If we are fond of creating or editing songs on the market we can find a wide variety of programs to help us with this work. Among them we can find very popular tools and others more unknown, some more complex and others more simple, paid or free … but all with the mission of being able to carry out the work in a professional manner , in order to obtain a quality product as a result. .
Today we are going to talk about programs with which you can edit sound, cut songs, add effects, correct errors, etc. In this way we can turn our audio piece into the perfect element that we want to obtain with a professional final result. Within these audio editing softwares we can find both free and paid, so that we can choose the one that best suits our needs.
Best Free Professional Audio Editing Programs
Audacity, the most popular, complete and free
We are facing one of the most advanced and complete audio editing programs that exists. This application is open source, free and multiplatform, so it can be used in Windows, macOS and Linux. This tool has many editing and recording functions at a professional level, being compatible with a wide range of formats.
This software stands out for the possibility of editing all kinds of audio files, as well as for the possibility of joining songs, adding effects, importing and exporting files. The fact that it is free is a great value compared to other payment options. Conversely. Despite being a tremendously complete application, it does not have an interface that lives up to what we might expect from a professional program. It displays a somewhat dated image, causing it to visually push back the most demanding users.
As we have mentioned, Audacity is a completely free program, so to start using it we only have to download it from its official website .
LMMS, free music composer
This software is a complete, free and multiplatform digital audio workstation . With it we can edit and produce audio files from our computer. The program includes different types of sound keyboards, as well as a 64-channel FX mixer , with support for a wide variety of different effects. With this powerful software we can compose songs, create sequences and make mixes, being able to precisely adjust chords and notes with its Editor. In addition, it allows us to use a MIDI controller to play the notes or to use the computer keyboard. Its main drawback, which can put many users back, is that it does not allow exporting files in MP3 format , so we will have to resort to other formats such as MIDI, VST or FLV.
LMMS is a 100% free and open source project that we can freely download from the developer’s website , being compatible for both Windows, Linux and macOS.
Ocenaudio, perfect editor for beginners
We have an audio editor whose best quality is that it is free and very easy to use . Therefore, it is suitable for all types of users. This software allows us to perform a wide variety of functions from the most basic to the most advanced, from trimming to adding effects. Among its advantages we will also find the possibility of working with two or more audios at the same time , one appearing at the top and the other at the bottom. It also has the ability to record with a microphone or any other device with which to capture sound. In addition, it offers tools to work with total comfort, filters with which to modify the sound and a powerful equalizer with which to obtain great results. Perhaps, its main disadvantage is that it does not reach the quality quotas of other free programs such as Audacity, but it is well worth trying.
If we want to start using Ocenaudio, all we have to do is download it from its website , being compatible with Windows, macOS and Linux computers.
Wavosaur, editor with VST support
This free audio editor is a great alternative to other payment options thanks to the large number of functions that it incorporates. It stands out for having native support for VST , which allows us to debug and manipulate audio tracks in various formats. With this powerful software, we can also remaster tracks, apply all kinds of effects, and even export your data to text files. In addition, it does not need installation, so we can run it on any computer from an external device. On the contrary, this application has some disadvantages to consider. The main one is that it is entirely in English , which can make its use quite difficult. In addition to the fact that the user interface is not intuitive at all, so the learning curve can be a real handicap for the most inexperienced users.
To start testing Wavosaur, all you have to do is download it completely free from its website.
Best paid professional audio editing software
Audition, with the guarantee of Adobe
It is a multitrack recording station that offers a large number and variety of tools. With them, we can edit, mix and record content in audio format, obtaining high quality results. It has a clean interface separated by tabs so that we find it more comfortable to access all its content. Among its advantages, it has native support for sorround 5.1 and full integration with Creative Cloud. On the contrary, we can miss some functions that may be important for many users, such as that it lacks tools to record CDs and does not have MIDI support.
Adobe Audition is a professional audio recording tool for which we must pay to obtain your license. We can buy it from 24.19 euros per month. We also have a free trial version that we can download from their website .
Sound Forge Audio pro, ideal for large workflows
This software is one of the best known in the professional sector of audio editing. It has a wide variety of options for audio processing, with very interesting functions such as the possibility of restoring vinyl, allows direct or digital recording of CDs, as well as the possibility of correcting the tone of voice. In addition, it has support for all kinds of plugins and compatibility with any audio format . The main problem with software of this level is that it is not suitable for all types of users, with its most exclusive audience being the most advanced professionals. We also find an interface that may be outdated which makes the learning curve for new users more pronounced.
Sound Forge Audio Pro has a fairly high sales price, reaching 299 euros, since it is aimed at professionals in the sector, reaching an unattainable figure for many users. Anyway, it is possible to download a free trial version and see first-hand all the benefits offered by one of the best audio editing software on the market.
FL Studio, one of the most popular DAWs
If we want to edit audio professionally, we cannot ignore FL Studio. It is a program with which, in addition to editing, it allows us to compose, arrange, mix, record and master audio files with a highly professional result. It stands out for having more than 80 effects and plugins , so that we can compress and distort them among other functions. Of course there will be a wide compatibility with all kinds of audio formats, as well as all kinds of functions such as sequencers, virtual instruments and tools for mixing and composing songs.
Unfortunately, we are faced with software that is not exactly cheap . Its most basic version starts from 89 euros, reaching the not inconsiderable figure of 810 euros if we want to enjoy all the options it offers us, so it is not suitable for all budgets. Even so, if we want, it is possible to download a free trial version from its website , fully functional and that we can freely download without registering or providing any data.
Cockos Reaper, efficient and economical editor
We are before a digital audio workstation and sequencer software with which we can perform any function we need. With it we can obtain a completely professional result. It stands out for consuming few resources, so it is a good option if our computer is old or not very powerful, being especially recommended for both recording and mixing . It also incorporates a wide collection of free plugins such as limiters, gates, EQ, compressors, etc. In addition, it has a much more affordable price compared to other DAWs on the market, which makes it an option to consider.
Of course, it also has some disadvantages that prevents it, perhaps, from being as complete as we would like. This is because it does not have an interface that is characterized by being intuitive , which causes the learning curve to be somewhat high. In addition, it does not incorporate instruments or sample packages, unlike other DAWs that we find on the market.
Cockos Reaper is a paid program that costs $ 60 with free updates. In case we need the commercial version, it is priced at $ 225. If we want to test it beforehand to see if it meets our needs, we can download a functional free trial version for 60 days.
