While the kind of music one makes is solely dependent on their musical sense and understanding, it is often observed that good editing makes major differences to the quality and feel of the song. Thus it will be wise to assume that editing a track is as important as producing, if not more.
Given how important it is to edit the music produced, the market for editing software is ever-growing. Each of these come with their own specifications and special features. Though the basic features and layout remain the same almost, some features are more highlighted in one software than in its contemporaries. Depending on the user’s need they can conveniently choose from the large number of options available.
In this article we shall discuss 5 such audio editing software for Mac devices, some of which are available for free while some need to be purchased:
GarageBand:
Talking of free audio editing software for Mac, the first name that would come to one’s mind is that of GarageBand. It is developed by Apple Inc and comes preinstalled in all iOS and Mac devices. Although GarageBand is widely popular as a music making application, it does come with a basic set of audio editing tools. Owing to its extremely user-friendly and navigable interface, even novices can edit tracks with finesse. One can, very conveniently record their music directly into the app or they can even import tracks. It is a great option for those who are starting off with their own music production and editing.
Audacity:
Another software that is available free of cost is Audacity. It is highly probable that this will be the first software to pop-up when a musician performs a google search for good audio editing software; that is how widely used it is. This software supports a large number of file types whilst allowing the user to record directly into the app. This application also comes with a spectrogram that allows the users to monitor and analyze the frequencies. The major problem however is that Audacity does not allow “non-destructive” editing. The audio file gets altered as and when edited. The original track cannot be retrieved. Hence the user must be careful of keeping a backup of the original track.
WavePad:
This software allows free editing for non-commercial use only. It has to be purchased if the user wishes to use it commercially. Just like its contemporaries, WavePad too supports a wide range of file types. This software allows the user to work on more than one file simultaneously, enabling multitasking. One can, in order to save time, “batch” process thousands of files together in a given time.
Since this software allows multitasking and simultaneous editing of multiple files, the “multi-window” interface can get a little complicated for those who are new to this entire process. Eventually as they get the hang of it, the interface seems more helpful and less complex. Audio bookmarking is supported on this platform. It also offers text-to-speech tools and some other tools for manipulating voices, besides the regularly available features.
Reaper:
This is a paid audio editing software. It is priced at $60. However, it does come with a good 60-day trial period, which is absolutely free of cost. This software has its niche audience who swear by this software. It is an extremely light software that by no means burdens the user’s system. This too supports a large number of file types. Those who use this software, can employ free VST plugins that will make a great deal of instruments and audio effects available at the user’s disposal.
It is a good editing software with all the necessary features. There is one drawback though- the absence of a sound library. While all its competitors feature fully stocked libraries, Reaper has it missing. However, it is not that big of a set back given there are a great deal of samples available for free download on the internet, with which the user can build their own customized library.
Adobe Audition:
This is a slightly more expensive option, given that it hails from the family of “Adobe”. Using it persistently can actually cost the user a great deal. However, if they wish to work on particular projects for the span of a month or two and want the editing to be of the best quality, monthly subscriptions are available. It starts from somewhere around $20.99/month. This particular software is widely used since there are not many functions that it cannot perform or features that it does not sport. It supports almost all file types. It is hands down one of the best tools for editing and mixing.
These were some of the most widely used audio editing software, highly suited for Mac devices. The user should carefully analyze their needs and demands and then choose one that caters the best to their interest.
