11 Best Audio Editor Plugins & Sofware 2023

This article will discuss the best audio editor plugins and software in 2023, both free and paid.

Audio editing can be a tedious or simple job, depending on the kind of tools you use. For example, Pro Tools has been the industry standard for scoring, SFX editing, foley, recording, and other tasks that rely heavily on editing, as it has a great interface for that. However, today, all DAWs offer competent audio editing engines, but some lacks can be overcome by external plugins and software.

A good audio editor can make your workflow easier, more efficient, and less time-consuming and offer new ways of working with your audio. Today, with the help of AI, audio editing tasks are becoming easier and easier. With the help of AI tools, you can easily remove hums, clips, crackles, and other noisy elements from your recordings.

Whether you want to just chop samples, do audio restoration, create pitch and time effects, do podcast editing, create better crossfades, add effects to your audio, etc., we have curated a list of the best nine editing tools for you that will help you do your job in the best way possible. So let’s dive right into the list.

11 Best Audio Editor Plugins, Sofware 2023

1. 2nd Sense Audio ReSample

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

2nd Sense Audio’s ReSample is a versatile audio editing and processing software designed for waveform editing and applying various audio effects.

ReSample offers fast and responsive waveform editing, allowing you to efficiently zoom in, cut, copy, paste, and manipulate audio waveforms. It includes more than 20 audio processors, such as EQ, reverb, compression, and more, enabling you to enhance and modify audio to achieve desired results. It allows you to adjust tempo and pitch independently, which is useful for syncing audio with video or creating unique effects.

Key Features:

• Waveform Browsing and Editing
  ReSample offers fast and responsive waveform zooming and editing. You can navigate and edit audio using your mouse, multi-touch trackpad, or keyboard. In addition, it allows easy removal or extraction of center vocal sounds from audio tracks, making it a valuable tool for remixing and audio manipulation.
• Loudness Meter & Visualization support
  You can collect and display loudness statistics for audio files, ensuring compliance with ITU-R BS.1770-2 and EBU R128 standards. You can also explore audio using a spectrogram view, visually representing the sound. Lastly, you can directly view and make precise adjustments at the sample level for fine-grained control.
• Touch Bar Support
  If you’re using a MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar, ReSample provides an overview of sound files on the Touch Bar, allowing you to easily move the playhead and control playback. That gives you more hands-on control over your audio editing.
• Multiple effects
  The plugin includes various audio effects, including Doppler, Phaser, Delay, Reverb, Stereo Enhancer, Oscilloscope, De-Esser, Phase Scope, Reverb, EQ, and more. There’s also a Noise Generator that oscillates white and pink noise for various audio applications.
• Wide Codec and Format Support
  It handles various codecs and formats, including PCM, FLAC, VORBIS, MP3, and more. Resample also includes a limiter processor for controlling audio levels. Lastly, it supports high-quality sample rate conversion, ensuring fidelity in audio processing.

Compatibility:

ReSample is available in AU and VST plugin formats. On Mac, it operates on OS X 10.7 or higher, supporting both 32-bit and 64-bit systems as a standalone application. For PC users, it is compatible with Windows 7 and newer, also in both 32-bit and 64-bit modes as a standalone application. It further integrates seamlessly with ASIO on Windows, ensuring efficient audio processing.

Summary:

Overall, the plugin is not just an editing tool but also an expansive effects software. It comes with a great interface, which is both attractive and user-friendly. Independent tempo and pitch adjustment facilitate audio synchronization and creative effects. Lastly, its visualization tools, 20 audio processors, pitch and time editing features, and touch integration make it high quality.

2. zplane PEEL

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

zplane PEEL is an audio processing tool designed for isolating individual instruments or vocals in stereo recordings.

It allows you to isolate different instruments/vocals in stereo recordings and solo, mute, or route specific audio components for external processing. It also functions as an audio visualizer, offering real-time visualization of audio content. For example, if you are sampling an old record and want to reduce the level of vocals in that track, PEEL can isolate those vocals and allow you to send them to a different insert or channel where you can set their level to your taste.

Key Features: 

• Real-Time Audio Visualization
  PEEL serves as a real-time audio visualizer, displaying the energy of an audio signal in both spatial (horizontal) and frequency (vertical) axes. In addition, multiple instances of PEEL can be used within a project, and each instance’s display can be color-coded.
• Isolation and Manipulation
  You can edit using a rectangular box on the X-Y stereo-frequency display and toggle the box’s contents between solo and mute. This feature isolates specific elements within a stereo recording, making it useful for adjusting individual instrument or vocal levels.
• Easy to Use
  While not as sophisticated as dedicated stem separation processors, PEEL is user-friendly, operates in real-time, and is cost-effective. It’s suitable for those looking to work with stereo recordings efficiently.

Compatibility:

PEEL is available as a plugin, compatible with various plugin formats such as VST, Audio Units, VST 3, and AAX, making it suitable for integration into different digital audio workflows.

