Audio Editing Software Review

There are a variety of reasons to use audio editing software; while some people use it to create and record files, others use it to edit and restore old recordings, and some use it only to convert and change file types. Thanks to audio editing software, more people have the opportunity to get their creative juices flowing by using the affordable and capable applications available on the market today.
If you are curious about what you can do with audio editing software and trying to decide if it’s the right purchase for you, here are some basic features each application allows you to perform:

• Create – With an easy-to-use basic program, even an amateur can create unique voice and music mixes for an internet radio station, website, PowerPoint presentation or for personal use.

• Restore – Advanced filters and other tools within the audio editing software applications can restore the sound of aged LPs or damaged audio recordings. You can also use these filters to filter out background noises, static or other unwanted noise.

• Edit – Audio editing software applications include several editing tools, including cut and paste options and the ability to edit tag or media information.

• Record – Through a compatible program, you can record your favorite podcasts, internet radio stations and other types of streaming audio. You can also pull audio from a video or audio file, CDs, DVDs or even your sound card, so that you can edit and listen to it on your computer or a portable device.

• Convert – Most programs can convert file formats. For example, from a MIDI to an MP3, WMA, WAV or OGG file.

Audio Editing Software Benefits

The top eight programs in our review ranked quite close to each other and are within a similar price range; however, they all support different formats, editing tools and recording/ burning abilities.
There are several factors to consider when looking for suitable applications. Before choosing a program, determine what you want to do with the software. Are you interested in working with streaming audio, making arrangements for your iPod or MP3 player, restoring sound files, forensics, creating audio for your website or burning a CD of your band's music?
There are also a variety of editing tools, effects and filters available. If you are a beginner, you may want to look for a product that includes a large number of preset effects and filters. Alternately, if you already know how to use this kind of software and know how to make adjustments on your own, you may want a program that supports a high level of manipulation through a 10-band equalizer, a mixer or various processors.
Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate each application:

Audio Editing
All good programs contain play, record, cut, copy, paste and so on; this criterion looks beyond the essential editing tools to include tools such as equalizers, processors, mixers, preset effects, filters and analyzing tools like the waveform or spectrogram.

Recording/Editing Ability
The best programs will capture audio from files, the sound card or from downloaded CDs as well as from outside sources such as a line-in from a stereo, MIDI device or microphone. As a bonus, it is also helpful if the product includes burning software so that you can use your CD or DVD burner to save edited files. To be the most compatible, the product must be able to work with and convert many file formats, like the various WAV file types, Windows Media Audio (WMA), AIFF (used by Apple) and MP3 files.

Ease of Use
All key features of the product should be easy to find and use. It is accommodating if the product contains preset effects and filters placed in the dropdown menus or icons, mouse zooms, right-click edits and unlimited undos. Fast recorders that search for sound cards or streaming audio automatically are also handy.

Help and Support
This type of software can be tricky for inexperienced audio editors and non-professional mixers to master. Comprehensive help and support obtainable through FAQs, direct contact with technical support, user forums, help pages or other documents are necessary for this type of software.

For great prices, flexibility and easy-to-use audio editing software applications, check out the top 10 best options found above in our side-by-side comparison.