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Best Audio Editing Software for 2022

Make and mix unique 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 2023

Rank 1 2 3 4 5
NCH WavePad Masters Edition
Dexster Audio Editor
MAGIX Music Maker 2023 Plus
Acoustica Premium 7.4
Sound Forge Audio Studio 16
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 2023 plus Product image of acoustica premium 7.4 Product image of sound forge audio studio 16

*$99
$49.01 off

*$79.98
$31.99 off
 
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Ratings
Overall
nch wavepad masters edition has a rating of five  overall dexster audio editor has a rating of five  overall magix music maker 2023 plus has a rating of five  overall acoustica premium 7.4 has a rating of four  overall sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus has a rating of five for setup acoustica premium 7.4 has a rating of four for setup sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus has a rating of four for audio editing acoustica premium 7.4 has a rating of four for audio editing sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus has a rating of five for audio recording acoustica premium 7.4 has a rating of five for audio recording sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus has a rating of five for features acoustica premium 7.4 has a rating of four for features sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus has a rating of four for ease of use acoustica premium 7.4 has a rating of three for ease of use sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus has a rating of five for help & support acoustica premium 7.4 has a rating of four for help & support sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus does not include batch conversion acoustica premium 7.4 includes batch conversion sound forge audio studio 16 includes batch conversion
Bookmarks
nch wavepad masters edition includes bookmarks dexster audio editor includes bookmarks magix music maker 2023 plus includes bookmarks acoustica premium 7.4 includes bookmarks sound forge audio studio 16 does not include bookmarks
Channel mixer
nch wavepad masters edition includes channel mixer dexster audio editor includes channel mixer magix music maker 2023 plus includes channel mixer acoustica premium 7.4 includes channel mixer sound forge audio studio 16 includes channel mixer
Compressor
nch wavepad masters edition includes compressor dexster audio editor includes compressor magix music maker 2023 plus includes compressor acoustica premium 7.4 includes compressor sound forge audio studio 16 includes compressor
Cue points
nch wavepad masters edition includes cue points dexster audio editor includes cue points magix music maker 2023 plus includes cue points acoustica premium 7.4 includes cue points sound forge audio studio 16 includes cue points
Equalizer
nch wavepad masters edition includes equalizer dexster audio editor includes equalizer magix music maker 2023 plus includes equalizer acoustica premium 7.4 includes equalizer sound forge audio studio 16 does not include equalizer
File conversion
nch wavepad masters edition includes file conversion dexster audio editor includes file conversion magix music maker 2023 plus includes file conversion acoustica premium 7.4 includes file conversion sound forge audio studio 16 includes file conversion
Frequency tuner
nch wavepad masters edition includes frequency tuner dexster audio editor does not include frequency tuner magix music maker 2023 plus includes frequency tuner acoustica premium 7.4 does not include frequency tuner sound forge audio studio 16 does not include frequency tuner
Mixer
nch wavepad masters edition includes mixer dexster audio editor includes mixer magix music maker 2023 plus includes mixer acoustica premium 7.4 includes mixer sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus includes multi track editor acoustica premium 7.4 includes multi track editor sound forge audio studio 16 includes multi track editor
Preview
nch wavepad masters edition includes preview dexster audio editor includes preview magix music maker 2023 plus includes preview acoustica premium 7.4 does not include preview sound forge audio studio 16 does not include preview
Playback speed
nch wavepad masters edition includes playback speed dexster audio editor includes playback speed magix music maker 2023 plus includes playback speed acoustica premium 7.4 includes playback speed sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus includes track splitter acoustica premium 7.4 includes track splitter sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus includes text to speech acoustica premium 7.4 includes text to speech sound forge audio studio 16 includes text to speech
Digital effects
Amplify
nch wavepad masters edition includes amplify dexster audio editor includes amplify magix music maker 2023 plus includes amplify acoustica premium 7.4 includes amplify sound forge audio studio 16 includes amplify
Delay
nch wavepad masters edition includes delay dexster audio editor includes delay magix music maker 2023 plus includes delay acoustica premium 7.4 includes delay sound forge audio studio 16 includes delay
Dynamics
nch wavepad masters edition includes dynamics dexster audio editor includes dynamics magix music maker 2023 plus includes dynamics acoustica premium 7.4 includes dynamics sound forge audio studio 16 includes dynamics
Echo
nch wavepad masters edition includes echo dexster audio editor includes echo magix music maker 2023 plus includes echo acoustica premium 7.4 does not include echo sound forge audio studio 16 includes echo
Expander
