This website is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Best Audio Editing Software for 2024

Make or mix your music. Create podcasts. Record or convert speech and other tracks. Audio editing software gives you the tools you need to manipulate and work with sound on your computer - no matter whether you’re a budding musician or simply need to tidy up your audio files.

Audio editing software comparison chart for 2024

Rank 1 2 3 4 5
NCH WavePad Masters Edition
Dexster Audio Editor
MAGIX Music Maker Premium 2024
Acoustica Standard Edition 7.x
Sound Forge Audio Studio 17
Excellent
Five stars means excellent
Very good
Four stars means very good
Good
Three stars means good
Average
Two stars means average /
Poor
One star means poor
NCH WavePad Masters Edition has been awarded best buy Product image of nch wavepad masters edition Product image of dexster audio editor Product image of magix music maker premium 2024 Product image of acoustica standard edition 7.x Product image of sound forge audio studio 17
 
  i i i i i
 
Ratings
Overall
nch wavepad masters edition has a rating of five  overall dexster audio editor has a rating of five  overall magix music maker premium 2024 has a rating of five  overall acoustica standard edition 7.x has a rating of four  overall sound forge audio studio 17 has a rating of four  overall
Setup
nch wavepad masters edition has a rating of five for setup dexster audio editor has a rating of five for setup magix music maker premium 2024 has a rating of five for setup acoustica standard edition 7.x has a rating of four for setup sound forge audio studio 17 has a rating of four for setup
Audio editing
nch wavepad masters edition has a rating of four for audio editing dexster audio editor has a rating of four for audio editing magix music maker premium 2024 has a rating of four for audio editing acoustica standard edition 7.x has a rating of four for audio editing sound forge audio studio 17 has a rating of three for audio editing
Audio recording
nch wavepad masters edition has a rating of five for audio recording dexster audio editor has a rating of five for audio recording magix music maker premium 2024 has a rating of five for audio recording acoustica standard edition 7.x has a rating of five for audio recording sound forge audio studio 17 has a rating of four for audio recording
Features
nch wavepad masters edition has a rating of four for features dexster audio editor has a rating of four for features magix music maker premium 2024 has a rating of five for features acoustica standard edition 7.x has a rating of four for features sound forge audio studio 17 has a rating of three for features
Ease of use
nch wavepad masters edition has a rating of five for ease of use dexster audio editor has a rating of four for ease of use magix music maker premium 2024 has a rating of four for ease of use acoustica standard edition 7.x has a rating of three for ease of use sound forge audio studio 17 has a rating of five for ease of use
Help & support
nch wavepad masters edition has a rating of five for help & support dexster audio editor has a rating of four for help & support magix music maker premium 2024 has a rating of five for help & support acoustica standard edition 7.x has a rating of four for help & support sound forge audio studio 17 has a rating of four for help & support
Audio editing tools
Batch conversion
nch wavepad masters edition includes batch conversion dexster audio editor includes batch conversion magix music maker premium 2024 does not include batch conversion acoustica standard edition 7.x includes batch conversion sound forge audio studio 17 includes batch conversion
Bookmarks
nch wavepad masters edition includes bookmarks dexster audio editor includes bookmarks magix music maker premium 2024 includes bookmarks acoustica standard edition 7.x includes bookmarks sound forge audio studio 17 does not include bookmarks
Channel mixer
nch wavepad masters edition includes channel mixer dexster audio editor includes channel mixer magix music maker premium 2024 includes channel mixer acoustica standard edition 7.x includes channel mixer sound forge audio studio 17 includes channel mixer
Compressor
nch wavepad masters edition includes compressor dexster audio editor includes compressor magix music maker premium 2024 includes compressor acoustica standard edition 7.x includes compressor sound forge audio studio 17 includes compressor
Cue points
nch wavepad masters edition includes cue points dexster audio editor includes cue points magix music maker premium 2024 includes cue points acoustica standard edition 7.x includes cue points sound forge audio studio 17 includes cue points
Equalizer
nch wavepad masters edition includes equalizer dexster audio editor includes equalizer magix music maker premium 2024 includes equalizer acoustica standard edition 7.x includes equalizer sound forge audio studio 17 does not include equalizer
File conversion
nch wavepad masters edition includes file conversion dexster audio editor includes file conversion magix music maker premium 2024 includes file conversion acoustica standard edition 7.x includes file conversion sound forge audio studio 17 includes file conversion
Frequency tuner
nch wavepad masters edition includes frequency tuner dexster audio editor does not include frequency tuner magix music maker premium 2024 includes frequency tuner acoustica standard edition 7.x does not include frequency tuner sound forge audio studio 17 does not include frequency tuner
Mixer
