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Introduction
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| Podcasting has become more popular than ever, and more and more podcasting enthusiasts are looking for easier ways to record, edit, mix, and save sound on their PCs. In fact, they no longer want to simply record only their voices for their podcasts, they want to make entire downloadable shows that have been edited and mixed to such quality that the results sound almost as good as a professional production. Software that can do all this editing has been, historically, very expensive (such as the $349 "Adobe Audition"), and although "Windows Sound Recorder" will record voice, it's very basic and the editing and mixing features are almost nonexistent. But there are now some excellent free products available that will give that professional touch to your recordings. |
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Discussion
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| Audacity does all the recording and editing I need, and is much simpler and faster to use than a lot of pay products. It allows you to select and apply a noise profile and just as easily remove it. According to the web site, Audacity will also, "record live audio, convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs, edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files, cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together and change the speed or pitch of a recording." Audacity supports plugins for LADSPA, Nyquist and VST, and there's also support for real-time monitoring, though it's not enabled by default.
Note: Audacity supports VST plugins, but this support is not "built-in". Because the VST code is not 100% open-source, it must be kept separate for licensing reasons. The "VST Enabler" is available for download from the Audacity website (see the link in the "Product Specifications" section below), and is available for Windows, Mac OS-X and Linux. Support is limited for the time being - but note that full support is coming. Kristal Audio Engine is a powerful multi-track recorder, audio sequencer and mixer - ideal for anyone who wants to get started with recording, mixing and mastering digital audio. According to their website, "It is designed as a modular system. The main application provides a mixing console, while the audio sequencer, live audio input and so on are loaded as separate Plug-Ins." It supports an ASIO audio driver, which may be appealing to those who are concerned with latency during multi-track recording. It's based on a 32-bit floating-point audio engine that can handle sample rates of 44 to 192 kHz with word sizes of 16, 24 or 32 bits. It comes with a three-band parametric EQ and supports WAVE, AIFF, FLAC, and OGG Vorbis file formats. It can only handle a maximum of 16 audio tracks, though the web site mentions an upcoming version 2 that will handle more tracks and provide support for MIDI, virtual instruments, and a wider range of VST plugins. Like all media-editing programs, Kristal requires a modern fast PC. Don't even think about using it with a sub-1Ghz machine. Wavosaur weighs in at a total uncompressed filesize of 491K and is the only product in this review that requires no installation, which makes it extremely portable. What surprised me about it was that, for such a small program, Wavosaur packs a lot of advanced features, including resample, bit-depth convert (8,16,24,32 bits), pitch shift, vocal removal, DC offset removal, auto-trim, silence remover, interpolate, auto detect region, crossfade loop, and export of multiple .wav files from regions. It also supports ASIO drivers and VST plug-ins, has many analysis tools and is skinnable. Thanks to subscribers Jay Eitelman, Rinchen Tsepal, and Brandon Tanner for contributing to this review. |
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1.2.6 
Open Source Freeware (includes program code) 
Windows 98-Vista, Mac OS-X, Various Linux Distros
Portable version available
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Joe Bennett. Registered site visitors can contact Joe by clicking here.
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How about a FREE good MP3 splitter ?
mp3DirectCut
http://mpesch3.de1.cc/mp3dc.html
mp3DirectCut (download link) is a simple, high quality freeware mp3 splitter / cutter program. It's easy to use and works well; mp3DirectCut would probably get my vote for best free mp3 splitting / cutting software.
mp3splt-gtk can cut / split vorbis ogg audio files as well as mp3s. It's not quite as intuitive as mp3DirectCut, but open source mp3splt-gtk has the advantage that it works with vorbis .ogg, one of the best audio file compression formats. To download the Windows installer for the gtk version of mp3splt (which comes complete with a GUI front end) scroll to the bottom of the mp3splt-gtk download page.
Both mp3DirectCut and mp3splt-gtk are lossless audio file splitters - so, unlike with Audacity, you don't lose any audio quality when you cut / split mp3 (or ogg vorbis) files.
Slice Audio File Splitter:
http://www.nch.com.au/splitter/index.html
Slice Audio File Splitter really needs to be harnessed to Wavepad (good audio editing software); otherwise you'd have to note down the times of cuts from your own player.
However, the Masters Edition of Wavepad which the developers recommend you to install is only a demo. A freeware version of Wavepad is still available, but it takes some hunting down.
This Wavepad freeware download link currently works
(Wavepad v. 3.12 - old freeware version).
