9 Best Free Audio Recording and Editing Software: A Creator's Toolkit

Did you know the best free audio recording and editing software lets you capture and produce audio with studio-level quality from the comfort of your couch? Whether it's music, podcasts, voiceovers, or even lectures, you can record and fine-tune your vocals without renting a professional studio. How? Read on to learn more!

What makes the best free audio recording editing software

Before selecting a tool, you need to evaluate its features and specifications to ensure it suits your recording and editing needs. Pay attention to the following features:

• Supported file formats
• Good audio recording and editing software should support major audio formats such as AAC, MP3, M4A, and WAV, especially if you intend to upload to streaming platforms.
• Multichannel recording
• When recording music or podcasts, you may need to record multiple tracks, so pick a tool that supports multitrack recording and editing. Also, check if it supports internal audio recording and external sound capturing.
• Sound quality enhancement
• If your audio has background noise, mouth clicks, or needs pitch correction, etc., the editor should offer an audio restoration toolkit to fine-tune it. Check for features like mute tracks, sound enhancer, echo reduction, etc.
• System compatibility
• Since different devices can run on different operating systems and have varying hardware capabilities, ensure the software you choose can run efficiently on your device.
• Audio editing tools
• You can turn up the volume, apply noise reduction for enhanced clarity, add audio effects, apply a fade in/out, adjust the pitch, and more for optimum audio quality.

Best free audio recording and editing software for PC

• When using PC-based software, unexpected internet lags do not disrupt your recording session since these apps don't require internet connectivity. Below are the best free audio recording and editing software for your desktop.

1. CapCut desktop video editor

The CapCut desktop video editor is feature-stacked multimedia editing software compatible with Windows and macOS. It can serve as free voice recording and editing software, able to capture audio from your computer's built-in microphone or an external mic or sound card for professional recording.

Key features

• Enhance voice.
• Noise reduction.
• Input volume control.
• Mute project.

Step
1. Record
2. Launch the CapCut editor and click New project. Select the microphone icon on your editor's screen, then choose an input device and adjust the volume slider to customize the input gain. Turn on Echo reduction and Enhance voice for higher quality audio and Mute project to help you focus when recording. Now, click the red button and capture as many voice recordings as you like.
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   Download for free

   

   *No credit card need
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Step
5. Edit
6. Click Zoom to fit or adjust the zoom slider on the toolbar, so your recording's entire timeline fits in the screen. Select your audio, then adjust the volume, add a fade in or out, normalize the loudness, enhance voice, balance the channels, and more from the Basic tab on the right. Click voice changer to apply voice filters and character effects, or turn the recording into a folk melody via the Speech-to-song feature. Also, click Speed to control the pace of your recording. You can increase it up to 100x.
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8. This tool also offers royalty-free audio resources like background music and sound effects accessible through the Audio tab in the top left. But that's not all. It also has a wealth of video resources such as templates, effects, filters, etc., and various professional video editing features to help you with video production. Besides, you can easily drag and drop or upload your footage and fine-tune it to give your recording a video.
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Step
10. Export
11. Click the Export button at the top, then adjust the resolution(up to 4K), bit rate, format (MP4 & MOV), frame rate up to 60fps, etc. If you want an audio version of your project, select Export audio, then choose an export format such as MP3, AAC, etc. Hit Export to save the audio or video on your computer.
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13. CapCut desktop allows you to share the video directly on TikTok and YouTube. When posting on TikTok, you may enable comments, duets, and stitch. Also, select whether to keep the video's original ratio or apply the TikTok 9:16 video size.
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2. Ardour

Ardour is a multi-channel digital audio workstation built for Windows, macOS, and Linux, which allows you to record, edit, and mix audio. It is among the best free audio recording and editing software, with hundreds of plugins and a flexible mixer architecture.



Key features

• Audio cutter and trimmer.
• Pre and post-fader.
• Audio alignment.

