Sound eXchange (SoX) is a cross-platform command-line audio processing utility for converting, recording, playing and manipulating digital audio. It is particularly useful for batch processing and scripted audio workflows.
SoX is the Swiss Army knife of sound processing tools: it can convert sound files between many different file formats & audio devices, and can apply many sound effects & transformations, as well as doing basic analysis and providing input to more capable analysis and plotting tools. As an added extra, SoX can play and record audio files on many common platforms.
SoX is often used to convert an audio file from one sampling rate to another rate (e.g. from DAT to CD rates). SoX’s resampling algorithm is highly configurable.
SoX supports most common sound architectures. It also supports LADSPA plugins.
SoX_ng is a separately maintained continuation of SoX, incorporating bug fixes, security improvements and additional codec support. It offers an alternative for users who want to retain familiar SoX workflows while benefiting from continued development.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Reading and writing AU, WAV, AIFF, MP3 (via an external LAME MP3 encoder), Ogg Vorbis, FLAC, MP4 and other audio file formats.
- Recording and playing audio (on many systems); playing via URL (internet file or stream).
- Editing via concatenate, trim, pad, repeat, reverse, volume, fade, splice, normalise, silence.
- Processing via chorus, flanger, echo, phaser, compressor, delay, filter (high-pass, low-pass, shelving, etc).
- Speed (pitch and tempo), pitch (without tempo), tempo (without pitch), and sample-rate adjustment:
- bend, pitch, speed, stretch, tempo.
- Noise removal using frequency profiling.
- Mastering effects.
- Specialised filters/mixers.
- Analysis effects
- Silent passage removal.
- Simple audio synthesis.
- Multi-file & multi-track mixing (up to 4 channels), remix, swap.
- Multi-file merging (e.g. 2 mono to 1 stereo).
- Statistical analysis; spectrogram analysis.
- Seek support for MP3 files.
- Support specifying absolute end position instead of offset from beginning of trim operation.
- Cross-platform support – runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: sourceforge.net/projects/sox
Support:
Developer: Chris Bagwell, Roby Sykes and many contributors
License: GNU General Public License v2.0
SoX is written in C. Learn C with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Audio Converters | |
|---|---|
| fre:ac | High quality audio converter and CD ripper |
| FFmpeg | Record, convert and stream audio and video |
| Flacon | Split single audio file containing an album into separate audio tracks |
| SoX_ng | Command-line audio converter, recorder and effects processor |
| SoX | Swiss Army knife of sound processing programs |
| SoundConverter | GNOME-powered sound conversion |
| Perl Audio Converter | Supports a wide range of audio formats and video extensions |
| Ecasound | Software package designed for multitrack audio processing |
| FFaudioConverter | Graphical audio converter and filter tool |
| Audimorf | Straightforward tool for changing the format of your audio files |
| Transition | Graphical batch converter for audio files and video soundtracks |
| phiola | Lightweight audio player, recorder, converter and streaming server |
| soundKonverter | Frontend to various audio converters |
| Gnac | Audio converter for GNOME |
| caudec | Multiprocess audio converter supporting many formats |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Audio Editors | |
|---|---|
| Audacity | Multi-track audio editor and recorder |
| SoX | Swiss Army knife of sound processing programs |
| LosslessCut | Swiss army knife of lossless video/audio editing |
| Tenacity | Cross-platform multi-track audio editor/recorder; fork of Audacity |
| Auto-Editor | Automatically edit video and audio |
| audapolis | Editor for spoken-word media with transcription |
| Kwave | Sound editor built on the KDE Frameworks 5 |
| AudioMass | Edit and manipulate audio directly in your browser |
| Cecilia | Audio signal processing environment aimed at sound designers |
| GWC | Gnome Wave Cleaner |
| Snd | An advanced sound editor modeled loosely after Emacs |
| Reco | Audio recording app designed for elementary OS |
| pxtone collab | Sample-based music editor |
| Sound Recorder | Straightforward way to record and play audio with simple interface |
| mp3splt | Command-line tool to split mp3, ogg vorbis and FLAC files without decoding |
| MorphEdit | Browser-based desktop audio editor for trimming, effects, mixing, and more |
| WaveSurfer | Tool for sound visualization and manipulation |
| Sweep | Audio editor and live playback tool |
| mhWaveEdit | Simple and fast sound editor |
| EKO | Graphical sound editor for recording, cutting, effects and waveform editing |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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