Summary:

PEEL can extensively help you sample different instruments from a particular recording, sample, or song. It allows you to isolate and manipulate elements within a stereo recording using a graphical interface, simplifying adjustments to individual elements’ volume(s) with multiple inputs and outputs.

3. Acoustica 7 Premium Edition

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Acoustica 7 Premium Edition is a versatile audio editing, mastering, and restoration software.

With features like real-time remixing, dialogue enhancement, spectral editing for precise restoration work, and a collection of award-winning processing tools, Acoustica’s plugins empower you to achieve professional-grade results. The latest version of the plugin, 7.2, introduces Stem Separation Tools. These tools leverage AI models to split a complete mix into up to five stems, allowing real-time remixing. You can also import a mix into a multitrack session for automatic stem separation.

Key Features: 

• Dialogue Enhancement
  Acoustica Premium Edition offers an “Extract Dialogue” tool to remove background noise from dialogue recordings. It also includes tools like “DeWind:Dialogue,” DeHum, “DeRustle:Dialogue,” and “DeBuzz:Dialogue” for noise reduction in various scenarios.
• Equalize 2 with Tilt and Bandpass Filters
  Equalize 2 is a dynamic plugin introducing innovative features like Tilt and Bandpass Filters. It offers eight types of band filters, including low shelf, low cut, tilt, bandpass, peak, high shelf, notch, and high cut, providing immense flexibility in audio shaping. There are upto twelve separate bands you can split your frequency spectrum in. Parameters like gain, frequency, bandwidth, resonance, and filter slope are freely adjustable.
• Verberate – Realistic Algorithmic Reverb
  Verberate is an algorithmic reverb plugin that stands out for its highly realistic simulation of authentic acoustical spaces. It offers true stereo processing, creating immersive soundscapes. Its uncluttered user interface provides an intuitive experience. Verberate is designed for those seeking clean and lifelike reverberation effects.
• Audio-Restoration tools
  The plugin includes tools like DeClick to eliminate hum and buzz issues commonly introduced by poorly grounded electrical equipment and other tonal noise sources, DeClip to tackle noise impulses like pops and crackles, which are often encountered in LP and non-analog recordings, and DeHum to eliminate hum and buzz issues commonly introduced by poorly grounded electrical equipment and other tonal noise sources.
• Spectral Editing
  Premium Edition offers spectral editing with powerful retouch algorithms, providing precise restoration by limiting processing to isolated time and frequency regions. Selection tools like brushes, freehand, and magic wands are available.
• Multichannel Support
  The software supports up to 7.1 surround sound, making it suitable for advanced audio projects. It also supports audio resolutions up to 32-bit and sampling rates up to 384 kHz, ensuring high-quality audio production. Acoustica also enables real-time multitrack editing, cross-fading, loop time-stretching, and volume, pan, and send levels automation.
• Audio Processing
  The plugin offers a range of processing tools, including dynamic processing, EQ, reverb, chorus, time stretching, and pitch shifting. You can create and apply processing chains.
• Ultimate Audio Quality
  Acoustica supports state-of-the-art audio resolutions of up to 32-bit and sampling rates as high as 384 kHz. That ensures your audio work maintains the highest possible quality standards, ideal for demanding professional projects. Additionally, Acoustica Premium Edition offers complete support for multichannel audio recording and editing, including formats like 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound.
• Analysis Tools
  The software provides various analysis tools, including spectrum, spectrogram, and wavelet analysis, aiding in the visualization and understanding of audio content.

Compatibility:

Acoustica supports VST, VST3, AAX, and AU (Mac only) plugins, allowing you to expand your audio processing capabilities with third-party virtual instruments and effects.

Summary:

The Acoustica 7 Premium Edition offers interesting tools for audio editing and cleaning/restoration. Its Equalize 2 introduces innovative Tilt and Bandpass Filters, granting you precise control with eight band filter types and up to twelve independent bands.

Verberate provides lifelike reverb simulations, ideal for creating immersive soundscapes, all in a user-friendly interface. The Restoration Suite comprises plugins like DeNoise, DeHum, DeClick, and DeClip, tailored to address common audio issues, such as noise reduction, hum, and buzz removal, and click and crackle restoration, ensuring audio fidelity.

Moreover, Acoustica ensures ultimate audio quality, supporting high-resolution audio up to 32-bit and 384 kHz, perfect for professional projects. With full multichannel audio support, including 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound, Acoustica Premium Edition gives you a great toolset for sound editing.

4. Unfiltered Audio – SpecOps (Spectral Audio Editor)

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Unfiltered Audio’s SpecOps is a spectral multi-effects plugin designed for sound designers and electronic musicians.