3. Audacity

Audacity is an open-source digital audio editor that can create podcasts, voice memos, music, and more and supports several audio export formats. It is cross-platform, supporting macOS, Windows, Linux, etc. As free audio editing and recording software, Audacity doesn't cost a dime.



Key features

• Deep audio analysis.
• Plugin support.
• Multi-track editor.
• Audio converter.

Best online free voice recording and editing software

With a web-based audio editor, you do not need to install any app on your device. You can capture and fine-tune recordings online. The following are the best such tools:

4. CapCut online video editor

If you are looking for an intuitive media editor with an advanced voice recorder and studio-level audio editing tools, the CapCut online video editor is your best bet. It is entirely free and compatible with all major browsers, including Google Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Opera.

Key features

• Echo reduction: Minimize reverberated sound, especially when recording in a long room or room with tall ceilings.
• Teleprompter: Enter or paste text and read it from the editor's screen, enabling you to speak directly into the microphone.
• Voice changer: Distort your voice using voice effects like deep, synth, etc, to remain anonymous, sound humorous, scary, and more.
• Beats detection: Align the transitions in your video to happen in sync with the rhythm of the music for a harmonious effect.
• AI characters: Add visual characters to mimic the words in your recording and create an engaging video. There are 100+ AI characters.

Steps

Recording and editing audio with CapCut online is a piece of cake. Click the link below to produce professional audio.

Step
1. Record
2. Launch the CapCut web editor, then click the microphone icon at the center of the screen to open the recording toolbar. Click the microphone to select an input device and the teleprompter icon next to it to add your lyrics or text from the editor's screen for reading. Select the three dots to apply echo reduction, and mute other tracks in your video when you start recording. Hit Record.
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Step
4. Edit
5. Select your audio timeline, then click the Basic tab from the menu on the right to adjust volume, add fade-in or fade-out effects, and apply noise reduction and beats detection. Click the Voice changer tab to add a voice effect like Megaphone, Trickster, etc., and the Speed tab to increase or decrease how fast the audio plays and adjust the audio pitch. If the recording is too long, drag on its edges to trim it, or split and delete the unwanted parts.
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7. If you need to enhance your recording, leverage CapCut's extensive audio clips and stock music. Click the Audio tab, then select Music to add background tracks or Sound effects to pick from effects such as explosion, animal sounds, pop, swoosh, and more.
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9. Besides audio recording and editing, CapCut online video editor provides access to a mix of basic, advanced, and AI tools to create cinematic marvels. Thus, you can trim, crop, resize, flip, mirror, split scenes, perform transcript-based editing, AI characters, and remove background in a video. This web app also hosts rich video resources that include transitions, templates, filters, animations, effects, text, and more to help you polish your video content.
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Step
11. Export

Click the Export icon once you are done editing, then select Download to save the video on your device. Customize the export settings, including video name, resolution, quality, frame rate up to 60fps, and format (MP4 & MOV), then click Export.



Alternatively, you can share your video as a link via Share for review to let others comment on your work, or select Share as a presentation to post it as a link on platforms like Facebook and Tumblr. To share it directly on social media, go to the Share on social section and select TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, or others.



5. Veed.io

Veed.io is a web-based video editor with an in-app audio recorder that works with your PC's built-in mic. It is an ideal free audio recording and editing software due to its one-click recording feature and highly customizable interface. This software also has a countdown timer to help you get ready to start recording.



Key features

• Audio enhancement.
• Teleprompter.
• Can switch input device.
• Audio transcription.

6. Sodaphonic

Sodaphonic is a free audio recording and editing software that lets you capture and easily share your edited audio. You can perform simple audio edits like trim, cut, and convert to mono, as well as professional ones like compressing and time stretching. This tool does not require plug-ins and has a format flipper to convert audio formats.



Key features

• Audio effects.
• Compressor.
• Speed control.
• Normalise.

