WavePad Audio Editor
| Developer(s) | NCH Software |
|---|---|
| Initial release | 2004 |
| Stable release | 6.47
/ March 2016 |
| Written in | C++ |
| Operating system | Windows, macOS, Android, iOS |
| Available in | English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese |
| License | Proprietary Software |
| Website | www |
Description
Overview
WavePad Audio Editor Software is an audio and music editor for Windows and Mac (also available for iOS and Android). It lets users record and/or edit music, voice and other audio recordings. As an editor, users can cut, copy, paste, delete, insert, silence, and auto-trim recordings, then add effects like amplify, normalize, equalize, envelope, reverb, echo, reverse, and more with the help of VST plugin support and a free stock audio library.[1]
NCH Software claims over 18 million users of the product, and as of March 2016, WavePad is listed as having over 4 million downloads on CNet's Download.com [2]
Features
The primary functions and tools of WavePad are:[3]
- Sound editing functions: cut, copy, paste, delete, insert, silence, auto-trim and more
- Audio effects: amplify, normalize, equalize, envelope, reverb, echo, reverse and many more with VST plugin compatibility
- Batch processing allows users to apply effects and/or convert thousands of files as a single function
- Scrub, search, and bookmark audio to find, recall and assemble segments of audio files
- Spectral analysis (FFT), speech synthesis (text-to-speech), and voice changer
- Audio restoration tools including noise reduction and click pop removal[4]
- Supports sample rates from 6 to 96 kHz, stereo or mono, 8, 16, 24 or 32 bits
- Remove vocals from music tracks[5]
- Create ready to use ringtones for mobile phones[6]
Use in Education
As indicated by author Victor C.X. Wang/Florida Atlantic University in his book Handbook of Research on Education and Technology in a Changing Society,[7] WavePad's Free Trialware Version is more than adequate for educational institution use. WavePad is linked or referenced for download on many notable university websites for students requiring complex audio manipulation[8] (note 2016 WavePad is now a Free Trialware Version). NCH Software offers Academic pricing.[9]
Controversy
Previously, WavePad and other NCH products came bundled with optional browser plugins like the Ask and Chrome toolbars, which sparked complaints from users and triggered malware warnings from antivirus software companies like Norton and McAfee. NCH has since unbundled all toolbars in all program versions released after July 2015.[10]
Compatible audio formats
Input formats:
aac (not .aacplus), 3gp, act/rcd/red (newer format versions not supported), aif/aiff/aifc, amr, ape, au, asf, avi, caf, cda, dct, ds2, dss, dvf (Not all dvf recorders are supported), flac, flv, gsm, m3u, m4a, m4r, mid(General MIDI only), moh, mov, mp2, mp3, mpc, mpga, mpg/mpeg, msv (Not all msv recorders are supported), ogg, pls, ra (ram, rm, rmj), raw, shn, spx, sri, voc, vox, wav (pcm, adpcm+, aLaw, uLaw, and others), wmv, wv[11]
Output formats:
aac (not aacPlus), aif/aiff/aifc, amr, ape, au, caf, flac, gsm, m3u, m4a, m4r, mov, mp3 (mpeg layer 3), mpc, ogg, pls, raw, spx, vox, wav (pcm, adpcm+, aLaw, uLaw, and others), wma[12]
Notable users
Notable users of WavePad include Boeing, CBS, and the Parliament of Victoria, Australia[13]
See also
Comparison of digital audio editors
References
- ^ "Audio Editing Software. Sound, Music, Voice & Mp3 Editor". www.nch.com.au. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ^ "WavePad Masters Edition". Download.com. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ^ "WavePad Review 2016 | Specs". TopTenREVIEWS. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ^ "Download WavePad Audio Editing Software 6.37 (Free) for Windows". Tom's Guide. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ^ Waddilove, Roland (25 February 2016). "February 2016 Audio Special". Micro Mart.
- ^ "NCH WavePad". www.comparedandreviewed.com. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ^ "Handbook of Research on Education and Technology in a Changing Society by Victor C.X. Wang".
- ^ "UCCS CS525 Multimedia Computing and Communications, Audio Processing by Edward Chow".
- ^ "NCH Software Academic pricing".
- ^ "Is NCH Software Safe to Use?". nch.com.au. NCH Software AUS.
- ^ "WavePad User Guide and Manual" (PDF). NCH Software.
- ^ "WavePad Review 2016 | Specs". TopTenREVIEWS. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ^ "NCH Software Clients Page". www.nch.com.au. Retrieved 2016-03-02.