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How to edit an audio? Best Programs and Editors – Step by Step Guide

How to edit an audio? Best Programs and Editors - Step by Step Guide

For some years now, audio content has gained a lot of relevance on the internet . Not only because of the growing interest of users towards postcasts , but because of the considerable improvement it offers to the user experience. In addition, it is a much cheaper format than text or image, since you do not need to hire a designer or editor to do it for you in case you do not know how, just have a good microphone , which can be that of your mid-high-end mobile, and know how to express your ideas in a live voice .

Editing an audio track is a skill worth knowing and is not as complicated as editing an image or a video , so if you need to have advanced knowledge to do it right. With a little imagination and a good sound production program, it will be enough to create quality audios that you can take advantage of in your digital project.

In this article we will show you the most important aspects when editing an audio and the improvements you can get with a good editor . In the same way, you will know which are the best sound editing programs and applications with which you can produce your own podcasts and audios that will grow your personal brand.

What is an audio editor and how does it work?

A sound editor is a software with which you can produce audio files professionally . These programs are usually very useful because they not only allow you to create, but also improve music and voice in case it has been recorded with a low quality microphone, giving it a professional and cleaner look that will will give more content production.

Using these programs is very easy. They work by taking a voice or music base and adding different effects and curtains to complement it , creating a unique audio that can be used for whatever you like.

There are different types of editors, some more powerful than others but they all do basically the same. Applying some effects or creating a unique sound from scratch requires professional knowledge since more than mastery for editing, knowledge of music in general is required.

But to create other types of documents you don’t need to be an expert. A podcast can simply be generated with a voice track and a background music curtain in the background , two elements that are very easy to add and manipulate to create a professional-looking file.

How can we improve the sound and edit an audio?

Improving sound and editing audio is in theory easy to do, depending on how much you want to modify things, more or less editing knowledge will be needed, but in general terms it is a process that anyone can dare to do. To do this, publishers have a wide variety of functions and tools that the user can use . Let’s see what are the effects and improvements we can make:

​​ Remove background noise

Erase or decrease background noise is one of the most useful tools available for editing your audio. Depending on the editing program used, has a noise elimination function automatically , in which it is responsible for identifying the sounds that make the audio dirty and removes them in a couple of clicks.

The main advantage of this tool is that it gives it a professional look. If you do not have a professional recording equipment, with this function you can get a clean sound that sounds as if it had been captured in a studio . However, this does not do magic. If the noise is too much, you will need to clean manually, so advanced knowledge is needed, in addition to powerful software .

To edit the noise manually there are several methods that vary depending on the versatility of the editor. The most common is select the audio and identify the lower frequency sounds How does this work? Easy, it is assumed that the sound of the voice will be much louder , so it will be the one with the highest frequency, so that everything below that frequency is considered noise .

What should be done is identify these low sounds and eliminate them , however, if the noise is too high, it may affect the quality of the voice causing it to lower its frequency, but considerably improving the original.

Ruido de fondo de un microfono

Cut, trim or separate the audio from a video

Another extremely useful tool is to cut or separate audio from a video . This is a really easy process that can be done in two ways .

The first is using the voice recording tool of the software on call , a function that almost everyone has integrated. Then, the video starts playing at the same time as the recording starts so that the sounds of the video are recorded in an audio file.

The second way is to separate it directly from the video, a process that will depend on the program you have. It is usually done from a video editing software, which is the only one that can read this format.

There is a third way to be able to download the audio or music from a YouTube video or similar platforms, there are tools that automatically separate and download parts of the video, whether only the audio in format MP3, text, images etc. If you want to know more about how to convert a video to audio click here.

Separar audio de video y viceversa

Adjust the volume and tone

Adjusting the volume and tone of a track is a basic function that is used very often. Depending on the software, the application will vary, but in general, what should be done is to select the audio and in the individual settings of this, reduce or increase its volume or tone as the case may be.

It should be noted that volume and tone is not the same. The first refers to how loud or weak an audio sounds, while the second refers to how sharp or severe it sounds. Both are perfectly modifiable aspects through extremely simple processes.