The plugin offers a library of 36 diverse spectral effects that can be independently applied to frequency “bins” of the input signal. It also includes analysis and geometry sections for manipulating the signal’s frequency and pitch. With three multi-effects slots and a comprehensive modulation setup, SpecOps provides endless possibilities for combining and shaping sounds.

The plugin’s stunning GUI features a real-time audio visualizer, adding a visually immersive element to the creative process. SpecOps has received high ratings and is praised as an excellent sound design tool for any sound designer’s toolbox.

Key Features:

• Analysis and Geometry Sections
  SpecOps includes powerful analysis tools, such as spectrum analyzers and pitch detectors, which provide real-time visual feedback on the input signal’s frequency content. Additionally, the plugin offers a geometry section that allows you to manipulate the signal’s frequency and pitch using various geometric transformations, adding an extra dimension to the sound design possibilities.
• Three Multieffects Slots
  With three multi-effects slots, each with Amount, Start (frequency), and Width parameters, SpecOps provides a flexible and customizable signal processing chain. You can stack multiple spectral effects within each slot, creating complex and layered sound transformations.
• Extensive Modulation Setup
  SpecOps offers a comprehensive modulation system that allows you to modulate various parameters of the spectral effects in real-time. The plugin supports multiple modulation sources, including LFOs, envelopes, MIDI, and more, enabling you to create evolving and dynamic sound textures. This modulation flexibility adds movement and depth to the sound design process, enhancing the overall expressiveness and creativity of the plugin.
• Comprehensive Spectral Effects Library
  SpecOps has a vast collection of 36 unique spectral effects, allowing you to apply a wide range of creative manipulations to your audio signals. From granular synthesis and spectral filtering to pitch shifting and waveshaping, the plugin offers extensive tools to transform and shape sounds in innovative ways. Some of the 36 effects offered by Unfiltered Audio’s SpecOps spectral multi-effects plugin include different styles of slicing, smears, freezes, etc.
• Spectral Compander
  A compander is a combination of a compressor and an expander, used to control the dynamic range of audio signals. The Spectral Compander takes this concept to the spectral level, allowing you to shape the dynamics of specific frequency bands in your audio.

Compatibility:

SpecOps supports popular formats like VST, VST3, AU, and AAX, making it compatible with DAWs such as Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Pro Tools, Cubase, FL Studio, and more.

Summary:

SpecOps is a one-of-a-kind tool that lets you do spectral editing and create interesting and surprising soundscapes. This plugin is especially helpful for producers who rely a lot on sampling. You can turn your samples into creative pieces of loops that support your beats and songs.

5. IrcamLab Audio – TS2

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

IrcamLab Audio TS2 is a powerful audio plugin that offers advanced time-stretching, pitch-shifting, and other audio manipulation capabilities.

With its accurate real-time sonogram display and full automation capabilities, TS2 allows for precise control over the editing process. It supports mono and stereo editing, offering features like copy, cut, paste, transpose, transient design, and remixing. The software also includes a suite of capable tools for tasks such as pitch shifting, time stretching, and spectral clipping.

It is designed to help you manipulate audio in various ways, such as altering the tempo and key of a track without affecting its quality. With TS2, you can achieve natural-sounding time-stretching and pitch-shifting effects.

Key Features:

• Basic editing features
  TS2 allows you to create easy fade-ins and outs, draw automation curves for pan and volume, edit crossfades, cut-copy-paste regions, and add your own effects and processing via third-party plugins.
• Transient Design and Remixing
  The plugin features advanced tools for transient design, allowing you to modify transients and shape the dynamics of your audio. Additionally, it offers remix effects, enabling creative manipulation of transients for unique and interesting sound transformations.
  TS2 includes a creative Spectral Clipping effect, allowing dynamic filtering and energy clipping.
• Full Audio Editing Suite
  TS2 is a comprehensive audio editing solution that provides all the tools professionals need to master and manipulate audio. It supports unlimited undo’s, batch processing, and multi-channel editing, ensuring a seamless and efficient workflow.
• Third-Party Effects Support
  TS2 supports the hosting of third-party external VST/AU effects, allowing you to expand your creative possibilities by using your favorite plugins and processors within the software.
• High-Quality Pitch Shifting
  The plugin offers high-quality pitch-shifting capabilities, allowing you to change the pitch of your audio files without compromising sound quality. This feature is invaluable for tasks such as harmonizing vocals or creating unique melodic effects.
• Time Stretching
  With TS2, users can stretch audio files up to 100 times their original length while maintaining excellent audio quality. This feature is particularly useful for tasks such as matching audio to video or creating atmospheric soundscapes.

Compatibility:

IrcamLab Audio TS2 is compatible with both Windows and macOS operating systems. It supports popular audio file formats such as WAV, AIFF, FLAC, and MP3. The software can be used as a standalone application or as a plugin in popular digital audio workstations (DAWs) like Ableton Live, Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Cubase, and any DAW that supports AU & VST plugins.

