Music editing software recommendations, please.

I'm looking for software, preferably free, that would allow me to edit music. I don't want to do anything fancy, just cull out certain sections of music. For example, delete a long intro, middle and/or end section of a piece, so that I can listen only to favorite passages.

Music source would be CDs that could be loaded then edited on the computer, and transferred to an MP3 player or to a recordable CD.

If you've personally used certain programs, tell me what you liked and disliked. Strictly personal listening enjoyment, so nothing fancy, overly "technie," or expensive, please. Thanks for any recommendations!

I use a free copy of CoolEdit that I picked up about 10 years ago. I don't know if it is even available anymore.

I like AUDACITY

Works great for clipping out sections and there's some cool effects you can add to the music. IIRC, in the stock form, it can only save files as .WAV but there's another download on their site that will let you export/save to just about any filetype.

Audacity will do the basics fine. Free and on most popular platforms.

#3 for Audacity

#4 for Audacity.

I use it to make ringtones for my cell phone.

Thanks for the replies! I'll have to check out Audacity, but in the meantime, I welcome additional options, comments, etc. Thanks!

JWP_EE said:

I use a free copy of CoolEdit that I picked up about 10 years ago. I don't know if it is even available anymore.

Click to expand...

Ditto. Works very well.

JWP_EE said:

I use a free copy of CoolEdit that I picked up about 10 years ago. I don't know if it is even available anymore.

Click to expand...

You can still download the shareware version, but cannot register it.

Adobe bought out the company that made CE and now charge a small fortune for it.

Black Rose said:

You can still download the shareware version, but cannot register it.

Adobe bought out the company that made CE and now charge a small fortune for it.

Click to expand...

Indeed, it's now known as Adobe Audition.... Still a great bit of software, but now it comes with a pricetag...

Audacity is the best free one i know too.

However, my favorite is goldwave.

Crenshaw

I used CoolEdit and Cool2000 for quite a few years when I was transferring a lot of LP's to CDR. Unfortunately the hard drive CoolEdit was installed on crashed, and even though I had bought the license and the complete version of it, by that time it had been bought by Adobe and wasn't supported any more, except as the high-dollar pro version as Black Rose mentioned.

I've got Goldwave installed on our PC and used it as a replacement for CoolEdit, not quite as nice, but it did most of what I needed. Haven't used it in a while though. I'll have to check out Audacity.

None of those work as well and as simply as CoolEdit. One of the best and long lasting shareware/software programs I ever bought. Right up there with Steinberg Clean & Paintshop Pro, etc.