Why Use Audio Editing Software?

You do not have to be a professional mixer or sound technician to perform basic audio editing or restoring tasks. Audio editing software can carry out a variety of functions and these low priced editing programs are easy to use.

Here are just few things that you can do with a good audio editing program:

• Create – With an easy to use basic program, even an amateur can create unique music mixes for an internet radio station, website, PowerPoint presentation or for personal use.
• 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 a MP3, WMA, WAV or OGG file.
• Restore – Advanced filters and other devices can restore the sound of aged LPs or damaged audio recordings. These filters can also be used for forensics to filter out background noises, static or other noise.
• Edit – Audio editing software includes many editing tools, including cut and paste options and the ability to edit tag or media information.

In this site, you'll find articles related to audio editing, as well as comprehensive reviews and a side-by-side comparison to help you make an informed decision on which software is right for your audio editing needs.

At TopTenREVIEWS - We do the research so you don't have to.™

What to Look for in Audio Editing Software

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 audio editing software. So before choosing a program, determine what you want to do with the software. Are you interesting 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 bands 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 know how to use audio editing 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 audio editing software:

• 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 "record" 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 users can use their CD or DVD burner to save their 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 drop down 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 – Audio editing 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 a great priced, flexible and easy to use program see, Dexster Audio Editor.