# Cutting MP3s

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-mp3s/296546>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 28, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-mp3s/296546 "2005-03-28T03:34:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gfloyd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d2c977/32.png) [@gfloyd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gfloyd)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-mp3s/296546/1 "2005-03-28T03:34:39Z")

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Anyone know of a (free) software package which can cut a part of an MP3 out? My problem is that I have several songs that have bonus material at the end, and I’d like the condense them down, as everyone loves 10 minutes of dead air when making CDs or playing iTunes on random.

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**Author:** ![TJdude825](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@TJdude825](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJdude825)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-mp3s/296546/2 "2005-03-28T04:04:36Z")

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There are approximately 290,357 different programs that can do this. I’d recommend Audacity.

> **[Audacity](https://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/)**
>
> Download Audacity for free. A free multi-track audio editor and recorder. Audacity is no longer at SourceForge. Audacity can be downloaded via AudacityTeam website instead: http://www.audacityteam.org/download/
> 
> 
> Audacity is a free, easy-to-use,...

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**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-mp3s/296546/3 "2005-03-28T13:37:46Z")

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If you’re just chopping off the end or beginning, you can do it in iTunes.

Click on the song, Get Info, and choose the tab that shows the start and end times-- change the end time so it’s when the song actually ends (or, conversely, change the start time so it’s when the bonus material plays).

Close that window, then go to Advanced–\> Convert to MP3. You’ll now have two tracks with the same name, one of which is shorter than the other.

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**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cutting-mp3s/296546/4 "2005-03-28T17:36:00Z")

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I have been using [MP3Trim](http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/features/49978/Sarahs_Download_of_the_Day_mp3Trim.html) for the past couple of years. Simple to use, small, free.