nch wavepad masters edition includes mixer dexster audio editor includes mixer magix music maker premium 2024 includes mixer acoustica standard edition 7.x includes mixer sound forge audio studio 17 includes mixer
Multi track editor
nch wavepad masters edition does not include multi track editor dexster audio editor does not include multi track editor magix music maker premium 2024 includes multi track editor acoustica standard edition 7.x includes multi track editor sound forge audio studio 17 includes multi track editor
Preview
nch wavepad masters edition includes preview dexster audio editor includes preview magix music maker premium 2024 includes preview acoustica standard edition 7.x does not include preview sound forge audio studio 17 does not include preview
Playback speed
nch wavepad masters edition includes playback speed dexster audio editor includes playback speed magix music maker premium 2024 includes playback speed acoustica standard edition 7.x includes playback speed sound forge audio studio 17 does not include playback speed
Track splitter
nch wavepad masters edition includes track splitter dexster audio editor does not include track splitter magix music maker premium 2024 includes track splitter acoustica standard edition 7.x includes track splitter sound forge audio studio 17 does not include track splitter
Text to speech
nch wavepad masters edition includes text to speech dexster audio editor includes text to speech magix music maker premium 2024 includes text to speech acoustica standard edition 7.x includes text to speech sound forge audio studio 17 includes text to speech
Digital effects
Amplify
nch wavepad masters edition includes amplify dexster audio editor includes amplify magix music maker premium 2024 includes amplify acoustica standard edition 7.x includes amplify sound forge audio studio 17 includes amplify
Delay
nch wavepad masters edition includes delay dexster audio editor includes delay magix music maker premium 2024 includes delay acoustica standard edition 7.x includes delay sound forge audio studio 17 includes delay
Dynamics
nch wavepad masters edition includes dynamics dexster audio editor includes dynamics magix music maker premium 2024 includes dynamics acoustica standard edition 7.x includes dynamics sound forge audio studio 17 includes dynamics
Echo
nch wavepad masters edition includes echo dexster audio editor includes echo magix music maker premium 2024 includes echo acoustica standard edition 7.x does not include echo sound forge audio studio 17 includes echo
Expander
nch wavepad masters edition includes expander dexster audio editor includes expander magix music maker premium 2024 includes expander acoustica standard edition 7.x includes expander sound forge audio studio 17 does not include expander
Fade In/Out
nch wavepad masters edition includes fade in/out dexster audio editor includes fade in/out magix music maker premium 2024 includes fade in/out acoustica standard edition 7.x includes fade in/out sound forge audio studio 17 includes fade in/out
Feedback
nch wavepad masters edition includes feedback dexster audio editor includes feedback magix music maker premium 2024 includes feedback acoustica standard edition 7.x includes feedback sound forge audio studio 17 includes feedback
Flanger
nch wavepad masters edition includes flanger dexster audio editor includes flanger magix music maker premium 2024 includes flanger acoustica standard edition 7.x includes flanger sound forge audio studio 17 includes flanger
Invert
nch wavepad masters edition includes invert dexster audio editor includes invert magix music maker premium 2024 includes invert acoustica standard edition 7.x includes invert sound forge audio studio 17 includes invert
Noise
nch wavepad masters edition includes noise dexster audio editor includes noise magix music maker premium 2024 includes noise acoustica standard edition 7.x does not include noise sound forge audio studio 17 includes noise
Normalize
nch wavepad masters edition includes normalize dexster audio editor includes normalize magix music maker premium 2024 includes normalize acoustica standard edition 7.x includes normalize sound forge audio studio 17 includes normalize
Pitch
nch wavepad masters edition includes pitch dexster audio editor includes pitch magix music maker premium 2024 includes pitch acoustica standard edition 7.x includes pitch sound forge audio studio 17 includes pitch
Reverb
nch wavepad masters edition includes reverb dexster audio editor includes reverb magix music maker premium 2024 includes reverb acoustica standard edition 7.x includes reverb sound forge audio studio 17 includes reverb
Reverse
nch wavepad masters edition includes reverse dexster audio editor includes reverse magix music maker premium 2024 includes reverse acoustica standard edition 7.x includes reverse sound forge audio studio 17 includes reverse
Silence
nch wavepad masters edition includes silence dexster audio editor includes silence magix music maker premium 2024 includes silence acoustica standard edition 7.x includes silence sound forge audio studio 17 includes silence
Stretch
nch wavepad masters edition includes stretch dexster audio editor includes stretch magix music maker premium 2024 includes stretch acoustica standard edition 7.x includes stretch sound forge audio studio 17 does not include stretch
Trim
nch wavepad masters edition includes trim dexster audio editor includes trim magix music maker premium 2024 includes trim acoustica standard edition 7.x includes trim sound forge audio studio 17 includes trim