Best free audio recording and editing software for mobile

Gone are the days when audio recording and editing required a computer and a professional studio. Currently, you can do it from anywhere on your mobile phone. Here's a list of free phone apps to produce quality audio.

7. CapCut mobile editor

If you are an iOS or Android user looking for free audio recording and editing software, your search ends today. The CapCut mobile editor is a user-friendly media editing tool with a superb microphone feature that lets you capture audio with no length limit. The latest version can be found on the App Store or the Google Play Store.

Key features

• Voice effects: Change your voice using effects such as robot, chipmunk, high, elf, etc.
• Enhance voice: Clean up the noise and polish the audio for better clarity.
• Copyright checker: Ensure the media materials in your project are copyright-free to avoid infringement issues.
• Sound effects: Enhance the vocals or message in your recording through traffic, music, horror, and other effects.

Step
1. Record
2. Launch CapCut mobile. Select Audio from the menu, tap Record, then press and hold the microphone icon to capture voice or sound. You may also click New project to select a video to edit from your local storage or CapCut's library.
Step
3. Edit
4. Release the microphone once you are done recording, then tap Enhance voice to clean up the noise or Voice effects to apply a voice changer effect like deep, elf, low, etc. Click the tick symbol, then select your recording from the media timeline to reveal an audio editing menu at the bottom. Split the audio, add a fade, adjust the volume, isolate voice, apply beat detection, reduce noise, and more to enhance your audio's quality.
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5. Export

Tap the export icon at the top right and customize the resolution up to 1080p, frame rate up to 60fps, and the code rate, then click Done. Select Save to device or upload directly to TikTok. After you save the video on your phone, you can share it on other social platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and more without leaving CapCut mobile.



8. WaveEditor Record & Edit Audio

WaveEditor is a free voice recording and editing software that lets you master audio files on your phone. It is built for Android and supports WAV and MP3 audio formats. This software is user-friendly and can record via a Bluetooth microphone.



Key features

• Pre and post-fader.
• Audio converter.
• Monitor.
• Multi-track editor.

9. Voice Recorder Audio Sound MP3

Voice Recorder Audio Sound MP3 is an Android, multilingual transcription app with an in-app audio recorder feature. This free audio recording and editing software supports five audio formats, including AAC, WAV, MP3, and AMR. It offers 30+ transcription languages.



Key features

• Trimmer.
• Voice changer.
• Easy sharing.
• Audio transcriber.

Conclusion

From browser-based audio recording to PC or mobile audio editing, there is free audio recording and editing software suitable for each scenario. With the above-mentioned tools in this guide, you no longer have to scour the internet seeking an audio editor. However, while all these tools are free, some lock their advanced functions behind a paywall or contain ads.

But this is not the case with the CapCut online video editor or its PC and mobile counterparts. This creative suite has no annoying ads and allows you free access to the full set of editing features. Try it today and revolutionize your audio quality at no cost.

FAQs

1. What is the best free audio recording editing software?
2. CapCut online video editor stands out from all other audio recording and editing software. This is due to its list of advanced audio editing capabilities, such as noise reduction, beat detection, transcript-based writing, etc., and the fact that you don't have to pay a dime to use it. Besides, with the CapCut online video editor, you get 1GB of free cloud storage when you create an account.
3. Can I add sound effects with free voice recording and editing software?
4. Yes, you can. The CapCut online video editor provides free sound effects such as swish, ding, magic reveal, cheers and applause, swoosh, long beep, and more. They are in categories such as laugh, fight, instrument, magic, transition, etc. To access them, click the Audio tab on the left panel, then select Sound effects.
5. Can I distort audio with free audio recording and editing software?
6. Yes, of course. Many recording apps have a voice changer effect that lets you distort your voice to remain anonymous for humor or security reasons. The range of voice effects available depends on the particular tool. For example, the CapCut online video editor's voice changer has 15+ voice effects, including deep and megaphone. To use this feature, select your audio timeline, then click Voice changer in the right panel.