How to trim audio
- Choose an audio file, or drop it onto the trimmer.
- Drag across the waveform to select the part to keep. Move the Start and End handles, or enter times in seconds.
- Set the fade in and fade out times. Press Play selection to hear the cut with the fades applied.
- Press Make WAV or Make MP3, then use the download link to save the trimmed audio.
The original file stays unchanged. Start and end times round to the nearest audio sample, and the end time is the point where the cut stops.
Use fades to soften the cut
Cutting a waveform away from zero can make a click. A short fade brings the edge toward silence. Start with the default 10 ms, then listen: a longer fade may suit a vocal or a pad, while a drum hit may need a shorter fade to keep its attack.
Fade times are measured from the edges of the selection. They never extend the file. If both fades cover the same part, their gain curves combine and that part gets quieter. Set both to zero to keep the selected samples at their original level.
What is in the download?
A 24-bit WAV with the decoded file's sample rate and channel count, including multichannel sources. A compressed file such as an MP3 is decoded first. Saving it as WAV avoids another lossy encoding pass, but makes a larger file.
MP3 exports at 320 kbps for sample rates of 32 kHz and above, 160 kbps at 16 to 24 kHz, or 64 kbps below that. Unsupported rates are resampled to a nearby MP3 rate, up to 48 kHz. Surround sources are mixed to stereo without the LFE channel. MP3 encoding can add a short delay and padding, so choose WAV for loops that need an exact length. MP3 export uses the open source LAME encoder; its license and source are listed in our open source notices.
For when each format fits, read WAV vs MP3. To turn a whole MP3 into a WAV without cutting it, use the MP3 to WAV converter.
To play your cut backwards, use reverse audio. To set its loudness, use the loudness normalizer. For where an edit like this fits in making a track, start with music production for beginners.
Questions
How do I trim audio online?
Choose a file, select the part you want on the waveform and adjust the start and end times. Add fades if needed, preview the selection, then make and download a WAV or MP3. You do not need an account.
Can I trim an MP3 or a recording from my phone?
Yes, if your browser can decode it. The trimmer accepts MP3, WAV, AIFF, FLAC and M4A, plus Ogg or Opus where supported. Download a 24-bit WAV or an MP3. MP3 export supports mono or stereo, with sample rates up to 48 kHz.
How do I fade audio in and out?
Enter a duration in seconds for each fade. The fade in starts at silence and rises linearly; the fade out falls to silence at the end of the selection. Both default to 0.01 seconds to soften the cut. Set a fade to 0 to turn it off. Fades that overlap are multiplied together.
Does trimming audio reduce its quality?
WAV export keeps the decoded sample rate and channel count without adding lossy compression. MP3 makes a smaller file using lossy compression, and surround audio is mixed to stereo. Neither changes the pitch or speed. Fades change the level near the cut. Samples above full scale are clipped during export, and the tool tells you if that happens.
Is my audio uploaded, and how long can the file be?
Your audio is decoded, trimmed and exported inside this browser tab. Nothing is uploaded. The trimmer keeps the whole decoded file in memory while you edit, so stereo at 48 kHz can run about 5.5 minutes and stereo at 44.1 kHz about 6. Mono files can run about twice as long, up to 12 minutes. Higher sample rates allow less.
Link to this trimmer
Showing someone how to trim a recording in a lesson, a forum answer or an article? Here is a plain link with a credit line, ready to paste. It is ordinary HTML: no embed and no script.
<a href="https://vitricaudio.com/tools/audio-trimmer">Free audio trimmer</a> by Vitric Audio