The product page of Wavepad offers the free version:
http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/
On the page its written:
We make this program free because we know you will love it so much you will want to upgrade to WavePad Master's Edition which has additional effects and features for the serious sound engineer.
The link to download Wavepad Masters is on the same page. So, the page offers free version of Wavepad, which will always be latest... although they do not provide the current version anywhere... and I find that very irritating.
Anupam
Softpedia download link for Current freeware edition of Wavepad (Basic, v. 4.2.7)
How about a plain and simple FREE MP3 splitter ?
Hello everyone, I don't know if this fits in here (or if it needs another section) but "mp3DirectCut" may help those who do small changes to MP3's.
Features:
- Non-destructive cut, copy, paste
- Volume change, fade, normalize, pause detection
- mp3 recording with ACM or Lame encoder
- Fast mp3 visualisation and easy navigation
- Supports Layer 2 (dvd/dvb audio)
- ID3v1.1 tag editor · ID3v2 tag keeping
- Cue Sheet support
- Auto cue (track dividing by time values)
- Track splitting with filename and tag creation
- Trim · Crop · Fast play · Loop play
- VU meter, bitrate visualisation
- High speed recorder · Command line usage
Program download and info: (ver 2.11 is current)
http://www.mpesch3.de1.cc/mp3dc.html
Screenies here:
http://www.mpesch3.de1.cc/mp3dcscr.html
User comments here: (they have ver 2.10)
http://www.snapfiles.com/opinions/mp3DirectCut/mp3DirectCut.html
Seems to do what it says - Cheers! (I'm not the author..)
For mixing microfon with music(Karaoke) we have:Karafun.
For mixin files:T player is total free and:Ultramixer2(at Cnet)is profesional but in demo version(free)you can use 1 hour,next stop,start and again 1 hour .Change to buttom center-low master to easy work.
For MP3/DJ mixing may i suggest the open source software Mixxx, "a complete package for amateur and professional DJs alike, providing everything you need to create live mixes". Looks very promising:
http://www.mixxx.org/
Another option is Jackson, a sequencer-style DJ software that allows you to alter the structure of songs while playing them. It's beatmapper tool is the best i've seen in any DJ software, free or commercial (even works on songs that doesn't have a fixed tempo). Unfortunately, the project seems dead and wasn't updated for more than two years now, but it's still can be downloaded for free from their site:
http://www.jacksondj.com/products.html
Maybe we need a new category for free DJ mixing software.
Here are some well known DJ freebies:
Mixxx (good, open source, cross platform)
Zulu (not so good, too much advertising)
Jackson (very good but maybe too complicated for the average user)
Pacemaker Editor (nice, user friendly, requires registration)
Traktor Beatport Player (OK, but way too limited)
Kramixer (spyware -> no good)
REAPER's last freeware version (0.99) is much more powerful than Kristal:
http://www.freewarefiles.com/REAPER-Last-Freeware-Version_program_43366....
trakAxPC looks like a user-friendly freeware alternative to Sony's Acid, although i haven't tried it:
http://www.trakax.com/software/pc/
Pacemaker Editor isn't bad for creating DJ mixes with auto-beatmatching & effects, but you'll need to register in order to download it (so it's actually a registerware):
http://www.pacemaker.net/Products/Editor/
Actually Reaper is at 3.14 and quite frankly needs to be compared with Sonar, cubase and protools. Kristal is not remotely in the same league.
However many of the programs listed (including Reaper which is a DAW) are not what I consider audio editors. Wavosaur and Audacity fit the description. All the Mp3 tweakers, DJ and DAW (digital audio workstation)apps belong in a different category.
You can find a good list of editors here although they include some Daws and DJ apps as well
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/25-free-digital-audio-editors/
-J
I try Active Mp 3 Recorder and endeed is good for recording,i like that you can save in differents audio format,is simple,intuitiv and easy to use and learn.Thank.
Audacity ,Wavosauar and Free audio editor 2009 are the best.
Free audio editor can't merge files only in the Delux version but you can make this with a little trick.open what you want and at begin and possible at the end of what you open,make a little selection and click right on the selection and click on insert file and next click on begin and choise a file with the same format(extension)and it will merge this files.
To convert gramophone records or cassette tapes to mp3 format, Aktiv MP3 Recorder is very useful because it allows me to stop recording automatically after a period of silence. This means I can start a recording and then leave it unattended. Aktiv MP3 Recorder is free, simple to use, has good documentation, and supports MP3, WMA, OGG, VOX, AU, and AIFF formats. It does not support variable bit rate MP3 encoding, but the fixed-rate MP3 encoding can be varied from 16kBPS (44kHz mono) to 320kBPS (48kHz stereo), and the sampling rate from 11025 to 44100 Hz. I found the 6.5MB download at CNET, Softpedia and Download.com, and Jotti returned a clean scan.
