The very best free audio editing and mixing software.
The complexity of some audio editors might be enough to scare you away, but it's more likely to be the price tag attached to such software that sends you running. Never fear, though – there are free tools that pack professional-level audio editing tools in a user-friendly interface that you can master in minutes.
Whether you're looking for a tool to help create a soundtrack for your home movies, or you need something to help you convert your old record and cassette collection into MP3 format while removing background static, there's a free audio editor out there for you.
We update this guide frequently, so you know you're always getting the best advice based on the latest version of each program.
1. Audacity
Flexible and powerful, Audacity is the very best free audio editor available
Available for any desktop platform you care to mention, Audacity is our first choice free music editor. It has a huge following, and it's one that is entirely justified. It's a powerful tool that would put some paid-for product to shame, and although the interface might initially seem slightly intimidating, it's actually surprisingly approachable even for beginners.
Audacity is equipped with an extensive suite of built-in tools, enabling you to edit pre-recorded files, capture sound through an attached microphone, or even stream music and podcasts. There's support for a wide range of audio formats for both importing and exporting, and the range of built-in effect is impressive.
There's also a great selection of third-party plug-ins to make it even more versatile (one of our favourites is autotune add-on Gsnap, for that T-Pain effect), and a comprehensive manual is available to help you to get to grips with the more complicated aspects of the program.
Its sheer power and incredible set of features make Audacity the best free audio editor you can download today.
Review and where to download: Audacity
2. Ocenaudio
Another powerful free audio editor, but easier to master than Audacity
Like Audacity, Ocenaudio is available for multiple platforms (Windows, Linux and Mac). While not bursting with features, it's a great tool for everyday audio editing. Real-time effect previewing should help to speed up your work as there's no need to apply a change just to try it out, and a highly precise selection tool makes it easy to apply the same effect to multiple sections of a file.
You can use Ocenaudio work with locally stored files, or even open those hosted online. The audio editor's somewhat sparse interface quickly becomes a joy to use, and if you spend a little time familiarizing yourself with the keyboard shortcuts, you should fly through common tasks in no time.
Review and where to download: Ocenaudio
3. DVDVideoSoft Free Audio Editor
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