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So, you've got some big mp3 or other audio files which you want to trim, splice, split or otherwise cut down to size, maybe for your mp3 player. Perhaps you want to extract one or more songs from a large audio file, or a particular part of a radio program you recorded (cut the commercials!). You want to split a wav file you've transferred from vinyl into its original tracks. Or you want to use a particular portion of an mp3 file to create a personalized ring tone for your smart phone.
You could use an all-round audio editing freeware program like Audacity, but that isn't the most convenient or efficient way. Your best bet is probably to use a smaller, more specific program for the job: a lightweight freeware splitter (or joiner). Perhaps something you can run even on an oldish laptop. And you'll be better off choosing a lossless splitter which — unlike Audacity, for example — will cut (or merge) your files without any loss of sound quality due to decompressing and recoding.
This review will focus on simple audio cutter / joiner freeware for mp3 and ogg files, and also for wav and other formats.
Audio Cutters / Splitters
mp3DirectCutmp3DirectCut is likely to be top choice if your main need is simply to cut / split mp3 files. It's a lightweight, portable, lossless mp3 splitter which is a joy to use even on less powerful computers.
Like other top audio file splitters, mp3DirectCut incorporates an audio player with a volume unit (VU) meter which lets you see as well as hear the points where you want to cut. Mp3DirectCut offers a good range of handy features, including pause detection, CUE sheet support, looping, volume gain, fading trimming, ID tagging, etc.
A particular strong point is the simplicity of its neatly arranged interface. It's a pleasure to get to know this no frills program and there's an excellent manual to help (and here's a tutorial on how to make a ring tone with mp3DirectCut). Splendid, straightforward portable freeware.
mp3Splt-gtkmp3Splt-gtk has the advantage that it handles ogg vorbis files as well as mp3. It also has a few more features than mp3DirectCut, including the ability to identify split points between tracks via online database services (CDDB or FreeDB).
On the downside, the user interface is less tidy than mp3DirectCut's, and the program's response times tend to be somewhat longer. For instance, you have to load the player's VU meter (by checking "Show amplitude wave"). Documentation too seems to be confined to the command line version of mp3splt. However, you can find a good overview of the program and its interface here.
Audio Joiners
MakeitOne MP3 Album MakerMakeitOne MP3 Album Maker outshines other joiners for its ability to join multiple MP3 files and, if required, "unpack" them back to their original state. Either way, the program is a lightning fast mp3 joiner and unpacker that accepts large files.
The MP3 files packed by the program can be played on any mp3 player. It features drag-and-drop files for ease of use and includes a tagging function which lets you tag artist and album title information and album art to the joined files.
On the downside, the only audio format it supports is mp3.
Shuangs Audio JoinerShuangs Audio Joiner takes three simple steps to join audio files, Add files in the list, Select Output Format, and Join the files, straight forward, easy to use and effective.
Joins mp3, wma and wav files. The mp3 files can be joined using a bitrate ranging from 32 to 320 kbps, wma files with a bitrate ranging from 48 to 160 kbps.
The user interface shows a small ad panel linking to the developer's homepage but it is not intrusive.
Online applications:
* cutmp3.net - There are several valid online mp3 cutters around, but for straightforward jobs CutMp3 really is a cut above the rest. Since cutmp3.net doesn't require you to upload the Mp3 file, this app works lightning fast. There is no limit to the size of file you can use, and all in all cutmp3.net really cuts the mustard!
* Audiko.net - If you have proprietary ringtone needs, then Audiko may provide the answer. This app lets you cut an mp3, ogg or aac audio file online easily, and could be good for creating a personalized ringtone for iPhone or other smart phones without installing any software—just upload a file, choose the best fragment by dragging the start and end point on a volume unit (UV) meter while the audio file is automatically being played, click the Create Ringtone button and download the file in mp3, m4r or an amr format of your choice directly to your mobile or smart phone—you'll have to send a text first though.
More freeware review suggestions:
* mpTrim - This portable program will remove silent parts of mp3 files. Its sister program - wavTrim - will do the same for wav files.
* MP3 Cutter Plus - Designed for cutting ring tones; has a very simple interface.
* Ventones.com - Another web site to create ring tones online from your mp3 collection; or download free ringtones made by others (free registration required).
* Free Audio Dub - This standalone program promises to let you cut a variety of audio formats, including aac, ac3 and m4a (as well as mp3, wav, ogg, wma and mp2). So Free Audio Dub could come in useful for iTunes files. INSTALLATION NOTE: The installer asks you to install the Ask toolbar and set Ask as your home page and default search engine: to opt out, uncheck all three tick boxes when installing.
* Medieval Cue Splitter - Good for other audio file types if you want to split into original CD tracks a ripped audio file with an accompanying CUE file; supports mp3, flac, ape, ogg, wma, mpc, wv (lossless WavPack compressed) and tta (True Audio codec) files.