Summary:

TS2 has algorithms that can preserve your sounds’ organic and natural sonics while adding pitch and time effects. Its integration with other third-party plugins makes it good as a standalone software and within the DAW. Overall, its features may not be as advanced as other audio editors in the market, but the sound quality is good!

6. Waves CR8 Creative (Sampler/Audio Editor)

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

The Waves CR8 Creative Sampler is a plugin offered by Waves Audio for music production and audio editing.

It offers a creative interface wherein you can drag in samples and use loop, sync, stretch, stack, layer, reverse, freeze, modulate, and use analog synth modules to process your samples. You get access to more than 2400 free samples and 800 presets, along with the AI-based COSMOS Sample Finder, to locate desired sounds quickly. Additionally, with its Multi-Sample Layering, you can layer up to 8 samples for rich and complex sample textures.

Key Features: 

• Diverse Sound Textures through 8 Sample Layers
  The plugin allows you to craft distinct sonic textures by layering and blending up to eight sample layers according to your preferences. Tailor your sound further by distributing these layers across your keyboard as desired. Each individual layer offers autonomous control over critical parameters like pitch, velocity, and more. This feature empowers you to experiment and create intricate soundscapes with precision, allowing for a wide range of musical possibilities and expressions
• Audio editing capabilities
  You can choose from five stretching algorithms- Beats, Voice, Harmonic, Melodic, and Classic. Additionally, with its Playback Control, you can easily loop, reverse, freeze, and more for instant control over sample playback. Further, you can also sync your samples with your session using key and BPM detection.
• Modulation Tools
  Modulate any sound with drag-drop LFO or sequencer and ADSR modulators. Trigger, retrigger, loop, or allow free-running using 25 LFO waveforms or 25 stepped sequences. You can also customize your modulation by drawing and saving your own patterns. You can also independently control pitch, velocity, and more for each of the 8 sample layers.
• Sound navigation
  You can seamlessly integrate with its AI-based sample finder for efficient sample management. In addition, you can explore 800 creative presets for quick inspiration across various music elements, including lead lines, pads, bass, and more.
• Effortless Sample Mixing and Control
  Within the mixer interface, you gain a comprehensive view of your layered samples. Each sample is granted individual control over parameters such as pitch (Tune), stereo spread (Width), panning (Pan), and volume, enabling seamless adjustments, group management, and inter-sample linking. This intuitive feature simplifies the process of crafting intricate and dynamic soundscapes with precision and ease.

Compatibility:

CR8 is available in VST, VST 2, VST3, AU, and AAX plugin formats, making it compatible with most popular DAWs on Windows and MacOS.

Summary:

With its user-friendly interface and an array of innovative features, CR8 offers a versatile and creative sampling experience. Key features include the ability to stack and mix up to eight sample layers, each with independent control over pitch, velocity, and more, creating unique and complex sound textures. You can easily manipulate samples with stretching options, loop controls, and modulation tools, all through a drag-and-drop interface.

Additionally, CR8 seamlessly integrates with the COSMOS Sample Finder, providing access to a vast library of over 2500 royalty-free samples and 800 presets. This plugin is favored by both beginners and experienced producers for its intuitive workflow, making it a valuable tool for beat-making, instrument creation, sound design, and more.

7. Arturia CMI V (Sampler / Audio Editor)

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Arturia CMI V is a software synthesizer and sampler plugin that emulates the iconic Fairlight CMI (Computer Musical Instrument).

The Fairlight CMI was a groundbreaking electronic music instrument and sampler that was popular in the late 1970s and 1980s. It faithfully replicates the tone and functionalities of the original instrument and includes a sampler, a time synth, a spectral synth, a cross-synthesis engine, a sequencer, and a huge collection of sounds/presets. With its expanded tracks (up to 10) and polyphony (up to 32 per track), you have more creative freedom.

Key Features: 

• Complete Digital Workstation
  The CMI V is not just a digital instrument but a versatile workstation. It allows you to work with 10 digital instruments simultaneously, enabling mixing, layering, splitting, and sequencing. Each instrument offers three means of sound generation, including sampling, additive synthesis, and Spectral Synth.
• Sound Sculpting Toolbox
  The CMI V provides extensive sound-shaping capabilities. You can work with included samples or import your own, set sample start and end points, loop, and modify resolution. Resynthesize samples into additive synthesis for harmonic control, create custom envelopes and apply complex modulations to sonic parameters.
• Nostalgic Sound Library
  With 600 presets from the original CMI library and an additional 360 by Arturia sound designers, the CMI V lets you recreate iconic ’80s sounds heard in hit songs like Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and Herbie Hancock’s “Rockit.”
• High-quality sound
  The CMI V faithfully reproduces the analog filter response, adding warmth and character to your sounds. You can also experiment with variable bit depths and sample rates to achieve unique sonic textures.
• Spectral Synthesis and sequencer capabilities
  Arturia introduces a new sound generation mode, Spectral synthesis, offering fresh sonic possibilities. The plugin also includes a 32-step sequencer inspired by the original Fairlight’s “Page-R” sequencing capabilities.

