage CPU load
- Automation for effects, volume and more
- Cloud collaboration for working together
The pristine sound quality and sheer depth of editing/mixing capabilities explain why Grammy winners like Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber rely on Pro Tools in the studio.
Of course, with such insane capabilities come steep system requirements and a substantial price tag. But for commercial work, Pro Tools remains king.
Best Online Audio Editors
Thanks to lightning fast internet speeds, browser-based and cloud-hosted audio editors now give desktop applications a run for their money with surprising features and power.
8. Descript
Descript stands apart as an audio/video editor tailored specifically for podcast production rather than music. It focuses on collaboration so teams can work together to create professional sound quality.
The web app automatically transcribes speech to text allowing easy editing. You can rearrange or rewrite sections, correct mistakes and have the changes read aloud naturally in the inserted talent’s voice rather than robotic text-to-speech.
Descript also assists with post production. Their Overdub feature lets you record new audio then seamlessly stitch it into the existing podcast. Volume levels and audio effects like compression are added to balance everything perfectly so minimal post-work remains.
Key features:
- Automated speech-to-text transcription
- Overdub to fix/insert audio sections
- Balance audio levels across segments
- Built-in distribution to all platforms
- Collaboration tools for teams
For podcast production teams, Descript provides an “all-in-one” solution. Transcription and editing save huge time while Overdub enables quick audio error corrections. Best of all, everything stays organized with collaborative project tools.
9. TwistedWave Audio Editor
A fully-featured cloud-based audio editor, TwistedWave works on nearly any device through a web browser yet retains surprisingly robust capabilities for recording, editing, processing and exporting audio.
The clean multi-track timeline interface enables precise trimming and cutting while compression and limiting help polish your files for consistent volume and dynamics. Plenty of effects are included too like parametric EQs, filters and more.
Built-in support for uploading directly to hosting services like CloudConvert simplifies sharing your work. Additionally, easy integration with storage platforms like Google Drive or iCloud keeps source files neatly organized.
Key features:
- Waveform editing with snap to zero crossings
- Processing tools (normalize, pitch shift etc.)
- VST plugin support
- Audio repair and click/pop removal
- Export to mp3, m4a, wav and more
Whether you‘re cleaning up field recordings or putting some finishing touches on music demos, TwistedWave provides an intuitive online playground for audio editing. Yet under the friendly interface lies real power making this a great companion web app for any project.
What to Look for in Audio Software
With so many options for audio recording, editing, mixing and mastering, it helps to know the key features that indicate advanced capabilities that translate into professional workflow and quality results.
Here are some top aspects to watch for:
Multi-track editing – Being able to arrange different clips on separate tracks for independent manipulation sets audio editors apart from basic software. Look for support of at least 8+ simultaneous tracks.
VST/AU plugin support – Virtual Studio Technology and Audio Units greatly expand the built-in tools and effects. Quality audio software apps support these third-party extras.
Low latency monitoring – No delays between playing audio and it sounding through headphones is vital for live recording and overdubbing. DAWs focused on music handle this well.
Time-stretching and pitch shifting – For matching tempo without changing pitch and vice versa, all top-tier editors sport algorithms to tweak speed or key.
Range of export formats – Getting work out of the software studio means exporting to common formats like MP3, WAV etc. More options provide greater flexibility.
There’s certainly more like sampler support, external hardware integration and video export capability. But start with these core indications of advanced audio editing power!
Getting the Most from Audio Software
To unlock your audio editor’s full potential – especially paid options – invest in complementary gear and take time learning key concepts.
Quality audio interfaces – External devices like the Universal Audio Apollo provide pristine A/D conversion, headphone outputs for monitoring with effects plus tons of I/O options.
MIDI controllers – Keyboards, drum pads and control surfaces open tactile interaction with virtual instruments and tools otherwise manipulated by mouse alone.
Studio headphones/monitors – Quality cans from brands like Sennheiser and Beyerdynamic reveal subtle details. Monitors like KRK Rokits complete an editing environment.
Learn editing/mixing techniques – Mastering skills like EQ contouring, spectral editing, utilizing side-chain compression and setting proper gain staging translates to better mixes.
Experimentation – Don‘t just use presets. Twist knobs and try tools you don‘t understand yet. Following tutorials builds know-how. You’ll uncover techniques that enhance creativity.
Demo trial versions of paid tools first and watch beginners tutorials on options like Audacity until fundamental concepts click. With time and practice, your skills will provide the foundation for whatever wild audio experiments your creative muse envisions!
Whether you’re producing the next chart-topping album or simply cleaning up podcast audio, possessing the proper recording, editing and mastering software makes all the difference.
Options now span from free open-source tools like Audacity to full professional studios suites such as Pro Tools and everything in between. Identify how serious about audio production you are currently – or aim to be – and choose software capabilities that match your experience level.
Fortunately, most paid DAW developers offer trial versions so you can experience their workflow and features firsthand before committing. Take advantage of these to hone your preference because every piece of audio software outlined above is fully capable of achieving sparkling results.
Now the only limitation rests in your imagination, time and willingness to learn. But with the power found in desktop and cloud-based audio production tools today, creative liberation to craft your own sonic masterpiece is closer than ever!
