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If you own an Apple computer, the chances of getting high quality and totally free applications are frantically limited. This is specifically true when it comes to audio editing tools for Mac users. Of course there are popular music applications such as the company’s Soundtrack Pro or Bias Peak, but they are impractical for ordinary consumers not because they are premium tools but they entail very high price tags. To this, open source and free music editing applications such as Audacity for Mac is a big relief for music fanatics.

Started by Dominic Mazzoni and Roger Dannenberg, it is available for all platforms including Windows, Linux and Mac. Currently, Audacity has 76.5 million downloads and holds highly regarded awards such as the Best Project for Multimedia as well as 11th most popular downloaded software from SourceForge. Audacity is an efficient tool that can record, convert, edit, alter, import and export files without even spending a single cent.

Audacity for Mac Review

True with its form, Audacity can really deliver high quality audio files while users are offered with tons of customization features and powerful editing options. Just like any other desktop applications, Audacity comes with advantages and disadvantages. See this short but informative Audacity review below:

Advantages

1. It can record high quality audio from mixer, microphone, digital media, live radio, streaming, sound cards and more.
2. It can import as well as export music files in different formats.
3. Preserving audio quality and support for various bit rate samples is possible.
4. Cut, copy, paste, delete, mix, and label tracks with its convenient editing feature.
5. It has the ability to add various effects without altering the music’s tempo.

Disadvantages

1. Users are reporting occasional crashes upon launching Audacity on Mac OS X El Capitan.
2. There is no RSS feed creation.
3. Direct MP3 output is impossible due to the lack of built-in MP3 encoder.
4. The complicated arrangements make it hard to use, especially for novice users.
5. Creating large projects with Audacity may take some time and technical hitches.

If you are unsatisfied with the performance of Audacity, then you might need to look at other tools as Audacity alternative for Mac.

Top Mac Software Similar to Audacity

Apowersoft Audio Recorder for Mac

If you want a premium audio recorder works on Mac including the El Capitan, Apowersoft Audio Recorder for Mac will give you more than just quality audios but flexible editing options as well. You can use it to record any sound that is playing on your Mac, while it supports both internal and external audio sources. Different file formats are also available such as M4A, MP3, AC3, AU, M4R, AIFF, OGG, and all others.

With this alternative to Audacity on Mac, you can record just about anything from streaming audio, radio sounds, local files, VoIP calls, audiobooks. Also you have the ability to record music files from popular websites such as YouTube, VEVO, Pandora, MTV, iTunes, Yahoo, Jango, Napster and many more. Additionally, you can use this tool to record audios from external sources like microphone and in-line devices.

One of the best features of Apowersoft Audio Recorder for Mac is its ability to edit audios in real time. This only means that you can visually see your files being trimmed, cut, merged, split, distorted, converted, filtered, and all others. Recognizing and editing music track information or ID3 tags is also possible with this music software. Best of all, it doesn’t have any limits so you can record and edit music files as long as your heart desires.

As a powerful program, other features of Apowersoft Audio Recorder for Mac include the built-in scheduler which you can use to create scheduled recordings. It will automatically start and stop recording by adjusting the settings of start/end time and others. High quality 1:1 lossless audio output, different languages supported, software upgrades, improvements and stability patches are also offered for best audio recording experience.

Indeed, it is a powerful tool that can perform just about anything from recording music files online to editing audios from external sources. Compare with the former, this desktop application is very easy-to-use and comes with 100% clean installation. No ads and other software will bug down your system upon installing the recorder.

Ondesoft Audio Recorder

Audio Editing On Mac

Another popular Audacity alternative for Mac is the Ondesoft Audio Recorder. It can capture and record audio from any web browsers may it be Firefox, Safari, Skype, iChat, iTunes, VLC, QuickTime, FaceTime and more. It can also record music files from websites like YouTube, Vimeo, iTunes Radio, Lastfm, etc. With support for grabbing contents from Mic and CD player.

Ondesoft Audio Recorder supports Mac OS versions from 10.6 to 10.11 and it caters popular file formats such as MP3, AAC, FLAC, and the likes. Similarly, there is a built-in editor and one-click call recorder which meant for saving chat conversations. It has an efficient interface and there is a free trial available for undecided users.

