Reference number: CH000965

How can I cut or otherwise edit a MP3 or other audio file?

Question:

How can I cut or otherwise edit a MP3 or other audio file?

Answer:

For Microsoft Windows users who wish to cut and/or perform other edits on their audio files we highly recommend WavePad a great program you can download for free and purchase it if you find the program useful. This program supports multiple audio formats including wav, mp3, vox, gsm, real audio, au, aif, flac, ogg, and many more. Below are some basic steps in editing while using WavePad.

The official WavePad page and download is found here.

Before following any of the below steps you must have WavePad downloaded and installed on your computer.

Cut or trim the beginning, end, or other portion of a song

You can cut or trim a song or audio file using your keyboard or mouse. Below are the steps for each of these methods.

Using the mouse

1. Using the mouse highlight the portion of the audio wave (green lines) you wish to delete.
2. Once highlighted press the delete key. Save the file if you're satisfied with the changes.

Using the keyboard

1. Play the song and once to the point you wish to delete before or after hold down the shift key and then press the home key or end key to highlight to the beginning or end of the audio file.
2. Once highlighted press the delete key. Save the file if you're satisfied with the changes.

Tip: If at any time you cut something you don't want you can always click Edit and then Undo or pres Ctrl + Z.

Copy section of audio or song file

1. Using the mouse highlight the portion of the audio wave (green lines) you wish to copy.
2. Once selected click Edit and then click copy.
3. Next, click the New File button and once open click Edit and then click paste.

If you do not wish to create a new file with only the portion of the audio file or song you copied you can also paste portions of audio files into other audio files by clicking the mouse in the section you wish to copy into.

Trim, amplify, normalize, or other edits on multiple audio files

WavePad also has an excellent batch editing feature that will allow you to perform any of the edits you're able to do with a file with multiple files. To do this follow the below steps.

1. Under the Tools section select Batch Converter.
2. In the Batch Converter window click the Add File button to select files or if you have all the files you wish to edit in a folder click the Add Folder button.
3. Once the files have been selected click the Next button.
4. Unless you already have a script click the Add button and select the action you wish to perform. For example, if you wish to normalize the audio in each of the files, highlight Normalize and click Add.
5. Once you've selected all the audio settings you wish to adjust click the Next button.
6. Next, select how you wish to output the files and where you wish to output them to and click Finish.