* Merge Mp3 - What it says.
* Meda MP3 Joiner - Another contender.
link : [url]http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-cut-split-merge-audio-files.htm#Quick_Selection_Guide[/url]
have fun
runmo
You could use an all-round audio editing freeware program like Audacity, but that isn't the most convenient or efficient way. Your best bet is probably to use a smaller, more specific program for the job: a lightweight freeware splitter (or joiner). Perhaps something you can run even on an oldish laptop. And you'll be better off choosing a lossless splitter which — unlike Audacity, for example — will cut (or merge) your files without any loss of sound quality due to decompressing and recoding.
This review will focus on simple audio cutter / joiner freeware for mp3 and ogg files, and also for wav and other formats.
Audio Cutters / Splitters
mp3DirectCutmp3DirectCut is likely to be top choice if your main need is simply to cut / split mp3 files. It's a lightweight, portable, lossless mp3 splitter which is a joy to use even on less powerful computers.
Like other top audio file splitters, mp3DirectCut incorporates an audio player with a volume unit (VU) meter which lets you see as well as hear the points where you want to cut. Mp3DirectCut offers a good range of handy features, including pause detection, CUE sheet support, looping, volume gain, fading trimming, ID tagging, etc.
A particular strong point is the simplicity of its neatly arranged interface. It's a pleasure to get to know this no frills program and there's an excellent manual to help (and here's a tutorial on how to make a ring tone with mp3DirectCut). Splendid, straightforward portable freeware.
mp3Splt-gtkmp3Splt-gtk has the advantage that it handles ogg vorbis files as well as mp3. It also has a few more features than mp3DirectCut, including the ability to identify split points between tracks via online database services (CDDB or FreeDB).
On the downside, the user interface is less tidy than mp3DirectCut's, and the program's response times tend to be somewhat longer. For instance, you have to load the player's VU meter (by checking "Show amplitude wave"). Documentation too seems to be confined to the command line version of mp3splt. However, you can find a good overview of the program and its interface here.
Audio Joiners
MakeitOne MP3 Album MakerMakeitOne MP3 Album Maker outshines other joiners for its ability to join multiple MP3 files and, if required, "unpack" them back to their original state. Either way, the program is a lightning fast mp3 joiner and unpacker that accepts large files.
The MP3 files packed by the program can be played on any mp3 player. It features drag-and-drop files for ease of use and includes a tagging function which lets you tag artist and album title information and album art to the joined files.
On the downside, the only audio format it supports is mp3.
Shuangs Audio JoinerShuangs Audio Joiner takes three simple steps to join audio files, Add files in the list, Select Output Format, and Join the files, straight forward, easy to use and effective.
Joins mp3, wma and wav files. The mp3 files can be joined using a bitrate ranging from 32 to 320 kbps, wma files with a bitrate ranging from 48 to 160 kbps.
The user interface shows a small ad panel linking to the developer's homepage but it is not intrusive.
Online applications:
* cutmp3.net - There are several valid online mp3 cutters around, but for straightforward jobs CutMp3 really is a cut above the rest. Since cutmp3.net doesn't require you to upload the Mp3 file, this app works lightning fast. There is no limit to the size of file you can use, and all in all cutmp3.net really cuts the mustard!
* Audiko.net - If you have proprietary ringtone needs, then Audiko may provide the answer. This app lets you cut an mp3, ogg or aac audio file online easily, and could be good for creating a personalized ringtone for iPhone or other smart phones without installing any software—just upload a file, choose the best fragment by dragging the start and end point on a volume unit (UV) meter while the audio file is automatically being played, click the Create Ringtone button and download the file in mp3, m4r or an amr format of your choice directly to your mobile or smart phone—you'll have to send a text first though.
More freeware review suggestions:
* mpTrim - This portable program will remove silent parts of mp3 files. Its sister program - wavTrim - will do the same for wav files.
* MP3 Cutter Plus - Designed for cutting ring tones; has a very simple interface.
* Ventones.com - Another web site to create ring tones online from your mp3 collection; or download free ringtones made by others (free registration required).
* Free Audio Dub - This standalone program promises to let you cut a variety of audio formats, including aac, ac3 and m4a (as well as mp3, wav, ogg, wma and mp2). So Free Audio Dub could come in useful for iTunes files. INSTALLATION NOTE: The installer asks you to install the Ask toolbar and set Ask as your home page and default search engine: to opt out, uncheck all three tick boxes when installing.
* Medieval Cue Splitter - Good for other audio file types if you want to split into original CD tracks a ripped audio file with an accompanying CUE file; supports mp3, flac, ape, ogg, wma, mpc, wv (lossless WavPack compressed) and tta (True Audio codec) files.
* Merge Mp3 - What it says.
* Meda MP3 Joiner - Another contender.
link : [url]http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-cut-split-merge-audio-files.htm#Quick_Selection_Guide[/url]
have fun
runmo