Audio analysis software: where can I download a reputable program?

December 3, 2013 9:12 AM

I'd be interested in downloading a program which allows me to see a visual analysis of the soundwaves within an audio file.

Hello,

Could someone please tell me where I can find a reputable program for playing audio files, with an accompanying visualisation of the sound patterns within the file? I'm trying to listen through some sound files where there's a lot of nothing much happening for long periods of time, and I want to be able to ignore the silent parts.

Also, on a more general level, if CNET's download.com is promoting PUP like WebCake, where else can I go to find safe downloads?

Thanks for any advice.

posted by Musashi Daryl to Computers & Internet (6 answers total)

On what platform?

Audacity is free and available for many systems.
posted by phliar at 9:19 AM on December 3, 2013

Thirding Audacity.
posted by alms at 9:26 AM on December 3, 2013

Audacity
posted by OmieWise at 10:35 AM on December 3, 2013

I also recommend Audacity. One wrinkle is that Audacity doesn't natively support exporting (saving) files as mp3s. If you need to do that you can get a free plugin, LAME, that Audacity will use. Intructions to easily install that are here.

It's not really clear from the main Audacity download page that you'll need to do that.
posted by sevenless at 10:35 AM on December 3, 2013

You just need any sound editor. Audacity is free. You could also find copies of Adobe Audition (previously CoolEdit Pro) online. They cost money but I feel like free copies of CoolEdit Pro are floating around the internet. In CoolEdit Pro, you can remove noise (clicks, pops, hissing) and remove silence. I assume Adobe Audition has these features too. Not sure about Audacity.
posted by peachpie at 10:55 AM on December 3, 2013

Do you want spectographic info or just waveforms?

Audacity is great for waveforms. Audacity will do spectograms, but Spek is much much better.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:32 AM on December 3, 2013