The only easy multitrack recording you could do at the time was with MIDI, with hardware synthesizers or samplers, and maybe with a Mac or an (aging) Atari ST (Opens in a new window) computer attached as a sequencer. And you'd be sharply limited in the kinds of projects you could produce. If you were on a budget, you'd probably stick with a tried-and-true Tascam or Yamaha four-track tape recorder and Alesis compressor, get used to bouncing tracks in mono, make peace with tape hiss, and remember to clean the tape heads every week. In other words, you were looking at about $10K to $15K worth of gear to start-and that's before you got to microphones, speakers, and other accessories.
Twenty-five years ago, to record a music album at a professional level, you needed a sizable mixing console, several eight-track digital records (such as ADATs or DA-88s), and a good selection of outboard compressors, reverb units, and other effects, plus a two-track deck to mix down to. There has never been a better time to buy digital audio workstation (DAW) software. Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. ( Read our editorial mission (Opens in a new window) & see how we test everything we review (Opens in a new window).)
How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.It is completely free right now but there are rumblings that it might go premium soon. You can add effects to multiple parts of a track at once, copy, paste, select different sections and manipulate the audio track in any number of ways.
You can add effects and perform the usual edits from the built-in tools but also install addons from the community. It has a very clean interface that is easy to work with and makes short work of most editing tasks. It is easier to use than Audacity but has more tools and options than Free Audio Editor. Ocenaudio sits between Audacity and Free Audio Editor. This is so you can access DVDVideoSoft’s other products so can safely be deleted. It installs with something called Free Studio.
You won’t see as many options as these others but it is very easy to get to grips with. Drag your audio file into the program and use the icons or menus to edit as you require. It doesn’t have as many tools or effects but if you want something simple to get to grips with this is one to try.įree Audio Editor is an icon-drive program that also utilizes drag and drop for maximum ease of use. It is not as feature-packed as Audacity or WavePad but it makes short work of simple edits. The emphasis here is on making an approachable editor with the shallowest learning curve possible.
Otherwise this is a very credible audio editor.įree Audio Editor is exactly what it says it is. While friendly and approachable, it isn’t as large or as strong as Audacity’s community. WavePad only comes second because of the community. It works with multiple audio formats, samples and real instruments too. WavePad has a wide suite of tools to trim, copy, add effects, process and manipulate sound in every way possible. The program is not open source but it is completely free for personal use. The interface is equally grayscale but navigation is simple and it also keeps the music front and center.
It is as feature-rich as Audacity but slightly more difficult to get to grips with. WavePad is another solid performer for Windows.