Whether you want a free software that can do basic editing and recording functions or a premium tool that offers versatile capabilities and unlimited sound grabbing options from Mac is very much possible. With these desktop applications, you can now enjoy good music any time you want and as many as your PC’s hard drive can contain.

GarageBand is a digital audio workstation developed by Apple. GarageBand allows you to create music projects, record voices, record musical instruments, manage music, add Apple loops and share your music projects. This virtual studio can be installed on computers as well as the iOS device. With Garageband, you will also learn how to play the piano beside being able to edit your MP3 files. When you edit audio with Garageband, you will be able to change track information, tempo and transposition track. So how will edit MP3 with GarageBand on your Mac? Well, this question has been tackled in the next part below by providing you with a step by step guide.

Part 1: How to Edit MP3 Music with GarageBand

Edit Audio For Mac Osx

Step 1. Download the latest GarageBand application from Apple Mac store and Install it on your Mac.

Step 2. Open GarageBand application, go to 'File' menu and then click on 'New' followed by 'New Project' option.

Step 3. Next, you have to give a name to the new session let us say 'MP3 lullaby edit' and then click on 'Create'. From there, you can then drag and drop the MP3 song the GarageBand Window.

Step 4. Begin editing by placing the cursor to the position that you want to edit either at the beginning or at the end. An arrow will appear and that is when you can trim the MP3 song.

Step 5. Next, you can opt to adjust the volume of the MP3 by clicking on arrow down button on the MP3 file and then click on 'Track Volume.' From there, you can increase or decrease the volume of the MP3. From there clock on arrow down button located next to 'Details' and then add effects to the song.

Step 6. When you have edited the MP3 file, click 'Share' button and then click on 'Exporting Song to Disk' option. You will then rename the MP3 file and set the output folder. Finally click on 'Export' button.

Edit Audio For Mac Os 10.13

Part 2: Recommend the Best MP3 Editor - Filmora Video Editor

Other than editing MP3 with GarageBand, you can also use an all-in-one tool such as Filmora Video Editor. This cross-platform tool is built with several editing features that you can ever dream of. When it comes to audio editing, you can do basic editing such as adjust volume, fade in, fade out, change pitch, use inbuilt equalizer presets, rotate file, mute audio, split audio and merge audio. All these editings can be done in real time, and you can always reset the editing' Filmora Video Editor also has other features that have been highlighted below.

Edit Audio Mac Os X

• Perform basic editing such as trim, rotate, cut, merge and adjust saturation, colour and volume.
• It is built with several video effects and layouts than you can add to your video and view them in real time.
• Filmora Video Editor is also built with elements and transitions that you can apply to your video.
• Built with action cam editor tool that comes with an instant cutter, speed effect, colour tuning effect and fix and correction.
• Featured with advanced editing options such as; pan and zoom, split screen, green screen, video snapchat, records pc screen, scene detection, stabilize video and much more.
• Export your files to different file formats, to device formats, share files to sites like Facebook, Vimeo and YouTube as well as burn media to DVD.

How to Edit MP3 using GarageBand Alternative - Filmora Video Editor for Mac

At this point, we can now look at how to edit MP3 using Filmora Video Editor. Here is a quick, simple guide that you can follow.

Edit Audio For Mac Os 10.10

Step 1. Import MP3 Song

Open Filmora Video Editor on your Mac. This software offers you different ways in which you can upload the file. You can click on media add button and upload the file, drag and drop the file, or go to 'FILE' menu and then click on 'IMPORT MEDIA' and then click on 'Add Files' and select the MP3 file that you want to edit.

Step 2. Edit MP3 File

Next, drag and drop the MP3 file at the editing panel at the bottom. From there click on the audio and at the top window click on 'Audio' to be able to adjust volume, fade in, fade out. Pitch use its equalizer presets.

To split, right click on the MP3 and then you can click on 'Split' or Mute option. You will also get the rotate option.

Step 3. Export Video

After that, you can click on 'Export' button to save the file. Choose the Output format, or you can maintain the MP3 and then rename the file if you wish, set location and save the file. Alternatively, you can opt to save your edited file to the device, online or burning it to a DVD. It is simple, just click on the preferred output and follow the prompts.

There you go! You can see how easier it is to edit audio with Filmora Video Editor. It is a fully featured tool that makes editing efficient and straightforward.

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