If you’re an aspiring musician or podcaster, or just want to edit audio for your projects, choosing the right audio editing software is crucial. In this article, we’ll take a look at the best audio editors for beginners and go through their features, prices, pros and cons in detail.
Please note: Smooth system performance is especially important for audio processing, as music projects often require significant resources. We’ve observed the best Mac cleanup software to help you get rid of unnecessary files and improve performance. This software will be useful for both beginner musicians and those who work with large audio files and complex projects.
Audacity
Price: Free
Audacity is one of the most popular free and open-source audio editors. It is a simple, intuitive tool that is ideal for recording and editing audio. The program allows you to:
– Record and edit multi-channel audio
– Supports various file formats (WAV, MP3, OGG, etc.).
– Remove noise, adjust volume, add effects
Pros:
- Ability to add plug-ins to significantly expand the program’s functionality for specific tasks.
- A large community of users to share experiences and help.
- Supports 32-bit sound and ensures cleanliness when converting files.
- Suitable for basic to intermediate editing tasks
Cons:
- Lack of MIDI handling
- Limited features for professional use
- Outdated interface
GarageBand
Price: Free for Mac and iOS users
GarageBand is an audio editor from Apple that comes free with Mac and iOS devices. It’s great for beginner musicians as it has ready-made music templates and sound loops.
The program has an intuitive interface, a knife-edge of preset sounds and instruments, and supports MIDI and real-time recording.
Pros:
- Automatic “virtual drummer” allows you to create natural drum parts with flexible customization.
- Works perfectly with Apple devices, and easily imports projects into Logic Pro for further processing.
Cons:
- Only available for Apple devices.
- Does not allow deep customization of effect settings, limiting options for more advanced users.
- Unable to export to some professional formats (WAV or AIFF).
Ocenaudio
Price: Free
Ocenaudio is a free audio editing software with a focus on ease of use. It’s great for quickly processing audio files, and viewing effects in real-time, and also supports multichannel editing.
Pros:
- Instant previewing of effects.
- The program works fast and stable even with large files.
- Cross-platform.
Cons:
- Lack of support for MIDI handling and advanced processing.
- A small selection of built-in effects.
WavePad
Price: There is a free version and paid plans starting from $60.
WavePad is another popular audio editing software known for its basic features and user-friendly interface. It is suitable for working with audio files and sound processing. It has many sound effects and filters, audio restoration tools, and supports most audio formats.
Pros:
- Has built-in audio restoration tools.
- Supports advanced features such as spectrum analysis.
- Supports floating point (32-bit), which increases flexibility and minimizes audio quality loss during processing.
Cons:
- Incomplete compatibility with VST plug-ins.
- The interface feels outdated and cluttered in some places.
FL Studio
Price: $99 to $499.
FL Studio is a powerful digital audio station that, despite its professional nature, can be useful for beginners thanks to its user-friendly interface. The application supports VST plug-ins and MIDI controllers, has many built-in effects and synthesizers, and is suitable for creating electronic music
Pros:
- Offers one of the best sequencers for creating electronic music, and the built-in synthesizers (such as Sytrus and Harmor) don’t require additional plugins.
- VST and MIDI support.
- Allows you to customize everything from the interface to sound routing capabilities.
- Constant updates at no extra cost.
Cons:
- Can be complicated for beginners.
- More focused on electronic music and has limited live sound recording and editing capabilities.
- Relatively high price.
TrakAx
Price: $24.95
TrakAx is a budget-friendly video and audio editing software that is suitable for beginners due to its simple interface and basic functions. It supports multi-channel editing and allows you to create video and audio mixes.
Pros:
- Affordable price.
- Suitable for creating mixes with audio and video, which is beneficial for beginners. working with multimedia projects.
Cons:
- The lack of MIDI support makes TrakAx unsuitable for music production.
- Available for Windows only.
Reaper
Price: trial version for 60 days, full license $60.
Reaper is a popular DAW that provides extensive audio recording and editing capabilities. Suitable for users who plan to delve deeper into audio editing.Supports MIDI and VST plugins, has options for fine-tuning the interface, is super flexible, and supports a large number of plugins.
Pros:
- Supports almost all audio formats.
- Customizable interface and hotkey settings.
- Allows you to create complex set-ups for live performances or professional recordings.
Cons:
- Requires considerable time to master due to the wide functionality and complex interface.
- Lacks built-in tools and effects, and requires additional plug-ins.
Adobe Audition
Price: subscription from $20.99 per month.
Adobe Audition is professional audio editing software suitable for more complex projects. Features extensive audio recording, mixing, and restoration capabilities, offers audio restoration tools, supports multitrack recording and mixing, and integrates with other Adobe products.
Pros:
- A powerful set of tools for professional editing.
- Good integration with Adobe products.
- Supports working with video files, allowing you to work on audio tracks in sync with the video, making it ideal for post-production.
- Includes noise reduction, restoration, and dynamic processing features that are essential for working with old or low-quality audio.
Cons:
- High subscription price.
- The interface and features may deter beginners as Audition is more geared towards audio professionals.
Conclusion
For beginners, Audacity and GarageBand are best for beginners as they are easy to use and free. If you want something with more features, Reaper and Adobe Audition are worth considering. FL Studio is good for those who focus on music creation, while Ocenaudio and WavePad are for quick and easy sound editing.
We hope this review will help you choose the right software for your audio projects!