Top Free Browser-Based Audio Editors and DAWs
If you are new to the world of audio editing and want to get your feet wet, here are four free browser-based digital audio workstations (DAWS) and four free simple audio editors to try. If you are working on a video project that needs music or you want to further manipulate audio for an effect, these editors will make the process super easy. The benefit of using a browser-based editor is that you can edit a project on the go, at home, at school, and with a Mac, a Windows computer, or a Chromebook. There aren't too many limitations, and it is a great way to learn the basics so you can later choose a more professional DAW later.
Browser-Based Digital Audio Workstations
This online audio editor functions more like a traditional DAW. The interface is easy to use and you have a lot of freedom. It is free with optional in-app purchases, but the free version doesn’t limit you. You can connect an interface and use it to make professional soundtracks. This is editing on the go, or refining and adding effects to your video project. You don't need much experience at all to make crazy effects chains, manipulate voices, or refine audio tracks. You can pitch up and down, reverse audio, add a plethora of tracks and export high quality audio.
This tool has a sleek interface. There are many modules and synths that you can use to make beats and interesting tracks. It is a little closer to a traditional DAW, so it is great practice if you are interested in this sort of thing. The skeuomorphic design makes it feel like you are using actual gear, so it is great for someone who is used to working with hardware in a newsroom or video studio. Patching things together is oodles of fun.
On this app, you can record your own audio and add effects chains like delay, reverb, limiter, and eq. It is packed with plenty of pre-recorded loops. You can manipulate them and create your own sounds for your production. It is a simple tool to learn and you don't ever have to worry about finding a royalty-free track that works for your video again. You are making music in under a minute!
Looplabs is a useful browser-based loop editor. You can chop up provided samples, move them around, and never be out of key. Although there are limitations, you can make something useful in only a few minutes. This is great if you don't know much about recording and you need some royalty-free music for your project in a pinch.
Simple Browser-Based Audio Editors
If you already have audio that you need to manipulate, you can try the above sites, and you will be happy. But if you are looking for something a little more straightforward and a no frills solution, check out the simple editors below to tweak your audio files.
This is a perfect bare-bones audio editor for fading in/out audio, reversing tracks, and converting to MP3 or WAV. You have the option to silence parts and trim clips. Sodaphonic is simple and great for quick projects.
Edit multiple tracks at a time with Beautiful Audio Editor. The grid-based interface allows you to trim your clips, rearrange, mix, and convert file formats. There is an awesome daisy chain section that allows you to easily stack multiple effects on each track. This includes reverb, gain, pan, dynamic compression, filters. Speed up and slow down tracks and record directly into your browser.
This minimal sample editor is easy to use. Hya-Wave allows you to rearrange your track, copy and paste sections, and mix down to a WAV file. The effects library includes 18 effects like: amplify, feedback, delay, bit-crusher, reverse, Mini-Moog filter, compression, etc. This site was designed to edit samples or short bits of audio, so don't try to edit a whole lot in one go.
TwistedWave Online Audio Editor
TwistedWave allows you to edit a mono track and apply your own VST (virtual studio technology) effects. The free version has a 5-minute limit on the track length. What makes this useful is the ability to add your own VST effects as well as take advantage of the provided core effects in a browser. That is awesome! You can copy/paste and manipulate your track and compress it down to an MP3 all within your browser.
If you are working from home and don’t have the right gear that you need to complete a project, try some of these sites. There is no barrier to entry to get started with recording audio and manipulating it. Take it wherever you want to go but make sure to keep learning new skills anywhere you can. It makes you valuable to your team, your school, or your future company.