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'Sound Editor' allows you to Record, Play and Edit Mp3/WMA/Wav/AAC/ALAC/FLAC. Record Audio from any device attached to your pc/tablet Edit Samples/Songs, stretch, echoes, cut, repeats etc. Listen to audio edits SoundCloud is an audio platform that lets you listen to what you love and share the sounds you create. Stream Tracks and Playlists from audio edits on your desktop or mobile device. 321.4k Followers, 13 Following, 1,049 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Audios for Edits 🎵 (@kuteaudios).
In which we go over the different audio file formats at your disposal — and which is best for video editing.
When using various audio files in your video edits, such as music tracks and sound effects, does the audio file type really make a difference? (Spoiler: yes, it does.) But the real question is why are there so many different audio file formats? And what is the purpose for each one? So let's break that down, and in so doing, determine the best audio file formats to use when editing videos.
Audio File Formats
To help us get a grasp on the different audio file formats, I have categorized them into three main groups. Each group has a list of audio file formats most commonly associated with it. The audio groups are as follows:
- Uncompressed file formats: .WAV, .AIFF
- Compressed Lossless file formats: .FLAC, .ALAC (Apple Lossless)
- Compressed Lossy file formats: .MP3, .AAC, .WMA, .OGG
Let's run through the details of each format, as well as their pros and cons. Copy phone to pc.
Uncompressed
You can think of uncompressed audio formats like the equivalent of RAW video formats. Essentially, you're getting the audio data with no compression. This allows for a wide range of audio bit depth and sample rates. This results in better audio quality and covers the full frequency that the human ear can hear. (The original audio recording bit depth and sample rate play a big part in this equation as well. Compressed audio files converted into uncompressed audio formats don't magically regain any audio quality.)
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Uncompressed audio files are typically easier to work with in audio and video editors because they require less processing to play back. And since uncompressed files contain more data, you'll get better results when you're manipulating the audio in post with various effects.
The most common drawback for uncompressed audio files is their size, which is usually between 25-40 MB for an average song. These sizes aren't a major issue today with transfer services like Dropbox and Google Drive (compared to 10+ years ago). However, in most cases, the uncompressed audio files are still too large to easily send as an email attachment. Also, some portable music players or devices may not support uncompressed audio formats. (Generally, most modern ones do, though.)
- Pros: No compression, lossless, full audio frequency, easier to work with in post
- Cons: Large file size, some portable devices may not support it
Compressed Lossless
The name 'compressed lossless' may sound like a contradiction. However, the compression isn't occurring in a way that degrades the audio itself. I like to explain it more like 'space-efficient lossless.' Think of it almost like zip-compressing a music file, then unzipping it during playback. This results in a smaller file size, but the audio quality is still lossless, enabling full frequency playback. Sounds like the best of both worlds, right?
Compressed Lossless
The name 'compressed lossless' may sound like a contradiction. However, the compression isn't occurring in a way that degrades the audio itself. I like to explain it more like 'space-efficient lossless.' Think of it almost like zip-compressing a music file, then unzipping it during playback. This results in a smaller file size, but the audio quality is still lossless, enabling full frequency playback. Sounds like the best of both worlds, right?
Compressed lossless audio files can be anywhere from 1/2 to 1/3 the size of uncompressed audio files — or even smaller.
The drawbacks for compressed lossless files are that they are the least supported (compared to uncompressed and compressed lossy.) They also require a little more computing power to play back, because they need decoding.
- Pros: Smaller file size, lossless, full audio frequency
- Cons: Less playback support on devices or editors
Compressed Lossy
Compressed lossy audio formats are likely the most common audio files you use when listening to music. (Examples include .MP3 and .AAC.) This is because compressed lossy audio files have the most support among portable devices, and they have the smallest file sizes (meaning you can store more songs in less space.)
In some cases, compressed lossy audio files can take up 1/10 the space as the same file that is uncompressed. (.MP3 compared to .WAV for example.) Compressed lossy audio files are ideal for streaming online.
However, all that compression comes at a cost. The drawback is that the audio has a limited frequency range and noticeable audio artifacts when compared to a lossless format. Another drawback is that you have less range in post when it comes to editing and audio manipulation. Plus, each time you edit a compressed lossless file and re-export it, you lose more and more quality. Compressed lossy audio files are also not ideal for music loops because the codec adds short blank spaces at the beginning and end of the file.
- Pros: Smallest files sizes, wide playback support
- Cons: compressed, lossy, not ideal for editing
Best audio format for video editing
When it comes to audio formats to use when editing, you have to use what you have available. In an ideal world, use uncompressed formats such as .WAV or .AIFF whenever possible. They'll give you the most latitude in post, and they have the most support. Plus, the audio on your video is going to get compressed during the final video export. So it helps to start with the best possible audio.