nch wavepad masters edition includes expander dexster audio editor includes expander magix music maker 2023 plus includes expander acoustica premium 7.4 includes expander sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus includes fade in/out acoustica premium 7.4 includes fade in/out sound forge audio studio 16 includes fade in/out
Feedback
nch wavepad masters edition includes feedback dexster audio editor includes feedback magix music maker 2023 plus includes feedback acoustica premium 7.4 includes feedback sound forge audio studio 16 includes feedback
Flanger
nch wavepad masters edition includes flanger dexster audio editor includes flanger magix music maker 2023 plus includes flanger acoustica premium 7.4 includes flanger sound forge audio studio 16 includes flanger
Invert
nch wavepad masters edition includes invert dexster audio editor includes invert magix music maker 2023 plus includes invert acoustica premium 7.4 includes invert sound forge audio studio 16 includes invert
Noise
nch wavepad masters edition includes noise dexster audio editor includes noise magix music maker 2023 plus includes noise acoustica premium 7.4 does not include noise sound forge audio studio 16 includes noise
Normalize
nch wavepad masters edition includes normalize dexster audio editor includes normalize magix music maker 2023 plus includes normalize acoustica premium 7.4 includes normalize sound forge audio studio 16 includes normalize
Pitch
nch wavepad masters edition includes pitch dexster audio editor includes pitch magix music maker 2023 plus includes pitch acoustica premium 7.4 includes pitch sound forge audio studio 16 includes pitch
Reverb
nch wavepad masters edition includes reverb dexster audio editor includes reverb magix music maker 2023 plus includes reverb acoustica premium 7.4 includes reverb sound forge audio studio 16 includes reverb
Reverse
nch wavepad masters edition includes reverse dexster audio editor includes reverse magix music maker 2023 plus includes reverse acoustica premium 7.4 includes reverse sound forge audio studio 16 includes reverse
Silence
nch wavepad masters edition includes silence dexster audio editor includes silence magix music maker 2023 plus includes silence acoustica premium 7.4 includes silence sound forge audio studio 16 includes silence
Stretch
nch wavepad masters edition includes stretch dexster audio editor includes stretch magix music maker 2023 plus includes stretch acoustica premium 7.4 includes stretch sound forge audio studio 16 does not include stretch
Trim
nch wavepad masters edition includes trim dexster audio editor includes trim magix music maker 2023 plus includes trim acoustica premium 7.4 includes trim sound forge audio studio 16 includes trim
Vibrato
nch wavepad masters edition includes vibrato dexster audio editor includes vibrato magix music maker 2023 plus includes vibrato acoustica premium 7.4 includes vibrato sound forge audio studio 16 includes vibrato
Audio filters
FFT
nch wavepad masters edition includes fft dexster audio editor includes fft magix music maker 2023 plus includes fft acoustica premium 7.4 includes fft sound forge audio studio 16 includes fft
High pass
nch wavepad masters edition includes high pass dexster audio editor includes high pass magix music maker 2023 plus includes high pass acoustica premium 7.4 includes high pass sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus includes high shelf pass acoustica premium 7.4 does not include high shelf pass sound forge audio studio 16 includes high shelf pass
Low pass
nch wavepad masters edition includes low pass dexster audio editor includes low pass magix music maker 2023 plus includes low pass acoustica premium 7.4 includes low pass sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus includes low shelf pass acoustica premium 7.4 does not include low shelf pass sound forge audio studio 16 includes low shelf pass
Noise reduction
nch wavepad masters edition includes noise reduction dexster audio editor includes noise reduction magix music maker 2023 plus includes noise reduction acoustica premium 7.4 includes noise reduction sound forge audio studio 16 includes noise reduction
Notch
nch wavepad masters edition includes notch dexster audio editor includes notch magix music maker 2023 plus includes notch acoustica premium 7.4 includes notch sound forge audio studio 16 includes notch
Silence reduction
nch wavepad masters edition includes silence reduction dexster audio editor includes silence reduction magix music maker 2023 plus includes silence reduction acoustica premium 7.4 does not include silence reduction sound forge audio studio 16 does not include silence reduction
Vocal reduction
nch wavepad masters edition includes vocal reduction dexster audio editor includes vocal reduction magix music maker 2023 plus does not include vocal reduction acoustica premium 7.4 includes vocal reduction sound forge audio studio 16 includes vocal reduction
Input
Line-in
nch wavepad masters edition supports line-in dexster audio editor supports line-in magix music maker 2023 plus supports line-in acoustica premium 7.4 supports line-in sound forge audio studio 16 supports line-in
Sound card
nch wavepad masters edition supports sound card dexster audio editor supports sound card magix music maker 2023 plus supports sound card acoustica premium 7.4 supports sound card sound forge audio studio 16 supports sound card
CD
nch wavepad masters edition supports cd dexster audio editor supports cd magix music maker 2023 plus supports cd acoustica premium 7.4 supports cd sound forge audio studio 16 supports cd
Video
nch wavepad masters edition does not support video dexster audio editor supports video magix music maker 2023 plus supports video acoustica premium 7.4 supports video sound forge audio studio 16 supports video
Internet