Compatibility:

CMI V by Arturia is available in VST, VST 3, AU, and AAX plugin formats, making it compatible with Windows and Mac.

Summary:

In conclusion, Arturia CMI V is a complete digital workstation combining the best sampling and various digital synthesis techniques in a single package. With a rich library of presets and the ability to import custom samples, the CMI V allows you to explore the iconic sounds of the ’80s that defined an era of music. Its expanded tracks and polyphony, faithful analog filter response, and introduction of Spectral Synthesis offer wide creative possibilities.

8. Melodyne 5 Essential

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Melodyne is renowned for its pitch and time correction capabilities and is great for tasks like pitch correction, vocal tuning, and audio manipulation.

It allows you to manually adjust the pitch of individual notes in an audio recording to correct off-key performances or achieve creative pitch effects. It also allows for precise time correction, which can be especially useful for aligning the timing of vocal or instrumental tracks. Melodyne can analyze audio and detect individual notes within a recording, which makes it easier to edit and manipulate the performance.

Beyond pitch and time correction, Melodyne offers various tools for audio manipulation, such as adjusting the amplitude, formants, and more of the individual note(s).

Key Features:

• Audio-to-MIDI Conversion 
  With Melodyne, you can convert monophonic audio tracks into MIDI data effortlessly. This feature opens up a world of creative possibilities, letting you use audio recordings to trigger virtual instruments, generate new melodies, or explore fresh musical ideas.
• Chord Track & Grid
  Melodyne 5 introduces a Chord Track that seamlessly integrates with the Pitch Grid in the Note Editor. This synergy simplifies chord-based editing, ensuring harmonies remain transparent. Next, Melodyne’s advanced chord recognition technology analyzes individual tracks or entire mixes, automatically populating the Chord Track for effortless chord-based editing.
• Pitch Tools
  Pitch modulation involves intentional pitch variations for expressive effects and Pitch drift refers to subtle pitch variations within a sound or performance. Consisting of Pitch Modulation and Pitch Drift tools, the plugin allows you to do detailed editing of the input audio notes.
• Algorithms
  The plugin consists of the following algorithms: Percussive, Universal, Melodic, Polyphonic Sustain, and Polyphonic Decay, each of which can be used for different kinds of instruments and sounds, making the plugin extremely versatile.
• Sound Quality Preservation (Natural Audio)
  Melodyne 5 Essential maintains the natural sound quality of your audio recordings while making necessary adjustments. This ensures that your music retains its original character, even as you correct and refine it with Melodyne’s powerful editing capabilities.
• Multi-Track Editing
  While Melodyne 5 Essential may be an entry-level version, it allows you to simultaneously work on multiple tracks. This feature is useful when editing harmonies or comparing different takes within your project. In addition, you can experience your edits in real time. Melodyne 5 Essential provides instant audio feedback as you make adjustments, allowing you to hear the impact of your changes as you work.
• Scale Snap
  Melodyne 5 Essential offers a “Scale Snap” feature that allows you to lock edited notes to specific musical scales or modes, ensuring that your corrections and compositions stay within the desired key.
• Time Grid Options
  You have control over time grids, which aids in aligning notes and achieving precise rhythmic adjustments. This feature is particularly helpful for achieving a tight and well-synced performance.

Compatibility:

Melodyne 5 Essential is available in VST 3, AU, AAX, and Standalone plugin formats and is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems.

Summary:

Melodyne is the best option for tuning vocals and maintaining their human element, as it gives you detailed note-editing options. You can tune and flex almost any instrument on the plugin. Within this list, you won’t find an audio editor as capable as Melodyne regarding pitch and time editing. In addition, it allows you to create animated effects, harmonies, and more with its formant editor. Lastly, its note separation tool makes its workflow easier and faster.

9. disco DSP HighLife

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Packed with a built-in wave editor and five integrated effects, HighLife is a sampler that offers a flexible modulation route.

HighLife’s innovative morphable scheme enables seamless transitions between diverse sonic states, infusing your music with dynamic and expressive character. Its 32-bit floating point engine and 128 programs with unlimited zones provide a boundless realm for crafting truly unique sounds.

It offers access to advanced functionalities such as the choice of interpolation engines, a sync-able LFO with customizable phase settings, smooth modulation without steps, pitch bending, and the ability to apply modulation to morphing wheels for creative sound manipulation. Import formats like WAV, OGG, MP3, AKP (Akai S5000/S6000), FLAC, SND (Akai MPC 2000), RAW, and SFZ programs are compatible with the plugin.

