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CNET Editors' review
Amidst the slew of digital audio editing programs available for download, GoldWave manages to stand out thanks to its robust feature set, stable performance, and user-friendly interface. Despite the fact that the main window looks like a throwback to early software days, it packs in just about every function you could want. Two tool bars line the top of the window: one for the main features of the program (such as copy, zoom, and trim), and another for the various effects that you can add to the audio, such as reverb, pitch, and echo. Hovering the mouse over any button reveals its function.
Rather than a standard control bar, GoldWave includes a separate Control window that houses the main recording and playback controls. This window also features three faders for adjusting playback volume, balance, and speed, as well as an area for displaying visual effects. There are about a dozen included with the program, and others can be added as plug-ins. Other notable features include a seven-band, fully customizable EQ; a noise reduction tool for cleaning up hiss and hum in audio files; a pop/click filter; a CD ripper; a multiformat audio converter; and an expressions evaluator, which turns equations into sound. (Most of these features are viewable in our gallery.) Supported formats include iTunes Plus, M4A, WAV, WMA, MP3, OGG, AIFF, AU, VOX, FLAC, and raw binary data.
Using GoldWave may take a bit of practice for the uninitiated, but anyone who has used standard audio editors before will find that this program stays in the same vein. You can select chunks of audio files easily with your mouse and use keyboard shortcuts for many standard functions. The effects chain editor and other tools allow real-time previewing, and there are plenty of preset slots in every area for saving your favorite settings. On the whole, the app is highly configurable; you can even program your own keystrokes for the majority of the functions. The software performed very quickly during testing and had no stability issues. Finally, it's nice that you have the option to pay for a lifetime license that guarantees you free access to all future updates. All in all, this is a robust piece of audio software that should satisfy power-users.
Publisher's Description
From GoldWave:
GoldWave is a professional digital audio editor. Use it to play, edit, mix, and analyze audio, or apply special effects, such as fade, equalizer, echo, reverse, time warp, noise reduction, silence reduction, pop/click filter, voice over, etc. Record new files from cassettes, albums, radio, or microphone and restore and enhance them using the wide range of filters and effects. Digitally copy tracks directly from audio CDs to edit or remix them. Convert all your iTunes M4A songs to MP3, match volume levels between songs, trim leading and trailing silences, adjust equalization to prepare your songs for a perfect MP3 CD or before copying them to your MP3 player.
Displays a variety of useful real-time visuals during playback and recording. Supports MP3, iTunes M4A, WAV, WMA, Ogg, and many more formats. Includes built-in tools, such as Batch Processing, CD Reader, File Merger, and Effect Chain Editor. GoldWave does it all, yet it's fun and easy to use.
What's new in this version: Version 5.66 improved audio I/O for Windows Vista/7 and support for VST plug-ins.
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All versions:
4.6 starsout of 226 votes
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Current version:
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My rating:
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"Can be what you want it to be"
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
I just wanted it to record children's comments into word docs and power point presentations to capture moments. I need it to do nothing else. Worked out how to do this within moments. Thank you heaps.
One day when I get more time I might look into the extra features but not today :)Cons
Did all I wanted it to do
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"Wonderful Audio Editor with Good Support"
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
Great Capabilities. An almost magical program to adjust, change and correct audio files. Support for the program is strong - first by the author who is always working to update the program and then by a forum of users who will offer help.
Cons
Not much of the program is intuitive. When you want to do something it often requires some investigation on how to accomplish it. But then again, audio editors are a different breed to begin with. Although, audio editors have been described as "word processors for sound", the analogy falls short since most of us know how words work - but not so much about sound and the physics behind it. It is accomplishing a highly technical feat with a minimum of mouse clicks.
Summary
I started using this program many years ago in trying to "clean-up" some old audio files. I found the trail version to be so handy that I paid the price and became a "licensed user". The trail version is the full version with some nagging thrown-in. It's well worth the license fee.
The ability to reduce background sounds, hiss and other extraneous sound is great. I once was able to "censor" some songs the kids wanted for a school function by selecting the objectionable words, reversing them and muting the emphasis. The resulting song was still had impact but the lyrics were not going to offend anyone. I know, Censorship?? - but hey, the kids wanted the songs and it was for grade school!! :)
I certainly don't use it enough to be an expert, but my routine use of the program has made me a fan. I haven't found anything yet that I can't do to an audio file with Goldwave. -
"Best shareware program I have very purchased"
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
I have had this program for years and it get better and better and I only paid for it once
Cons
I can't think of anything to say in this area
Summary
This is a must have program for anyone that does any work with audio files
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"powerful audio editing tool"
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
loaded with features, supports many file types, fair price
Cons
Zooming can be cumbersome
Summary
Bit of a learning curve but overall I like it
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"very simple and gets the job done"
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
has preset effects
demo the effects
cool playback features
etcCons
you do have to have some idea of what you want to do otherwise you'll get kinda lost
Summary
Best Audio editor for me because i am just starting with this stuff and i can make some decent mixes with it
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"It does exactly what it says it does, excellent."
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
Excellent quality sound and easy to use. The programme seems quite robust as described in the cnet editors report.
Cons
It is probably overkill for somebody like me that just wants to add that extra quality to my itunes and Spotify music not that I have succeeded in playing Spotify tracks through GoldWave.
Summary
Definitely a must for those that like the high quality end of the music spectrum
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"An absolutely stellar sound editing tool."
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
Very user-friendly
Intuitive controlsCons
Aside from the fact that this software can't compose music, there are no cons.
Summary
Excellent audio editing software. A great value.
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"Powerful but cumbersome & unintuitive interface."
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
Very powerful, enormous number of features.
Cons
Doing simple things like extracting a clip takes much to long and involves too many steps.
Summary
This pertains to trial of free version. If you want to drill down to minutiae, this is for you. If you just want to get some clips, this is a huge hassle. Common sense would let you enter hours, min, sec to start your clip; then hours, mins, secs to end your clip. But no. That would be too simple. Instead, you're left dragging bars and unable to simply save your highlighted portion.
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"Excellent software"
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
A ton of features, some are are pretty doggone powerful! So far, I've been able to do everything I've needed to do.
Cons
Need better instruction/help on some of the features. Not everyone is a sound engineer. :)
Summary
Intuitive enough for most users (if you're a novice, there's a learning curve, but manageable with patience); powerful enough for sound engineers. Overall a great software.
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"I can't get it to work on my computer."
Version: GoldWave 5.58
Pros
My husband has it and likes it, but it doesn't like Windows 7 on my computer.
Cons
It will not record. I've had 2 profession IP techs try to get it to work and neither has been sucessful.
Summary
Be sure to download the free version 1st to see if it will record on your computer.
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