nch wavepad masters edition supports internet dexster audio editor supports internet magix music maker 2023 plus supports internet acoustica premium 7.4 supports internet sound forge audio studio 16 supports internet
Input file formats
.AAC
nch wavepad masters edition supports .aac dexster audio editor supports .aac magix music maker 2023 plus does not support .aac acoustica premium 7.4 supports .aac sound forge audio studio 16 supports .aac
.AIF
nch wavepad masters edition supports .aif dexster audio editor supports .aif magix music maker 2023 plus supports .aif acoustica premium 7.4 supports .aif sound forge audio studio 16 supports .aif
.AU
nch wavepad masters edition does not support .au dexster audio editor supports .au magix music maker 2023 plus does not support .au acoustica premium 7.4 does not support .au sound forge audio studio 16 supports .au
.M4A
nch wavepad masters edition supports .m4a dexster audio editor supports .m4a magix music maker 2023 plus supports .m4a acoustica premium 7.4 supports .m4a sound forge audio studio 16 supports .m4a
.MIDI
nch wavepad masters edition supports .midi dexster audio editor supports .midi magix music maker 2023 plus supports .midi acoustica premium 7.4 supports .midi sound forge audio studio 16 supports .midi
.MP3
nch wavepad masters edition supports .mp3 dexster audio editor supports .mp3 magix music maker 2023 plus supports .mp3 acoustica premium 7.4 supports .mp3 sound forge audio studio 16 supports .mp3
.OGG Vorbis
nch wavepad masters edition supports .ogg vorbis dexster audio editor supports .ogg vorbis magix music maker 2023 plus supports .ogg vorbis acoustica premium 7.4 supports .ogg vorbis sound forge audio studio 16 supports .ogg vorbis
.VOX
nch wavepad masters edition supports .vox dexster audio editor supports .vox magix music maker 2023 plus supports .vox acoustica premium 7.4 supports .vox sound forge audio studio 16 supports .vox
.WAV
nch wavepad masters edition supports .wav dexster audio editor supports .wav magix music maker 2023 plus supports .wav acoustica premium 7.4 supports .wav sound forge audio studio 16 supports .wav
.WMA
nch wavepad masters edition supports .wma dexster audio editor supports .wma magix music maker 2023 plus supports .wma acoustica premium 7.4 supports .wma sound forge audio studio 16 supports .wma
Output
CD burning
nch wavepad masters edition offers cd burning dexster audio editor offers cd burning magix music maker 2023 plus offers cd burning acoustica premium 7.4 offers cd burning sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus offers telephone support acoustica premium 7.4 offers telephone support sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus offers email support acoustica premium 7.4 offers email support sound forge audio studio 16 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 2023 plus does not offer live chat acoustica premium 7.4 offers live chat sound forge audio studio 16 does not offer live chat
Manual
nch wavepad masters edition offers manual dexster audio editor offers manual magix music maker 2023 plus offers manual acoustica premium 7.4 offers manual sound forge audio studio 16 does not offer manual
Knowledge base
nch wavepad masters edition offers knowledge base dexster audio editor does not offer knowledge base magix music maker 2023 plus offers knowledge base acoustica premium 7.4 offers knowledge base sound forge audio studio 16 does not offer knowledge base
Forums
nch wavepad masters edition offers forums dexster audio editor offers forums magix music maker 2023 plus offers forums acoustica premium 7.4 offers forums sound forge audio studio 16 offers forums
Tutorials
nch wavepad masters edition offers tutorials dexster audio editor offers tutorials magix music maker 2023 plus offers tutorials acoustica premium 7.4 offers tutorials sound forge audio studio 16 offers tutorials
FAQs
nch wavepad masters edition offers faqs dexster audio editor offers faqs magix music maker 2023 plus offers faqs acoustica premium 7.4 does not offer faqs sound forge audio studio 16 offers faqs
Operating systems
Windows 11
nch wavepad masters edition is compatible with windows 11 dexster audio editor is not compatible with windows 11 magix music maker 2023 plus is compatible with windows 11 acoustica premium 7.4 is compatible with windows 11 sound forge audio studio 16 is not compatible with windows 11
Windows 10
nch wavepad masters edition  windows 10 dexster audio editor  windows 10 magix music maker 2023 plus  windows 10 acoustica premium 7.4  windows 10 sound forge audio studio 16  windows 10
Windows 8
nch wavepad masters edition  windows 8 dexster audio editor  windows 8 magix music maker 2023 plus  windows 8 acoustica premium 7.4  windows 8 sound forge audio studio 16  windows 8
Windows 7
nch wavepad masters edition is compatible with windows 7 dexster audio editor is compatible with windows 7 magix music maker 2023 plus is compatible with windows 7 acoustica premium 7.4 is compatible with windows 7 sound forge audio studio 16 is compatible with windows 7
Windows Vista
nch wavepad masters edition is compatible with windows vista dexster audio editor is compatible with windows vista magix music maker 2023 plus is compatible with windows vista acoustica premium 7.4 is compatible with windows vista sound forge audio studio 16 is compatible with windows vista
Windows XP
nch wavepad masters edition is compatible with windows xp dexster audio editor is compatible with windows xp magix music maker 2023 plus is compatible with windows xp acoustica premium 7.4 is compatible with windows xp sound forge audio studio 16 is compatible with windows xp

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.


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