WavePad

WavePad is an audio editing application developed by NCH Software, an Australian company known for a broad range of affordable utility software. It addresses the needs of users who want to record, edit and enhance audio without the cost and complexity of a full professional digital audio workstation. Many people who work with voice recordings, podcasts, music snippets or sound effects need only a clear, reliable way to cut, arrange and clean up audio. WavePad’s approach is a waveform-based editor with an intuitive interface, where users select sections of audio and apply edits and effects directly. The emphasis is on simplicity and speed, making the software accessible to beginners while still offering enough depth for more demanding editing tasks and repeatable workflows.

Key features include recording from microphones and other inputs, cutting, copying, pasting, inserting and trimming audio, and a wide range of effects such as amplification, normalisation, equalisation, compression, reverb, echo and pitch or speed changes. Noise reduction and click removal tools help restore recordings, while spectral analysis and speech synthesis provide additional capabilities. Batch processing allows users to apply effects or convert many files at once, and bookmarks and regions simplify work on long recordings. WavePad supports a large number of audio file formats, including MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG and others, and it can extract audio from video files. It supports VST plugins, integrates with other NCH tools, and can be used alongside the company’s recording and conversion products. The software runs on Windows and macOS and is also available on iOS and Android. It is used by podcasters, voice-over artists, musicians, educators, students, journalists and hobbyists who need practical audio editing. Its low cost makes it attractive for small organisations and individuals. Pricing starts from around USD 60, typically as a one-off licence, with a free trial, and a free version is available for non-commercial use.