Audio Editor

Turn a 30-minute meeting recording into a clean 5-minute highlight reel in minutes

We have all been there: you record a conversation, lecture, or idea on your phone, only to find silence at the start, small talk at the end, and sections in the middle you need to remove. This online audio editor works like a pair of scissors for sound. Open it in your browser to trim, join clips, adjust volume, add fade-ins and fade-outs, or cut out a chorus for a ringtone. No software to install—just export your finished file when you are done.

Waveforms: the visual map of your audio

When you open an audio file, the editor displays a waveform in the center. The horizontal axis represents time, moving from left to right as the audio plays; the vertical axis shows amplitude, or simply how loud the sound is. Higher peaks mean louder audio. Complete silence appears as a flat line. If an area barely moves, it is likely empty space at the beginning or in the middle, and you can select and delete it. Waveforms let you pinpoint edits precisely instead of repeatedly listening through the recording.

How to use this tool

The toolbar and menu bar at the top contain all editing controls, and the workflow is straightforward:

• Step 1: Open a file. Click “File” and choose “Open,” then select an audio file from your computer or phone. Common formats including MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and M4A are supported.
• Step 2: Navigate and play. Click anywhere on the waveform to move the playhead there. Press the Spacebar to play or pause. Use your mouse wheel to zoom in or out for more precise edits.
• Step 3: Select the area to edit. Click and drag over the waveform. Your selection will be highlighted—this is the section you can cut, copy, or apply effects to.
• Step 4: Edit the audio. The toolbar includes Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete, Undo, and Redo. To mute a section, select it and click “Mute.” To adjust loudness, drag the “Volume” slider, or use “Fade In” and “Fade Out” in the “Effects” menu for smooth transitions.
• Step 5: Export your file. Once you are happy with the edit, click “File” > “Export as WAV” or “Export as MP3,” then choose where to save it. We recommend exporting a lossless WAV master first, then converting it to MP3 if needed.

Example: edit a meeting recording

Imagine you have a 32-minute project discussion recording. You need to remove 18 seconds of setup noise at the start, 1 minute 20 seconds of off-topic conversation in the middle, and 45 seconds of closing small talk. You also want to lower the overall volume slightly and add a 2-second fade-out so the recording sounds more polished.

Steps:

1. Open the editor, click “File” > “Open,” and select the recording. The waveform will load in a few seconds.
2. Use the mouse wheel to zoom in near the start. You will see that the first 18 seconds contain little useful waveform data. Drag from the left edge to 00:18 to select the silent/noisy section, then click “Cut” in the toolbar (or press the Delete key).
3. Scroll to 01:02, where the off-topic discussion begins. Select through 02:22, then click “Cut” again.
4. Move to the end, select from 31:15 through 32:00, and click “Delete” to remove the final 45 seconds of small talk.
5. You should now have about 28 minutes of audio remaining. Press Ctrl+A (or choose “Select All” from the “Edit” menu), then drag the top toolbar’s “Volume” slider left to -3 dB to reduce overall loudness by about 30%.
6. With the full audio still selected, click the “Effects” menu and choose “Fade Out.” Enter “2” seconds in the dialog, then confirm. The waveform at the end will gradually taper to zero.
7. Click “File” > “Export as WAV,” name the file “Meeting Highlights.wav,” and save it.

What you get: The exported recording is reduced from 32 minutes to about 28 minutes and retains only the core discussion. It starts directly with the main topic and ends naturally rather than cutting off abruptly. A smoothly declining waveform at the end confirms that the fade-out was applied correctly. The slightly lower overall amplitude can also help prevent playback volume from clipping.

Another use case: make a phone ringtone

Another popular use is cutting the chorus from a favorite song to create a ringtone, then adding fade-ins and fade-outs to prevent abrupt starts and stops.