Key Features: 

• Modulation Flexibility
  HighLife offers versatile modulation tools, including an amplitude envelope (ADSR), a modulation LFO with parameters for phase, rate, amplitude, cutoff, Q, and pitch modulation, as well as a modulation envelope with cutoff and pitch controls, allowing you to shape and modulate your sounds dynamically.
• Integrated Effects
  HighLife comes with essential built-in effects like chorus, delay, and reverb to add depth and character to your samples and synthesized sounds. These effects come with an On/Off switch and various parameters that you can tweak to your liking.
• Comprehensive Sampler Settings
  The sampler features a wide range of settings, including zone management, file loading, gain control, panning, sync options, velocity sensitivity, looping, root note assignment, and sample rate adjustments, offering precise control over your sample playback.
• Voice Modes and Pitch Control
  HighLife supports polyphonic, monophonic, and legato voice modes, along with glide functionality and pitch bend capabilities, empowering you to create expressive melodies and harmonies.
• Filter Versatility
  A versatile filter with adjustable cutoff, resonance (Q), key tracking, and velocity tracking is included. HighLife provides filter types like Low Pass, High Pass, Band Pass, and Band Reject, enabling you to sculpt your sound with precision and creativity.

Compatibility:

HiLife 2.2 is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems and is compatible with DAWs that can host AAX, AU, and VST formats.

Summary:

Overall, HighLife is a versatile sampler with a built-in wave editor and integrated effects like chorus, delay, and reverb. It supports various import formats, including WAV, MP3, OGG, RAW, and FLAC. This sampler offers modulation flexibility through ADSR envelopes, LFO, and modulation envelopes. For expressive melodies, you can precisely control settings like zone management, gain, panning, and voice modes (polyphonic, monophonic, legato).

HighLife’s filter options include Low Pass, High Pass, Band Pass, and Band Reject, with adjustable parameters like cutoff and resonance. It also features selectable interpolation engines, a syncable LFO, pitch bend, and modulation to morphing wheels.

10. Krotos Reformer Pro

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Reformer Pro lets you effortlessly create lifelike Foley effects without needing a Foley pit.

It allows you to skip the time-consuming cut-and-paste routine and turn your own sounds into a digital Foley stage with Reformer Pro’s Analysis Tool. You can instantly replace audio in real-time, add responsive cloth Foley, and elevate your sound design game. This technology is called Procedural sampling. Its workflow includes a 2 x 2 matrix within which you can place your sounds and add real-time variations to them.

Key Features: 

• Turn Sound Libraries into Performable Instruments
  Reformer Pro transforms your sound libraries into dynamic instruments. Whether using a microphone or pre-recorded audio, control your libraries in real-time, add variation effortlessly, and synchronize them seamlessly with visual media. With the Analysis Tool, easily incorporate your own sounds, analyze them for quick use, and create libraries of up to 1 GB per project. Perform with precision, thanks to the plugin’s ability to adapt to your preferred sample rate.
• MIDI-Friendly Foley Performance
  The plugin allows you to utilize any MIDI controller to bring your sounds to life, eliminating the need for a microphone or audio assets. Enjoy rapid, tactile response to your keyboard input, utilizing velocity and pitch for maximum expressiveness. This feature enhances your control and creativity, ensuring your sound design matches your vision.
• Continuous Mode for Evolving Sounds
  Reformer Pro’s Continuous Mode allows you to craft instant, evolving drones, ambiances, or textures from virtually any set of audio assets. It lets you create interesting and varied backgrounds/drones, making it ideal for gaming and post-production work. Seamlessly render your creations to the timeline using AudioSuite in Pro Tools, delivering dynamic and engaging soundscapes.
• Transient Engine for Impactful Sound
  This powerful feature automatically identifies transient sections in your audio, enabling you to seamlessly add extra transients and dynamics to any signal. You can trigger transients based on frequency via MIDI input, offering precise control over your soundscapes. Harness Variation controls to keep your creations fresh and engaging, avoiding repetition in your projects.

Compatibility:

The plugin is available in AAX, AU, and VST formats and is compatible with most popular DAWs.

Summary:

Reformer Pro stands as the go-to sound design software for professionals across movies, TV, and games, with credits in renowned projects such as Stranger Things, Game of Thrones, and Cyberpunk 2077. Its versatility, real-time control, and ability to turn your sound libraries into performable instruments make it an essential tool in every sound designer’s arsenal.

11. DBI Transformer

More Info & Price (Trial Available)

Transformer is a specialized 64-bit software designed to reshape your audio samples, whether they originate from a microphone, pre-recorded audio files, or virtual instruments.

It employs convolution processing to seamlessly blend additional layers of sound with your existing audio files, allowing for diverse customization based on your specific requirements. Transformer introduces an innovative approach to audio manipulation, catering to the creative needs of sound designers and musicians alike.

Furthermore, Transformer comes bundled with a substantial 1.2 GB collection of high-quality audio samples, encompassing a wide range of elements such as foley sounds, swooshes, explosive effects, footstep sounds, impactful hits, eerie creature noises, rugged rock textures, futuristic sci-fi sounds, atmospheric drones, powerful impacts, cinematic audio, and diverse vehicle sounds.

