Audio recording software is necessary when it comes to audio recording and related tasks. Whether it is for basic sound recording needs or professional audio production, these software tools will help you in the process. They will not only help you to record audio but will also let you create professional outputs by letting you edit them as per your needs. But as the audio recording is our primary intention, we are now concentrating on the audio recorders alone without considering other sections of the programs.
14 Best Software to Record Audio
Most of the below-listed items are free recording software so you don’t have to worry about the money. However, it may include some paid applications as well because the quality of the service is also a factor that we considered during the sorting process. If you are not planning to buy a premium audio recording tool, you may skip the paid tools. These are the 14 best audio recording software.
1. Audacity
Audacity is a free open-source digital audio editor and recording software developed by The Audacity Team. The software was first introduced on May 28, 2000, which makes it 17 years old as of now. Audacity lets you record audio from multiple input devices such as an external microphone, a built-in microphone, or even PC streaming. The high-quality sound clips will be added to the interface allowing you to edit them further. You can control many audio features such as amplification, noise reduction, silence removal, etc.
The software is available for Windows, OS X, Linux, and other operating systems and supports almost all popular audio formats including such as MP3, WAV, FLAC, and OGG. So, if you are searching for the best audio recorder, Audacity is the answer.
2. MixCraft
MixCraft is nothing less than a fast, reliable, and efficient audio recording tool. MixCraft is developed by the Acoustica team well known for its software contributions. Powered by a lightning-fast sound engine, it is a complete audio production suite. Unlike Audacity, you have to pay a few dollars to enjoy the complete benefit of the software. However, a free trial version is provided by the company. Mixcraft is available for all Windows versions and supports almost all of the popular formats.
3. Presonus Studio One Free
Presonus Studio One is a professional audio editing software that also allows recording. Available for both Windows and Mac versions, this software is the dream of any DAW user. It contains a bunch of professional functions all of which are helpful for producing high-quality music content. If you are not satisfied with the free features of the Presonus Studio One, you could go for the premium version where tons of new features are added.
4. Sonar
Sonar provides the most advanced audio editing environment among the software on this list. It supports some extra audio formats such as WAV, ASF, WMA, and AIFF. It is available for all Windows versions including Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, and XP. Sonar The software consists of numerous functions like mixers and MIDI keyboards which are all helpful to produce stunning audio outputs. In addition, virtual machines like samplers, drum machines, and synthesizers are also there in the software.
5. Reaper
Reaper is a lightweight audio editing application with a simple interface and comparatively professional functions. The clean interface is the most attractive feature of this sound tool. You could control the audio features like the stereo, surround sound, as well as the effects like pitch shift, cross-fade, and snap to grid. Reaper is available for both Mac and PC systems and supports audio formats including FLAC, MOV, W64, and AIFF in addition to the usual formats.
6. Muse
Muse is an audio sequencer and recorder software dedicated to the Linux OS. If you are a Linux user, you should consider Muse above any of the above applications. You can record from the input sources in both stereo/mono modes. It also supports real-time audio recording. It is a free audio recorder and has no premium versions to upgrade. So, it is very likely for Linux users.
7. Ocenaudio
Ocenaudio is a good audio editing software with a good number of useful features. Being a fast audio editor, the software performs quite nicely in the recording part as well. The software offers numerous audio effects like 31 band equalizer, flanger, chorus, multiple filters, etc. It is one of the most popular audio editing tools for PC, Linux, Ubuntu, and Mac operating systems. Ocenaudio is completely free to use and supports formats including MP3, WAV, and AIFF.
8. AudioDope
AudioDope is yet another tool that allows editing music files or other audio files. With minimal features, the software is still helpful for both basic audio editing needs and advanced needs. It contains a full audio waveform analysis to improve the quality of the recorder audio file. It features numerous audio filters and effects like high/low pass filters, normalization, pitch scale, chorus, and reverb. AudioDope is currently available for PC and completely free to use. The software also supports extending the features using the VST plug-ins like compressors and phrases. It is a must-try.
9. Riverside.fm
The search for professional yet affordable audio recording software brought us to Riverside. It is a browser-based application that offers 4K local videos and audio recording. It is the most suitable recording tool for podcasting. Riverside runs on a freemium model that offers free plans alongside paid ones that start at $15 per month. Since it is a browser-based app, there is no entry barrier, i.e. the software can run on any OS. Some noteworthy features are such as it records files locally, offers high-quality playback at 48kHz and 16-bit resolution, and social media integration for live streaming on platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Twitch.
10. Adobe Audition
Now, we have Adobe Audition, a professional audio editing and recording tool that offers content creators a perfect platform for audio management. Adobe Audition is the perfect software for handling background scores and editing. However, it lacks music composition and is not free to use. The publisher charges $20.99 per month for professional-grade services. It is only compatible with Mac and Windows. Other features include easy integration with other Adobe programs, single and multi-track capabilities, audio restoration, sound removal, noise reduction, and customized for podcast hosts. But it can’t compose audio/music on its own. It only offers recording and the option to edit those recordings.
11. Wavosaur
Wavosaur is another free audio editor in this list for editing, processing, and recording sounds. The best thing that we attracted to this tool is its small file size. The software is only about 1.5 MB in size and allows editing huge audio files. The lightweight interface is a sweetening factor of this tool that never failed to provide extreme performance in the editing and recording process. It has no price and is available for all Windows versions.
12. Ardour
Ardour is an open-source DAW available for the Mac and Linux operating systems. It has the most useful multi-track recording feature alongside many other useful functionalities. Some cons of the software include the lack of built-in effects and filters and the unavailability of the Windows version. If you are ready to adjust to these issues, Ardour also is a good software to record audio.
13. NCH Music Recording Software
NCH is a very old program that allows different operations related to recording music, mixing audio, editing music, etc. It is available for both Windows and Mac platforms with professional functions packed inside. If you are not a fan of any of the above-listed programs, the NCH music recorder is a good choice. A free trial version is available in case you want to give it a try before paying some of your hard-earned money for it. So, don’t hesitate to try NCH.
14. Rosegarden
Rosegarden is another music editor and recorder software that is specially developed for Linux users. So if you are a proud Linux OS user, you should try this recording software for Linux. The powerful recording system on this tool is capable of capturing crystal clear sound. After finishing the recording, you will be able to edit the recordings as per your requirements. It is a must-try for Linux users.
Which is your favorite audio recording software?
Which audio recorder software will you choose for your audio editing needs? Would you go for free software or a premium one? Let us know your thoughts. Also, don’t forget to recommend any other tools which we missed including in this top audio recording software list.