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WAV files are the basic sound recording unit in Windows. Much larger than MP3s and similar portable digital audio formats, WAVs are also easier to edit, thanks to tools like WavePad Sound Editor from NCH, which specializes in audio and multimedia software. It's a compact but powerful and flexible tool for analyzing and editing WAVs or just about any kind of digital audio file. It's especially useful for cleaning up and editing transcribed LP records and other digitized analog audio recordings, but you can also add effects, analyze the sound, and more.
WavePad's interface is essentially a media player with a spectral display, time indicators, and specialized controls for manipulating the audio signal. We browsed to a folder of CD tracks we'd ripped as WAVs and selected one. WavePad displayed the file's audio spectrum in two zoom-capable views, a smaller overview of the entire track above a larger, more detailed graphical display. Playback controls, a timer with hundredths of seconds, and sliders for altering the view, zooming, and other functions ring the main view, while a toolbar gives access to noise reduction tools; speed and pitch settings; echo, reverb, and other effects; plug-ins; and other tools. Clicking the Play button played our audio track, with a moving red line tracking the output on the spectral graph. This made it ultra-simple not only to divide tracks manually but also to identify and remove artifacts like clicks and pops, copy specific passages, and remove lead-in and lead-out tracks. The zoom feature let us expand any section of the spectra for pinpoint editing, such as removing the all-too-audible "pop" and "thunk" as the stylus hits the record groove and the turntable's dust cover comes down at the beginning of a session converting analog LPs to digital music files. WavePad has some interesting and useful extras, too, such as a tone generator, batch converter, and text-to-speech tool.
We've converted many LPs to WAVs, and we've always found that a good WAV editor is just as important as a good recording tool. WavePad proved both easy to use and perfectly competent, even when handling megabyte-size WAV files many times larger than itself.
Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of WavePad Sound Editor 4.52. The trial version is limited to 14 days.
WavePad Sound Editor - Record and edit audio files - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From NCH Software:
WavePad is a full featured professional audio editor for Windows. Create and edit music, voice and other audio recordings. When editing audio files you can cut, copy, and paste parts of recordings and, if required, add effects like echo, amplification, and noise reduction and more. WavePad is a freeware WAV / MP3 editor but it also supports a number of other file formats including VOX, GSM, RA, AU, AIF, FLAC, and OGG and many more in the Master's Edition.
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All versions:
3.6 starsout of 331 votes
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Current version:
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My rating:
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"good but not super great"
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.48
Pros
i give it 4-stars because it met all my needs. it worked will all of my files i needed editing
Cons
trial was good, but not going to fork out for the full version. a little pricey for me
Summary
solid software, with it was a little cheaper and i'd purchase.
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"NCH WavePad is AWESOME, BUT???"
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.48
Pros
Awesome for doing sound editing, etc.. But, doesn't let ME choose where I want music ripped to. SEE CONS BELOW.
Worked AWESOME to rip music to blank CD with.
I HIGHLY recommend this program, UNLESS? SEE CONS BELOW.Cons
I can NO LONGER RIP my personal CD's to my Windows Media Player library, Microsoft Media Player popped up with ERROR message EVERY time I try to rip from a CD. So? I uninstalled it today and told them why I was doing so, in their comments uninstall log.
WHY?
VERY SLOW RIPPING, and I mean EXTREMELY slow compared to Windows Media Player for MS-7.Summary
IF? I can make MY Windows Media Player my MAIN one for ripping music to my library & playlist of MY choosing? Then I'd keep this, cause it's awesome. I rip my music for continuous ALL DAY & NIGHT play or ripping only tracks I specify on blank CD's to take in my car, and no annoying talking, announcers, ads, etc...just what I want to play & hear.
~Pat B. -
"Nice software "required some more""
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.46
Pros
<a href="http://mypclab.net/free/download/">download free software</a> the best and latest version.
Cons
<a href="http://mypclab.net/free/download/">download free software</a> the best and latest version.
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"Works but hits you with spam"
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.40
Pros
Intuitive, easy to use
Cons
Trial period is only 24 hours; not long enough to examine all the features. Contains ad popups that appear at regular intervals even after you purchase the full version. I hate that!!! I don't like paying for spyware, or even if it's free.
Summary
Don't buy this unless you like to be harrassed by adware when you're just trying to edit some audio files.
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"Very intuitive! I'm a newbie and I figured it out."
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.33
Pros
I don't know anything about editing audio. I needed to do it for a video (screencast) project (don't know much about editing video either!). This made the task so much easier. I was able to not only cut out bad portions, but also reduce extraneous noises. I don't know the terminology so on any other editor I would not have found those functions. With wavepad I did not need to know what I was looking for. All the functions were laid out nicely in plain English and appropriate icons, and I used the default settings.
Also, the use of the keyboard was very intuitive. Spacebar to stop and start, scroll wheel to zoom in/out, etc. The window that shows where you are in the timeline is easy to understand and manipulate.Cons
I have not found any cons yet. Everything is laid out so nicely and it's so user-friendly.
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"NCH products are malware"
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.33
Pros
x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x!x
Cons
NCH detected my Vista UAC was off (you can't easily use Vista otherwise) and set up the task manager to install crapware several days later. They then corrupted the task manager to make it difficult to clean up.
Summary
NCH sites must be taken down urgently.
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"BUYER BEWARE!!!! RIPP OFF SCAM ALERT!!!!"
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.31
Pros
Did it record my audio...sometimes yes. BUT! Program was unreliable would lose all work done when I tried to save it. I sent them information on this, and for my trouble they wanted to charge me another $80 to get the fixed program, only months after I had purchased it. Emailed their customer service and was ignored. Hate this company DON'T BUY THEIR PRODUCTS!!! They could care less about you just want your money. SCAM RIP OFF!!!
Cons
RIPP OFF SCAM ALERT!!! Sell you nonfunctional programs with bugs, then try and charge you additional full price for newer version. RIPP OFF waste of money SCAM ARTISTS.
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"WARNING - DO NOT PURCHASE FROM NCH SOFTWARE"
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.22
Pros
The program works.
Cons
OMG, where to begin. NCH Software loads links to every product they make onto your machine (called NCH Suite) and you get constantly bombarded with their nag screens -- and, even worse, opening their web pages in your browser.
Summary
Don't buy anything from NCH Software. Don't download anything, and especially not their "FREE" junk.
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"It's a dog"
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.22
Pros
It didn't take long to evaluate.
Cons
It's more expensive than some better ones I have used. It doesn't remove pops and clicks from vinyl recordings, and in full screen mode, responds slowly to start/stop commands. I wasted $80 on this POS. The trial version did not allow me to test the full range of editing features, and once activated, I can't get my money back. Crooks. Garbage. Do not buy anything from these people, NCH software.
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"Just Works Fine, But Annoying"
Version: WavePad Sound Editor 5.22
Pros
-Works Fine As It Should.
Cons
-Annoying As "PLEASE BUY NOW" Dialog Box Piece Of Crap
-Adware
-Installs Tons Of Annoying Software In Start MenuSummary
Very Annoying. If I Should Have Known Better, I'll Give A Best Try With Annoyance Free, Open-source Software, Audacity.
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