Audio cutter
FileReshape's audio cutter keeps the part of an audio file you choose on a waveform or by typing the start and end, and saves it as MP3 or WAV, using FFmpeg in your browser. The file is not uploaded. MP3 files can be cut without re-encoding, so the quality stays exactly as it was. It cuts one part per file and does not mix tracks.
Did a file not convert correctly? E-mail [email protected], ideally with a small sample file, and it will be fixed.
Key facts
- Works with: MP3 (.mp3).
- Your files are not uploaded: the work is done in your browser, on your own device.
- File size: up to 2 GB per file (the limit of the browser's WebAssembly memory).
- Needs a current browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox or Safari) on a computer, tablet or phone; nothing to install.
- Free to use, with no sign-up.
Why trim audio in the browser
Cut the silence off the start of a recording, keep only the chorus of a song for a ringtone, take one answer out of a long interview, shorten a voice memo before sending it, or trim a sound effect for a video. This cutter draws the waveform of the whole file, so quiet parts and pauses are easy to see. Click or drag on it to set the start and end, or type the times to the tenth of a second, and press play to hear exactly the part you chose. MP3 files are cut by copying the original audio frames, without decoding and encoding again, so nothing is lost. Other formats, or cuts with a fade, are saved as a new MP3 at 192 kbit/s or as an uncompressed WAV. The file stays on your device the whole time.
How to cut an audio file
- Drop the audio file in the box, or click to choose it.
- Click or drag on the waveform, or type the start and end; press Play the chosen part to check it.
- Choose MP3 or WAV and an optional fade, then click Cut audio and save the file.
What to know before cutting audio
Cutting MP3 without loss
An MP3 consists of short frames of about 26 milliseconds. Cutting without re-encoding starts and ends on a frame, so the cut can be a few hundredths of a second off the typed time, which nobody hears. Choose a fade or WAV if you need a smooth start.
Ringtones
Most Android phones can use an MP3 as a ringtone. iPhones need an .m4r file made in GarageBand or on a computer; an MP3 cut here is a good starting point, but it cannot be set as an iPhone ringtone directly.
Fade in and out
The fade softens the first and last second of the part (less for very short parts), so a clip taken from the middle of a song does not start or stop with a click. A fade always re-encodes the sound.
Very long recordings
The waveform is drawn for recordings up to an hour. For longer files, type the times or find them with the player; the cutting itself works the same way.
About the formats
MP3
MP3 is the most widely supported audio format. It was developed at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany and standardised in 1993, and it plays on every phone, computer, car stereo and website. MP3 makes music about a tenth of its CD size by leaving out sounds people hardly hear.
- 128 kbit/s is fine for speech and podcasts; 192–320 kbit/s is used for music.
- The last MP3 patents expired in 2017, so the format is free to use everywhere.
- Title, artist, album and cover art are stored in ID3 tags at the start of the file.
- MP3 is lossy: every new encode loses a little more, so convert from the original when you can.
Frequently asked questions
Is my audio uploaded?
No. FFmpeg runs inside your browser tab and cuts the file on your own device. The waveform is also computed in your browser.
Which formats can I cut?
MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, FLAC, OGG, Opus, WMA, AIFF and AMR. The cut part is saved as MP3 or WAV; MP3 files can also be kept as they are without re-encoding.
Can I remove a part from the middle?
Not in one step. The cutter keeps one continuous part. To drop the middle, cut the first and the last part separately and join them in an audio editor such as Audacity.
How exact is the cut?
You can set times to a tenth of a second. Re-encoded cuts (MP3 at 192 kbit/s, WAV, or with a fade) start exactly there; lossless MP3 cuts land on the nearest MP3 frame.