Vibrato
nch wavepad masters edition includes vibrato dexster audio editor includes vibrato magix music maker premium 2024 includes vibrato acoustica standard edition 7.x includes vibrato sound forge audio studio 17 includes vibrato
Audio filters
FFT
nch wavepad masters edition includes fft dexster audio editor includes fft magix music maker premium 2024 includes fft acoustica standard edition 7.x includes fft sound forge audio studio 17 includes fft
High pass
nch wavepad masters edition includes high pass dexster audio editor includes high pass magix music maker premium 2024 includes high pass acoustica standard edition 7.x includes high pass sound forge audio studio 17 includes high pass
High shelf pass
nch wavepad masters edition does not include high shelf pass dexster audio editor includes high shelf pass magix music maker premium 2024 includes high shelf pass acoustica standard edition 7.x does not include high shelf pass sound forge audio studio 17 includes high shelf pass
Low pass
nch wavepad masters edition includes low pass dexster audio editor includes low pass magix music maker premium 2024 includes low pass acoustica standard edition 7.x includes low pass sound forge audio studio 17 includes low pass
Low shelf pass
nch wavepad masters edition does not include low shelf pass dexster audio editor includes low shelf pass magix music maker premium 2024 includes low shelf pass acoustica standard edition 7.x does not include low shelf pass sound forge audio studio 17 includes low shelf pass
Noise reduction
nch wavepad masters edition includes noise reduction dexster audio editor includes noise reduction magix music maker premium 2024 includes noise reduction acoustica standard edition 7.x includes noise reduction sound forge audio studio 17 includes noise reduction
Notch
nch wavepad masters edition includes notch dexster audio editor includes notch magix music maker premium 2024 includes notch acoustica standard edition 7.x includes notch sound forge audio studio 17 includes notch
Silence reduction
nch wavepad masters edition includes silence reduction dexster audio editor includes silence reduction magix music maker premium 2024 includes silence reduction acoustica standard edition 7.x does not include silence reduction sound forge audio studio 17 does not include silence reduction
Vocal reduction
nch wavepad masters edition includes vocal reduction dexster audio editor includes vocal reduction magix music maker premium 2024 does not include vocal reduction acoustica standard edition 7.x includes vocal reduction sound forge audio studio 17 includes vocal reduction
Input
Line-in
nch wavepad masters edition supports line-in dexster audio editor supports line-in magix music maker premium 2024 supports line-in acoustica standard edition 7.x supports line-in sound forge audio studio 17 supports line-in
Sound card
nch wavepad masters edition supports sound card dexster audio editor supports sound card magix music maker premium 2024 supports sound card acoustica standard edition 7.x supports sound card sound forge audio studio 17 supports sound card
CD
nch wavepad masters edition supports cd dexster audio editor supports cd magix music maker premium 2024 supports cd acoustica standard edition 7.x supports cd sound forge audio studio 17 supports cd
Video
nch wavepad masters edition does not support video dexster audio editor supports video magix music maker premium 2024 supports video acoustica standard edition 7.x supports video sound forge audio studio 17 supports video
Internet
nch wavepad masters edition supports internet dexster audio editor supports internet magix music maker premium 2024 supports internet acoustica standard edition 7.x supports internet sound forge audio studio 17 supports internet
Input file formats
.AAC
nch wavepad masters edition supports .aac dexster audio editor supports .aac magix music maker premium 2024 does not support .aac acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .aac sound forge audio studio 17 supports .aac
.AIF
nch wavepad masters edition supports .aif dexster audio editor supports .aif magix music maker premium 2024 supports .aif acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .aif sound forge audio studio 17 supports .aif
.AU
nch wavepad masters edition does not support .au dexster audio editor supports .au magix music maker premium 2024 does not support .au acoustica standard edition 7.x does not support .au sound forge audio studio 17 supports .au
.M4A
nch wavepad masters edition supports .m4a dexster audio editor supports .m4a magix music maker premium 2024 supports .m4a acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .m4a sound forge audio studio 17 supports .m4a
.MIDI
nch wavepad masters edition supports .midi dexster audio editor supports .midi magix music maker premium 2024 supports .midi acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .midi sound forge audio studio 17 supports .midi
.MP3
nch wavepad masters edition supports .mp3 dexster audio editor supports .mp3 magix music maker premium 2024 supports .mp3 acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .mp3 sound forge audio studio 17 supports .mp3
.OGG Vorbis
nch wavepad masters edition supports .ogg vorbis dexster audio editor supports .ogg vorbis magix music maker premium 2024 supports .ogg vorbis acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .ogg vorbis sound forge audio studio 17 supports .ogg vorbis
.VOX