To convert records, cassettes and almost any analog source to digital, the best freeware out there is Audiograbber. Simply incredible!
I don't know if this has been mentioned here before, but I believe Linux MultiMedia Studio is one of the best free multi-track (up to 64) recorders/editors/mixers available. Despite the name, it works with Windows as well. Just check out the links and you'll SEE what I mean.
Features - http://lmms.sourceforge.net/home.php
Screenshots/video - http://lmms.sourceforge.net/screenshots.php
Marc
hi gizmo,
i have used audacity to record all the cr4p here:
http://indiehitsproductions.com/members/25/audio.php
it works great and can pull off some amazing stuff.
peace!
pink jimi photon
Although others will follow a different path, I find that using the following mp3 tools and player (freeware) is all I need.
1. First tool applied is analyzing and adjusting the volume of mp3 tracks to a consistent volume of 92.5db. My experience indicates that approximately one-half of the tunes ripped*/acquired will need adjustment. MP3Gain utilizes a statistical analysis algorithm to determine how loud a tune actually sounds to the human ear and implements lossless changes to the file. There is no quality lost in the change because the program adjusts the mp3 file directly, without decoding and re-encoding.
http://mp3gain.sourceforge.net/
2. The second tool used is for removing the prolonged silence at the beginning, but most commonly at the end of some tracks. Reduce the wait and file size by using mp3DirectCut which is a fast and extensive audio editor for mp3s. You can also salvage some poorly ripped mp3s, by removing short pops and other imperfections through selectively cutting the sections out of the track.
http://mpesch3.de1.cc/mp3dc.html
3. The third tool used is a mp3 Tag editor. There are many editors available so choose the one you like. All I need is a basic one and have been using Mp3 Tag Tools for a long time. It is straightforward and has a clean interface. It should be noted that when using mp3DirectCut above, it is possible that the encoded ID3v2.x tags could be removed during the editing process since they are attached at the end of tracks.
http://massid3lib.sourceforge.net/
4. And for the best lightweight, versatile, portable mp3 player (my opinion) to use for your file collection - 1by1. There is no need for playlists or databases as 1by1 directly plays your folder contents. It also has many other features so check it out, I think you will like it.
http://mpesch3.de1.cc/1by1.html
Please note that you may also need to download (mpglib.dll, mscomctl.ocx, and msvbvm60.dll) files in order to fully run the above programs.
* Regarding a CD ripper, again there are many to select from, so chose the one you like. I have had excellent results with Cdex for converting audio CDs to mp3 files.
http://cdex.en.softonic.com/
Good stuff.
I use mp3 gain and CDex extensively with my mp3 library but this heading IMO is more about professional stereo audio editing ala Sony Sound Forge or Wavelab. I think MP3 apps should be in a different category.
For instance I use sound forge (or audacity) to edit and sequence stereo mixes of multitrack recordings done in reaper (the best nearly free multi track recorder). The goal is to create final mixes of individual songs or a finished CD for release. These apps are more for musicians, audio engineer or someone who needs to sync audio to video.
-J
I use trakAxPC for more simple stuff, like just cutting songs into pieces and mixing them together. To be honest, I haven't really used all the features it has to offer. I chose this because it's easy to use. I have had Audacity before, but got confused. I may try it again and see how it handles for a novice user that is me.
trakAxPC
http://www.trakax.com/software/pc/
It's nice! Let me try! Thanks for post!
Great link, thanks!
Wow, I think this must be a good one. I am downloading it and will give it a try. Thanks and hugs!
I really like REAPER. I dont know if anyone here's heard of it?
www.reaper.fm
Full Audio and MIDI Capabilities. Really easy to use.
I love this program! I use it at my two studios (one being a full on recording studio with motu 24/24 i/o and the other being a satellite studio) as well as for all of my home and road projects. I find myself using less and less of cubase and logic as more time passes. I am always telling other people to get it because of its capabilities (endless number of tracks, seamless audio and midi track integration, low processor use, ect ect.). But the thing that I find most humorous is people's skepticism towards it because of the small foot print that it has (only 7mb installed!). I think that it is due to them being used to over bloated programs where the install file is at least 200mb. Anyways, I love this program and it keeps just getting better and better.