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In some cases, .MP3s may be all you need, and they are easy to transfer quickly.
Looking for more articles on working with audio? Check these out.
Music and speech can make any video content more appealing and engaging. But most places where you share your videos – YouTube, Facebook, & Instagram, for example – don't give you much control over your videos' audio tracks. At best, you are able to add royalty-free music tracks or mute the audio that your video already has.
But you have better options! In this article, I'm going to show you how to add, remove, replace, and edit the audio track of a video online & for free. I'm going to be using a tool called Kapwing to make my audio edits – you can use Kapwing on your computer, phone, or tablet, and it gives you the functionality of a high-powered video editing software without asking you to spend any money or download any large applications. To edit the audio of your video project with Kapwing, you'll need to follow just four steps:
- Find Your Video & Audio
- Upload Your Video to Kapwing
- Add, Replace, & Edit Your Audio
- Publish & Download!
Step 1: Find Your Video & Audio
Before you begin, you're going to need to know how to find the video you want to upload to YouTube and the audio you'd like to add to it. If you're using video or audio from somewhere online, like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, or SoundCloud, simply go to the page with the video or audio that you want! You'll need to copy the URL of both your video and audio, so it's easiest to keep the pages open in separate tabs.
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If you're using videos or audio tracks that you recorded yourself, or that you've saved on your device, just make sure you can find them in your file browser! It's a good idea to have a file browser window open while you get started with Kapwing, so you don't have to search for you files.
Step 2: Upload Your Video to Kapwing
Uploading your video to Kapwing is just as easy! First, go to Kapwing.com and click 'Get Started.' This will take you to theKapwing Studio, where you can use all of Kapwing's photo and video editing tools in one convenient place.
To upload a video from your computer, phone, or tablet, you can select the button that says 'Click to upload' and find the file you want to edit in your file browser. You can also find the video in your file browser and simply drag & drop it into the Studio window!
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And if you want to upload a video you found online, click on the field that says 'Paste an image or video URL.' Now, go to the video you want to upload, right-click on its URL, and select 'Copy.' Back in the Kapwing Studio, right click (or just tap one more time if you're editing on your phone or tablet) on the URL field and select 'Paste.' Kapwing will work its magic and upload your video to the Studio.
Step 3: Add, Replace, & Edit Your Audio
Now that you're in the Kapwing Studio, it's time to start editing your audio! If you want to remove your video's original audio track and replace it with a new one, select the video layer and click 'Mute' from the toolbar on the right side of the window. Don't worry – you can always unmute the original audio by clicking the same button!
If you'd like to keep the video's original audio track and add a new one on top of it, click 'Audio' from the top toolbar. In the Add Audio menu, you can either either paste the link that you copied from your online audio source, or click 'Upload' to import an audio file from your computer, and Kapwing will automatically upload your music to the Studio!
In this window, you can continue making your audio edits. If you want your new audio track to start after your video begins, you can move the second slider to the time you'd like your audio to begin playing. If you want to use a particular segment of your audio track, select 'Trim Audio' and move the beginning and ending sliders to choose the part that you want to play during the video. If you've trimmed your audio track to any length that is shorter than your video, you can click 'Loop Audio' to make your audio selection start over once it's finished. And if you'd like to make your audio track softer, you can choose 'Adjust Volume.' This is a great tool to use if you want to add background music to a video, but you still want viewers to hear people speaking.
Once your audio is perfect, you can complete any other edits you want to make to your video! In the Studio, you can add text,animations, and filters, as well as rotate, trim, crop, speed up, or slow down your video.
Step 4: Publish & Download!
Once you've added added your audio and edited your video to perfection, you're ready to process your project! Just click 'Publish' in the upper right-hand corner of the Studio window – Kapwing will automatically work its magic and your video will be ready to download in no time.
When your video is finished processing, click 'Download' from the right side of the screen. If you're using a mobile device, you'll need to download the very small Kapwing mobile app from the App Store. The app doesn't require any login – it's only meant to help you download your videos! To download your video on your iPhone, just copy the URL of the download page and paste it into the URL field in the Kapwing app. Now your video is ready for you to share anywhere!
Remember to tag us @KapwingApp whenever you share your content on social media– we love to see what our creators are passionate about! And be sure to subscribe to the Kapwing Resources page – we're constantly writing new tutorial and features to help you make the most out of Kapwing.
Related Articles:
• How to Make a Video with Photos and Music
• How to Add Music to a YouTube Video
• How to Add Music to an Instagram Video
• How to Download Songs from SoundCloud
