• Computer users have a variety of options available to them for editing or manipulating sound files.headphones image by charles taylor from Fotolia.com
  
  Several software applications now enable a computer user to edit and manipulate sound files. These may consist of a user's original audio recordings or audio files that have been downloaded from the Internet.
  
  

Sony Sound Forge

• Sound Forge, which runs of the Microsoft WIndows operating system, is produced and distributed by a branch of Sony and has been around for more than a decade. It has a relatively uncluttered interface and a plethora of professional quality effects, such as fade, reverb, and chorus, among others.
  
  

Adobe Audition

• Adobe Audition was initially a shareware alternative to Sound Forge known as CoolEdit Pro. It was purchased by Adobe and added to its offerings. Since CoolEdit Pro was used by many professionals, Adobe hopes users will see Audition as capable of performing high quality audio editing. Audition is primarily designed for multimedia content creators working with video and animation. Users looking for highly technical editing or advanced midi should look for other products.
  
  

Steinberg WaveLab

• Focusing on sound editing products for the film and television industry, Steinberg created Cubase more than a decade ago. While Cubase has some sound editing features, Steinberg has more recently designed WaveLab for professionals looking for more robust sound editing than a music production application may feature. WaveLab offers a user interface that is similar to sound manipulation hardware found in a studio. Among the tools it offers are standard effects like chorus, reverb, and flanging, among others. WaveLab also features midi support.