Sound Forge
A long-running Windows audio editor for recording, editing, restoration and mastering.
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About Sound Forge
Sound Forge is a digital audio editor first released by Sonic Foundry in the 1990s, later owned by Sony and MAGIX, and now developed by Boris FX alongside VEGAS Pro and ACID Pro. It is a waveform editor rather than a DAW: it excels at recording, precise editing of individual files, batch processing, restoration and mastering, and is a long-time favourite of broadcast engineers, sound designers and people digitising old recordings. Tools such as DeHisser and other restoration effects handle noise, hum and clicks, and the Pro edition adds disc authoring and more advanced processing. Sound Forge is offered in several editions, sold as perpetual licences and by subscription, and a fully functional trial runs for 15 days. Development has changed hands several times, and the current versions are made for Windows. Its interface is functional but dated next to newer editors.
Best for: Windows users who need precise single-file editing, restoration and mastering.
Pros and cons
What works
- Precise waveform editing and batch processing
- Restoration tools for hiss, hum and clicks
- Choice of perpetual licence or subscription
Why people leave
- Windows only
- Ownership has changed hands several times
- Interface feels dated
Top Sound Forge alternatives
See all 5- 1
Adobe Audition66.5Cross-platform pro editor with multitrack and spectral repair.
- 2
iZotope RX62.6Specialist repair suite for heavily damaged audio.
- 3
Audacity59.6Free open-source editor for everyday recording and cutting.
- 4
ocenaudio57.2Free lightweight editor for quick single-file edits.
- 5
TwistedWave55.3Fast, modern single-file editor for Mac, Windows and iOS.
Why people left Sound Forge
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Sound Forge: common questions
Is Sound Forge free?
No, Sound Forge is a paid product.
Is Sound Forge open source?
No, Sound Forge is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Audacity.
What platforms does Sound Forge run on?
Sound Forge is available for Windows.
What are the best alternatives to Sound Forge?
The highest-ranked Sound Forge alternatives right now are Adobe Audition, iZotope RX and Audacity. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.