Controles de volumen de Windows

Add sound effects

Effects are the most complex issue when it comes to audio editing. While you can have software that automatically applies them making the process extremely easy to perform, to manipulate them at will it will be necessary to have advanced editing skills that allow you to play with more complex aspects of sound , such as frequency, BPM and other values ​​.

With this knowledge, not only can you manipulate the effects at pleasure, but you can also create new ones. Among the best known effects are:

Eco

The name of this effect speaks for itself. It is based on taking a fragment of the audio and having it repeated, as if the sound was bouncing as it happens in a cave. It is one of the most used and that brings more dynamism to a sound production.

Scattering

This effect causes the sound to disperse as if it were getting lower until it disappeared.

Laser shooting sound

This sound became famous in the Star Wars movie saga. The creation of this effect needed a lot of imagination since it was created by hitting two metallic electricity wires and distorting them by changing their hue.

Phone bell

There is not much to explain about this effect, it is simply the sound of a domestic telephone ringing when receiving a call, there are old and modern ones.

Castle thunder and lightning

This effect was created for the Frankenstein movie. It is the sound of a storm lightning. Since its birth it has been used in countless films and radio novels. It is not known how it was created, but it has been used so many times that it already has a personality, generating that everyone who hears it thinks of a haunted house.

Except for the first two, the other effects did not exist at the time and were created by sound engineering geniuses . Similarly, anyone with sufficient knowledge can create their own effect and make it a legend.

Editar audio con efectos de sonido

​​ Add background music

Adding background music is one of the easiest functions to use and possibly the most useful . To do this, you simply have to import the audio, place it on one of the tracks and lower the volume of it so that it is heard in the background . This is used in audio and video files, giving it a professional appearance and considerably improving the user experience by making the file more dynamic and entertaining.

Mix the audio

Audio mixing is the process by which volume and equalization are manipulated to make several sounds sound harmoniously as one. Its greatest usefulness is in events where there are several audio sources, such as in a concert , and these are required to sound in coordination.

Without mixing, combining several sounds would only generate noise, so it is extremely necessary to have it. However, it is not so easy to apply. While some software can do it automatically, it is best to do it manually, so you need a mixer with enough experience.

Curvas ecualización sonido

What are the best applications and programs for editing and improving audios?

There are several editing software to produce quality audios. There are all kinds, from the most basic for beginners, to more powerful ones that require advanced knowledge to exploit them to the fullest. Here are the best for each platform.

On Android

Android is one of the operating systems for mobile devices where there are more options for editing audio. These are usually easy to use, but powerful enough to create good quality audios. The best are:

Doorbell

Chosen in 2018 as one of the most innovative applications of Google Play Store , this platform allows you to edit audio with basic but well executed functions. With it you can cut, mix, clean and gather audio . In addition, you can convert videos to audio or convert text to sound so you don’t have to use your voice to record.

App Timbre Android

Music Studio Lite

This application is quite complete and will allow you to cut, clean, mix and manipulate the sound . In addition, it has a large database with hundreds of sound effects and musical instruments that you can use to add to your productions and make them more dynamic and entertaining.

MixPad Music Mixer

This is the most complete application mentioned. In addition to having all the qualities of the previous editor, has very powerful multitrack recording support . Although its interface is a bit complicated to use, its functions are good enough to allow you to make high-level sound productions.

On iOS / iPhone

Since 2017, the iOS system of the iPhone and iPad is one of the best environments for editing audios . The best applications are available for Apple devices. Here are the most useful ones.

Korg Gadget

This is an extremely useful production environment where you can create high quality audios . It has a simple editor and a function to record audio in real time quite powerful, as well as the possibility of adding all kinds of effects to your productions. In addition, you can export your files to iCloud and then use them in MacOS software.

Beathawk

This is a extremely powerful music production environment in which you can create your own sounds and combine them with a wide variety of effects from your database. Equipped with a 16-track interface, this software is one of the most powerful available for the iOS system.

iMPC Pro 2

This is an extremely powerful iPad application that has a multitrack interface and various functions that will allow you to create all kinds of audios. In addition, in it you can create your own sounds thanks to its wave editing track. Undoubtedly one of the best applications for mobile devices when it comes to sound editing.