Audacity

Audacity processes 32-bit audio at 384 kHz sample rates, cutting 60-minute podcast episodes in under 3 seconds—the fastest free editor for this task. The 2026 version introduces real-time noise reduction, reducing background hum by 18 dB without distorting vocals, a 12% improvement over the average free tool. Over 220 million users rely on Audacity for quick waveform edits. Despite its power, it lacks native multitrack support, a feature available in VLC for straightforward media trimming.