Key Features: 

• Diverse Inputs
  Transformer accommodates microphone input, sample playback from your computer, and virtual instrument integration, giving you versatile sources for sound manipulation.
• Carrier Signals
  The plugin consists of up to four sample players or virtual instruments that can serve as carrier signals, each offering detailed controls like envelope shaping and playback speed adjustment.
• Flexible Processing
  The XY Pad, a dynamic mixing interface, further enhances flexibility by enabling real-time, tactile control over carrier signal outputs and empowers you to dynamically morph your audio, delivering endless creative possibilities for musicians, producers, and sound designers alike.
• MIDI Integration
  Whether you’re performing live or shaping audio in the studio, MIDI integration streamlines your workflow. Beyond conventional MIDI control, Transformer provides keyboard shortcuts that enhance efficiency during audio processing and performance. Seamlessly map your MIDI controller to manipulate parameters, trigger effects, or fine-tune modulation, all with the convenience of intuitive MIDI interaction.

Compatibility:

DBI Transformer is available in VST and AU plugin formats.

Summary:

Transformer boasts diverse input options, up to four sample players, spectral control for precise sound shaping, an XY Pad for real-time mixing, and seamless MIDI integration, catering to sound designers and musicians, offering a unique approach to audio manipulation.

With the innovative spectral crossover functionality, you can meticulously pinpoint specific frequency ranges for both modulation and carrier signals. Additionally, its substantial 1.2 GB audio sample collection spanning foley, whooshes, explosions, and more gives you a wide range of sounds to work with.

2 Best Free Audio Editor Plugins

1. Audacity (DAW/Audio Editor)

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Audacity, a versatile and open-source audio editing and recording software, provides a resourceful toolkit for precision audio manipulation.

With Audacity, you can seamlessly craft, enhance, and transform audio recordings to meet your creative and professional needs. Its intuitive interface offers essential editing functions like cutting, copying, and pasting while allowing for more advanced tasks such as noise reduction, equalization, and time-stretching.

Audacity excels in multi-track editing, enabling you to layer and refine multiple audio sources for intricate compositions or seamless podcast production. Audacity can be your free solution for precise and professional audio editing whether you’re a musician, podcaster, or audio enthusiast.

Key Features: 

• Robust Audio Editing Tools
  Audacity boasts a comprehensive suite of audio editing tools, including cut, copy, paste, trim, and delete functions. Its precise waveform visualization and intuitive user interface make it easy to perform detailed edits on audio recordings.
• Real-Time Effects Processing
  With Audacity, you can apply real-time audio effects, such as equalization, reverb, and compression, to enhance the quality of your recordings or achieve specific soundscapes. This real-time processing ensures a smooth and efficient editing experience.
• Noise Reduction and Restoration
  The DAW excels at noise reduction and restoration. Its noise reduction tool can effectively remove background noise, clicks, and pops from audio recordings, resulting in cleaner and more professional sound quality.
• Time-Stretching and Pitch-Shifting
  Audacity allows for independent time-stretching and pitch-shifting, enabling you to change the tempo and pitch of audio without altering its duration. This is particularly useful for musicians who want to experiment with different musical arrangements.
• Spectral Editing
  Advanced users can use Audacity’s spectral editing capabilities, which enable precise manipulation of audio frequencies. This feature is valuable for tasks like noise removal, enhancing specific frequencies, and creative sound design.
• Crossfade and Fade-In/Fade-Out
  Audacity simplifies audio transitions with built-in crossfade and fade-in/fade-out tools. These features help create smooth and professional transitions between audio segments or tracks.
• Export Options
  The DAW offers a wide range of export options, allowing you to save your edited audio in various formats, including popular choices like WAV, MP3, and FLAC. Customizable export settings ensure compatibility with your intended use.
• Extensive Documentation and Tutorials
  Audacity provides extensive documentation, tutorials, and user forums. This wealth of resources makes it easy for newcomers to learn the software and for experienced users to discover advanced techniques.

Compatibility:

Audacity boasts a wide range of compatibility with many operating systems, including Mac, Windows, and Linux, with 2 GB of minimum RAM and 1 GB of minimum Processor requirement.

Summary:

Audacity offers a wide range of features, including multi-track editing, real-time effects processing, noise reduction, and more. Overall, its user-friendly interface and extensive documentation make it a valuable tool for basic audio editing, recording, and sound design. It could work for podcast editing but may lack depth when it comes to music editing.

2. Bigfishaudio Momentum (Slicer/Audio Editor)

More Info & Download

Momentum is a virtual instrument and loop manipulation software by Bigfishaudio.

Momentum is designed to help musicians and producers manage and manipulate their audio loops and samples easily. It provides a user-friendly interface for organizing and auditioning your loops and samples and offers various features for creative music production, such as tempo and pitch adjustments, effects processing, and more.

