# Any freeware to stitch or snip mp3s? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243 "2006-03-13T22:57:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/1 "2006-03-13T22:57:55Z")
I have two needs: 1. to be able to stitch together two (or more) mp3 files into a single mp3 file. 2. to be able to snip (delete) part of an mp3 in the middle of the file. I assume that #2 is much harder than #1 because I’d like to be able to do this without ruining the flow of the music. In other words, I’d like to be able to control the deletion to an extent that if one didn’t know the music they’d never be able to tell that it had been modified. I posted here instead of GQ for what I think are obvious reasons. But if a mod wants to move it, feel free. ---
**Author:** ![jimson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecccb3/32.png) [@jimson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimson)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/2 "2006-03-13T23:18:56Z")
Audacity. You will probably need LAME or similar to decompress the mp3 files – basically, no audio editing software will work directly with compressed files, especially not files compressed with a proprietary format like mp3. So, in the process of decompressing the mp3 files, and (presumably) recompressing them back to mp3 format, you’re basically going to take a major hit in the area of sound quality. I wouldn’t even bother, unless it were something done as a one-off, or some other sort of throw-away file where sound quality didn’t matter so much. ---
**Author:** ![jimson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecccb3/32.png) [@jimson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimson)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/3 "2006-03-13T23:21:34Z")
Sorry – I meant that “Audacity” is the title of the most capable freeware out there, not that your question is audacious. There are a million other amazing programs, but anything more powerful costs, and Audacity will do just about anything you’re likely to require, especially something simple such as editing a file. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/4 "2006-03-14T02:31:23Z")
If it’s a small job, you could get a friend with a newish Mac (which includes Garage Band) to do it. ---
**Author:** ![MisterThyristor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecccb3/32.png) [@MisterThyristor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MisterThyristor)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/5 "2006-03-14T03:52:50Z")
> [@jimson](#): > > Audacity. You will probably need LAME or similar to decompress the mp3 files – basically, no audio editing software will work directly with compressed files, especially not files compressed with a proprietary format like mp3. So, in the process of decompressing the mp3 files, and (presumably) recompressing them back to mp3 format, you’re basically going to take a major hit in the area of sound quality. I wouldn’t even bother, unless it were something done as a one-off, or some other sort of throw-away file where sound quality didn’t matter so much. Actually, I have used (and still use occasionally) a program called Xing Mp3 editor to do exactly that – edit without decompressing, etc. Unfortunately, it is no longer made. There is a program called [Audio Editor Pro](http://www.audioeditorpro.com/index.htm) which says that it will do this also, but I have no personal experience with it. ---
**Author:** ![ayalabmaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@ayalabmaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ayalabmaj)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/6 "2006-03-14T04:01:10Z")
I’ve been using [Goldwave](http://www.goldwave.com/) for that purpose. Seems to be pretty good to me. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/7 "2006-03-14T12:03:48Z")
MP3/tag studio will ‘trim’ (snip) MP3’s, but not join (stitch) them. ---
**Author:** ![paulmarkj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9e8a1a/32.png) [@paulmarkj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paulmarkj)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/8 "2006-03-14T12:35:01Z")
Audacity is good, with lots of features, but a bit on the slow side for loadings and saving. I use MP3directcut which is simple and very fast, but cutting only, not stitching. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/9 "2006-03-14T13:33:45Z")
The audacity!! (heh, heh) Thanks everyone. I appreciate the help. As far as quality is concerned, for the stitching task it’s not as important. But for snipping, I want to maintain a high level of quality. Looks like, so far, my choices are: ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-freeware-to-stitch-or-snip-mp3s/348243/10 "2006-03-14T13:37:33Z")
Oops. Hit submit by accident. Ahem. My choices so far are: Audacity (snip and stitch) A friend with a Mac and Garage Band (snip and stitch) Audio Editor Pro (snip and stitch) Goldwave (snip and stitch) Mp3/tag (snip) Mp3directcut (snip) Looks like I have some research and experimentation to do. Thanks again.