Perhaps your comments would be useful if you'd include a minor detail: WHAT program?????
i thought it would be self explanatory if i had put in my comment as a reply to the original comment....guess not. It's called reaper its aweseome.
Moderators comment: Commercial link removed
Even though the free version is unrestricted, the license states uou have to pay for it in order to use it.
mulab 2.0 free
it is THE best freeware sequencer
period.
Here is a list of 25 more:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/25-free-digital-audio-editors/
What a great list. I will check those programs out. Thanks!
You can also try Wavepad. I use it to record things and it has effects like audacity. http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html
WavePad is what I use. I initially fell in love with it because it looks a lot like the old SB16 Wave Studio, which I used to use in Windows 3.1.
As it turns out, WavePad is vastly superior to Audacity. WavePad allows you to type in start/end points, so you have fine-grained control of your selection right down to 1,000th of a second. And WavePad's effects actually work! Try using the noise filter in Audacity, and it makes the whole track sound like a robot. Short of multi-track sequencing (for which you could use Kristal), WavePad gets the job done.
Note to editor: WavePad should be reviewed along with the other three you have here. Personally, I think it should even supplant Audacity in the #1 slot.
You may have some valid points on WavePad, but it does require that you eventually pay for it. Since TechSupportAlert is a list of free software, WavePad unfortunately won't be able to make the list.
WavePad has been available in a free version. I used it quite a lot some time ago, and personally prefer it to audacity.
However, a few months ago I had problems finding the free version at the nch.com.au site; I ended up downloading the trial version instead.
But I think the free version has been there all along, but now it seems they made it easier to find again. If not, the old free version should be archived at other download sites.
When I enter http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/index.html with firefox, it says "download free":
http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/wpsetup.exe
and "download masters":
http://www.nch.com.au/components/wpsetup.exe
But if I use google chrome, it only says "Get it now", and links to the free version.
I have used the free edition of version 3.10 quite a while, but the latest version, 4.03, doesn't come with all the same components. They have to be installed manually from:
http://www.nch.com.au/components/
Also, if I google wavepad and click on the first result:
http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/
I get to the page with the free edition for a little moment, but then I get redirected to the masters version. This only seems to happen when I click the link from google. But if I copy and paste it in a new tab, I don't get redirected.
It can be quite a chore to locate the free version, but it's there. An easy way to find it, from the masters page, is to manually remove "masters.html" at the end of the url and press enter.
Wavepad freeware (v. 3.1.2) download link.
Wavosaur does not handle big MP3's
I use a modern 2Ghz XP Machine but Wavosaur does not load a 130Mb MP3 file and gives me a memory allocation error.
It loads small mp3's alright, but I needed it to split big ones.
Mp3 Direct cut has very limited functions but what it does have works well and once set up the way you want it it performs well.Its not really an editor but it will cut huge mp3 files into smaller ones either of fixed size or with auto detect silence finder or manually. It can do fades and normalise,but thats about it.It would at least get you down to smaller files,and it can also seamlessly join them as well as seperate them. It does include a recorder and playback of files is instant.Once you master the controls its a time saver.
I agree. In fact, I use mp3directcut as my primary music recorder (streaming off the web) and editor. It does not degrade mp3 files during edit sessions. A gem of a little piece of software. No bells and whistles and bloat. Just a simple, effective workhorse.
please look at Exact Audio Copy which i have used for years, written by college individual it is awesome in my humble opinion.
EAC is a CD ripper, not an audio recorder and editor. Plus, it is already reviewed in "Best Free CD Ripper".
EAC has the feature to record .wav and put some simple changes to wav files, it can be a simple recorder and editor, but not so powerful
Umm yeah... Audacity/wavosaur are serious tools for editing stereo audio along the lines of Sony Soundforge or Wavelab. If you record multitrack audio, mix it down to a stereo file and want to edit, master and sequence into an album then the audacity and Wavosaur are the ticket. If you want to edit songs for your ipod this probably is not the right tool for the job.
BTW wavosaur is VERY much laid out like soundforge. So if you're used to a cracked version of that software wavosaur won't have much of a learning curve.
MP3Tag is GREAT! I downloaded it after I read the comments here and it is the best I have ever seen and I have probably tried 10 different Mp3 editors. This one is the EASIEST and you can change the tags in BULK, the UI is very clean and modern. I like it so much that I am going to donate to the developer. THANKS to whoever suggested this!
Here is the link again: http://www.mp3tag.de/en
See also:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-mp3-tag-editor.htm
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