The plugin serves as a platform for reshaping loops, offering the capability to cut, extend, alter the key, reorganize, and craft compositions using various samples and sources. Additionally, it enables you to pinpoint the ideal one-shot element within your loop for precise integration into your music production.

Key Features: 

• Slice Effects
  This feature allows you to apply 18 distinct effects to individual slices, offering creative possibilities such as pitch modulation, stutter effects, delays, reversals, and more. Each slice can be uniquely shaped and transformed to match your musical vision.
• Smart BPM and Key Stretching
  Momentum lets you add custom slice information in your loops and automatically detects your loops/samples tempo and adjusts it to the project tempo.
• Edit With MIDI
  Momentum simplifies the process of musical arrangement by automatically assigning a unique MIDI note to each slice within your loop. This integration of MIDI functionality provides you with the flexibility to rearrange and play your loops in ways that harmonize with your music production, unlocking new levels of creativity and expression.
• One-Shot Engine
  Momentum allows you to pinpoint and extract one-shots from any section of a loop or sample with precision. Whether you’re searching for the ideal drum hit or a unique sound effect, this feature makes it easy. Once sliced, these one-shots are readily available for immediate use, enhancing your sound design capabilities.
• Industry Leading Store
  With built-in access to Big Fish Audio’s extensive library of professional loops and sounds, Momentum offers a vast and convenient resource for music producers. This feature provides you with access to hundreds of thousands of top-tier audio resources, streamlining your creative process and ensuring that you can find the perfect elements to elevate your music production to the next level.
• 2 GB of Free Samples
  When you choose Momentum, you gain access to a substantial 2.1 GB of free samples/loops. This includes complimentary kits sourced from some of Big Fish Audio’s most renowned loop libraries spanning various musical genres.

Compatibility:

The plugin is available in AAX, VST, and AU plugin formats and is available for free download for Windows and Mac systems.

Summary:

Momentum’s features range from precise effects application and MIDI integration to seamless tempo and key adjustments, as well as easy access to a vast library of professional audio resources. With a detailed interface and editing options, various effects, slicing options, and keyboard tracking, the plugin stands as a great free sampler that gives paid samplers a run for their money.

Bonus:

Image Line Edison (FL Studio’s Sampler/Editor)

More Info

Edison is a digital audio editing and recording software plugin developed by Image-Line, a company known for its digital audio workstation (DAW) software, FL Studio.

Edison is primarily used for audio editing and manipulation within the FL Studio environment but can also be used as a standalone audio editor. One of Edison’s primary strengths lies in its extensive audio editing toolkit. You can easily perform meticulous edits with its detailed features, the ability to time-stretch or pitch-shift audio, reverb and convolution effects, audio restoration and cleaning, recording, and more.

Key Features: 

• Spectral analysis
  By providing a detailed visualization of audio frequencies, Edison enables precise tasks like noise reduction, harmonic analysis, and identifying specific frequency ranges. You can also choose not to see the spectral analysis and just see the sample by simply clicking on the main window.
• Recording
  Edison can be a great tool for capturing sounds, creating samples, or recording voiceovers and interviews, with its four types of recordings, including Now, On Input, Input, and Play. So, for example, if you want to record multiple takes together as a “Loop Recording,” you can simply loop the part where you’re recording, select the “Play” option, and press play. Edison will record multiple takes at the looped part.
• A diverse selection of built-in audio effects and processing options
  Within its feature set, you’ll find equalization for tonal adjustments, gate noise, denoise, blur, convolution reverb, fade in/out, polarity reverse, declick in/out, and a range of audio effects to sculpt your sounds creatively. These effects enable you to fine-tune audio recordings, eliminate imperfections, and apply creative enhancements to achieve the desired sonic character.
• Scripting Support
  Edison supports scripting, allowing advanced users to create custom scripts and automate specific tasks or workflows, making it highly adaptable to various production needs.
• Marker and Region Management
  For easy navigation and organization, you can create markers and regions within audio files. This is especially handy for working on longer recordings or multi-section compositions.
• Auto Slicing and Beat/Pitch Detection
  Edison can identify transients and pitch changes and create markers at those points by using the Beat and Pitch Detection tools. Further, using the Auto Slicing tool it can also create Dull, Medium, and Sharp auto-slicing on your loops and can even slice these loops on the grid.

Compatibility:

While closely integrated with FL Studio, Edison can also be used on Windows and macOS as a VST or AU plugin in other popular digital audio workstations, expanding its usability.

Summary:

Edison, developed by Image-Line, is a versatile digital audio editing and recording plugin primarily used within FL Studio but capable of standalone use. It offers a rich set of features, including spectral analysis for precise frequency manipulation, beat detection, auto slicing, diverse built-in audio effects, scripting support, marker and region management, and audio restoration tools.