1. Open a 3-minute, 45-second song file.
2. Find where the chorus starts—for example, 01:20—and select through 01:50 for a 30-second clip.
3. Click the “Edit” menu and choose “Copy.” Create a new blank project (File > New), then paste the clip to create a clean 30-second segment.
4. Select the entire clip and use the “Effects” menu to add a 0.5-second “Fade In” and a 1.5-second “Fade Out.”
5. If the tempo feels too fast, click “Effects” > “Speed and Pitch,” set the speed to 95%, and keep the pitch unchanged.
6. Finally, export as MP3 at 256 kbps for use as a ringtone.

This approach uses copy and paste in a new project, so you can keep the original song untouched. Adjusting the speed and adding fades also makes the ringtone better suited to phone calls.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Deleting without making a selection: If no section is highlighted and you click “Delete” or “Cut,” you may accidentally remove a large portion of the audio after the playhead. Always select the target area first.
• Boosting volume too much and causing clipping: Pushing the volume slider above +10 dB can flatten waveform peaks and create harsh crackling during playback. Start with negative gain where possible, then increase volume only slightly if needed.
• Exporting MP3 at a low bitrate: Default export settings may use 128 kbps. For music or important recordings, choose 256 kbps or higher, or export to WAV first and convert it with another tool.
• Saving or closing before undoing a mistake: The editor relies on browser memory, so your edit history disappears when the page is closed. If you delete an important section by mistake, use Ctrl+Z as soon as possible or save a backup before exporting.
• Ignoring sample rates when syncing with video: If you plan to use the edited audio with video, make sure its sample rate matches the video’s audio track—usually 44100 Hz or 48000 Hz. Mismatched sample rates can cause lip-sync or timing issues later.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to install anything?
No. The editor runs directly in your browser. All processing takes place locally on your computer or phone, so your audio is not uploaded to a server.

Which audio formats are supported?
You can import common formats such as MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, M4A, and AAC. WAV (lossless) and MP3 (lossy compression) are the main export options. Support can vary slightly by browser—for example, Safari generally handles MP3 encoding well, while Chrome is often more consistent when exporting WAV.

Will editing reduce audio quality?
If you import a lossless format such as WAV and export to WAV, audio quality is preserved. Exporting to MP3 uses lossy compression, but choosing a high bitrate such as 320 kbps retains more detail. Repeatedly importing and exporting MP3 files compounds quality loss, so keep a WAV working copy while editing when possible.

How many actions can I undo?
Multiple undo steps are supported with Ctrl+Z. The exact number depends on your browser’s available memory, but dozens of steps are typically fine. For larger or more complex edits, export interim versions as you go.

Can I use it on a mobile browser?
Yes, though large files can load more slowly on mobile, and waveform zooming may not feel as smooth as it does on desktop. For the best experience, edit shorter clips under five minutes or use a Wi-Fi connection.

Is there a file size limit?
There is no fixed limit, but browser tabs have limited memory. Importing hours of audio—for example, a WAV file larger than 500 MB—may slow down or crash the page. Files under 50 MB generally edit smoothly.

Notes and limitations

• Browser performance matters: The editor processes audio locally, so handling large files or complex effects depends on your device’s CPU and memory. Older computers may respond slowly.
• No live recording: This is an editing-only tool. It cannot record new audio from your microphone; record with another app first, then import the file for editing.
• Export encoding can vary: MP3 encoding uses browser capabilities, so files produced by Chrome, Firefox, and Safari may differ slightly at very low bitrates. For consistent professional output, export WAV first and convert it with a dedicated encoder.
• Some mobile browser limitations: Certain mobile browsers may not export files correctly or recognize every audio format. Use the latest version of Chrome or Safari when possible.
• No multitrack mixing: This tool focuses on single-track waveform editing. It does not support layered tracks, mixing, or real-time effects. For complex multitrack work, consider a desktop digital audio workstation (DAW).

Open an audio file in the editor above and try trimming it, adjusting the volume, or adding a fade. You can get comfortable with the basics in minutes and create an audio file that fits your needs.