nch wavepad masters edition supports .vox dexster audio editor supports .vox magix music maker premium 2024 supports .vox acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .vox sound forge audio studio 17 supports .vox
.WAV
nch wavepad masters edition supports .wav dexster audio editor supports .wav magix music maker premium 2024 supports .wav acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .wav sound forge audio studio 17 supports .wav
.WMA
nch wavepad masters edition supports .wma dexster audio editor supports .wma magix music maker premium 2024 supports .wma acoustica standard edition 7.x supports .wma sound forge audio studio 17 supports .wma
Output
CD burning
nch wavepad masters edition offers cd burning dexster audio editor offers cd burning magix music maker premium 2024 offers cd burning acoustica standard edition 7.x offers cd burning sound forge audio studio 17 offers cd burning
Help & support
Telephone support
nch wavepad masters edition offers telephone support dexster audio editor does not offer telephone support magix music maker premium 2024 offers telephone support acoustica standard edition 7.x offers telephone support sound forge audio studio 17 does not offer telephone support
Email support
nch wavepad masters edition offers email support dexster audio editor does not offer email support magix music maker premium 2024 offers email support acoustica standard edition 7.x offers email support sound forge audio studio 17 does not offer email support
Live chat
nch wavepad masters edition offers live chat dexster audio editor does not offer live chat magix music maker premium 2024 does not offer live chat acoustica standard edition 7.x offers live chat sound forge audio studio 17 does not offer live chat
Manual
nch wavepad masters edition offers manual dexster audio editor offers manual magix music maker premium 2024 offers manual acoustica standard edition 7.x offers manual sound forge audio studio 17 does not offer manual
Knowledge base
nch wavepad masters edition offers knowledge base dexster audio editor does not offer knowledge base magix music maker premium 2024 offers knowledge base acoustica standard edition 7.x offers knowledge base sound forge audio studio 17 does not offer knowledge base
Forums
nch wavepad masters edition offers forums dexster audio editor offers forums magix music maker premium 2024 offers forums acoustica standard edition 7.x offers forums sound forge audio studio 17 offers forums
Tutorials
nch wavepad masters edition offers tutorials dexster audio editor offers tutorials magix music maker premium 2024 offers tutorials acoustica standard edition 7.x offers tutorials sound forge audio studio 17 offers tutorials
FAQs
nch wavepad masters edition offers faqs dexster audio editor offers faqs magix music maker premium 2024 offers faqs acoustica standard edition 7.x does not offer faqs sound forge audio studio 17 offers faqs
Operating systems
Windows 11
nch wavepad masters edition is compatible with windows 11 dexster audio editor is compatible with windows 11 magix music maker premium 2024 is compatible with windows 11 acoustica standard edition 7.x is compatible with windows 11 sound forge audio studio 17 is compatible with windows 11
Windows 10
nch wavepad masters edition  windows 10 dexster audio editor  windows 10 magix music maker premium 2024  windows 10 acoustica standard edition 7.x  windows 10 sound forge audio studio 17  windows 10
Windows 8
nch wavepad masters edition  windows 8 dexster audio editor  windows 8 magix music maker premium 2024  windows 8 acoustica standard edition 7.x  windows 8 sound forge audio studio 17  windows 8
Windows 7
nch wavepad masters edition is compatible with windows 7 dexster audio editor is compatible with windows 7 magix music maker premium 2024 is compatible with windows 7 acoustica standard edition 7.x is compatible with windows 7 sound forge audio studio 17 is not compatible with windows 7

Audio editing software explained

Although audio editing software has long been used by professionals, recent years have seen it become much cheaper and easier to get to grips with.

It still takes time for newcomers to learn how to use audio editing software for complex tasks, like mixing tracks together. But even beginners can easily carry out simple jobs, like removing hiss from a recording.

Mixing, cutting and filtering sound

The key functions of audio editing software are:

  • Cutting and slicing files – so you can chop out unwanted portions of a recording or combine chunks of different recordings together.
  • Mixing different tracks – for instance, allowing you to lay a recording of your speech on top of some background music.
  • Audio filtering – this lets you emphasize or reduce parts of the sound, or change its characteristics. For instance, you could add bass or remove hiss.

Importing and saving audio

It’s important your audio editing software can handle the type of audio you need it to. Most software can work with all common sound file types, including WAV, MP3, WMA, OGG and MIDI.

If you plan to make your recordings available on the internet, it’s especially important your software can save in the efficient MP3 format. This keeps the file size to a minimum for easy downloading.

In addition, think about other ways you might want to get audio into your computer. As well as opening existing sound files, good audio editing software will allow you to record directly from a microphone or to import music from an audio CD.


Related categories

Video editing software

Information

Advice

© 2024
All rights reserved.