Audio cutter (MP3 cutter)
Choose an audio file, set the start and end of the part you want, listen to it and save the clip. It runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded.
Free · no signup Runs in your browser
How do I cut a part out of an MP3?
Choose the audio file and a waveform appears. Type the start and end times in seconds (the green lines move to match), press Play to hear the selection, then choose MP3 or WAV and press Save clip. Everything happens in your browser, so the file is never uploaded.
Cutting a clip without an editor
A ringtone, a sample for a video, the one answer in a long interview or the best minute of a recording: you often need a short piece of a longer file. A full audio editor can do it, but installing and learning one is more than the job needs.
This tool decodes the file in your browser and draws its waveform, so you can see where the quiet and loud parts are. You set the start and end in seconds, listen to exactly that part, and save it as MP3 or WAV. Selecting a range does not change the original file. It also reads the sound of videos, so it can cut a clip from a recording of a meeting. For a smooth start and end, pick points in quiet moments, as the cut is straight with no fade.
It runs in your browser. Your file is never uploaded, and there is no watermark or sign-up. MP3 encoding uses LAME (lame.sourceforge.io), an open-source encoder, licensed under the LGPL.
How it works in detail
The audio file is read on your device and decoded by your browser, and the waveform is drawn from the loudest sample in each small slice. You type the start and end times in seconds, and the green lines move to match. Times are rounded to the nearest sample (1/44,100 of a second for CD-quality audio). Press Play to hear the selection. The part between the lines is written out as WAV by hand or encoded as MP3 with LAME, and offered for download. The cut is straight, with no fade, so it may click if it is made in the middle of a loud sound. Saving to MP3 re-encodes the clip, which costs a little quality; save to WAV for no loss.
How to use it
- Choose the audio file. A waveform appears.
- Type the start and end times in seconds.
- Press Play to hear the selection, and adjust the times.
- Choose MP3 (and a quality) or WAV (no loss).
- Press Save clip and download it.
What changes and what stays the same
What the tool does to your file, and what it leaves alone.
| Aspect | What happens |
|---|---|
| The original file | Not changed: the clip is a new file |
| The clip | Exactly the part between your two times |
| Fades | None: the cut is straight and may click |
| MP3 quality | MP3 is lossy: each save as MP3 costs a little detail, so keep your original |
| Tags | Not copied |
| Privacy | Your file is read on your device and is not uploaded; there is no account and no watermark |
When to use it
- Making a ringtone or alert tone
- Cutting the best part from a long recording
- Removing silence or an intro from the start or end
- Making a short sample for a video or presentation
Problems you may run into
Most problems come from the file itself, not from the tool.
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| The clip starts or ends with a click | The cut was in the middle of a loud sound | Move the cut to a quiet point on the waveform |
| The times will not accept my value | The end must be after the start and within the length | Check the length shown and the order of the times |
| The clip is the wrong part | Times are in seconds, not minutes | Convert minutes to seconds: 1:30 is 90 |
| The saved clip is smaller in quality | MP3 re-encodes the sound | Save as WAV for no loss |
| The file will not open | Your browser cannot decode this format, or the file is damaged | Try Chrome, Edge or Firefox on a computer, or open the file elsewhere to check that it plays |
| The browser slows down or stops | A very large file is processed on your own device | Close other tabs, try a computer, or use a smaller file |
Mistakes it helps you avoid
- Cutting in the middle of a word: choose the start and end in a quiet gap.
- Saving to MP3 repeatedly: each save loses a little quality, so cut from your original.
- Using a copyrighted song in a public video without permission.
- Setting the start after the end: the tool will tell you.
How it works
Your file is decoded and re-encoded inside your browser.
1. The audio file is read on your device and decoded by your browser.2. The waveform is drawn from the loudest sample in each small slice.3. Your start and end in seconds select the part to play and save.4. The part is written as WAV by hand or encoded as MP3 with LAME, and offered for download. Nothing is uploaded.
Times are in seconds and are rounded to the nearest sample (1/44,100 s for CD-quality audio). The cut is straight, with no fade, so it may click if made in the middle of a loud sound. Saving a clip to MP3 re-encodes it, which costs a little quality; save to WAV for no loss.
Example: a 20-second ringtone
You want 20 seconds from a song, starting 1 minute 5 seconds in.
- Start65
- End85
- Save asMP3, 192 kbit/s
A 20-second MP3 of about 480 KB
192 ÷ 8 × 20 = 480 KB.
Terms on this page
- Waveform
- A picture of how loud the sound is over time.
- Sample
- One measurement of the sound; CD-quality audio has 44,100 each second.
Common questions
How do I trim an MP3?
Choose the file, set the start and end in seconds, press Play to check and Save clip.
Does cutting reduce quality?
Saving as WAV loses nothing. Saving as MP3 re-encodes the clip, which costs a little quality.
Is my file uploaded?
No. Your browser reads and converts the file on your own device. Nothing is sent over the network.
Can I cut the sound of a video?
Yes. Choose the video file and the tool uses its sound track, if your browser can decode it.
Why is there a click at the cut?
The cut is straight with no fade. Choose points in a quiet moment to avoid it.
Where these numbers come from
- MDN Web Docs — BaseAudioContext.decodeAudioData() How a browser decodes an audio or video file's sound into samples.
- LAME MP3 encoder (lame.sourceforge.io), LGPL The MP3 encoder, here a JavaScript port (lamejs) used unmodified as a separate file.
- Library of Congress — WAVE Audio File Format The structure of a WAV file: a header and 16-bit PCM samples.
- MDN Web Docs — Using files from web applications How a page reads a file you choose without uploading it.
Last verified 2026-10-25 The method on this page is checked against the sources above at least once a year. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will fix it.
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