Audio Fade In / Out

About Audio Fade In / Out

This free tool adds a fade-in to the start of an audio file and a fade-out to the end. A fade-in lets the sound grow from silence, so it does not start with a jump or a click. A fade-out lets it sink slowly into silence, so a song or a clip that was cut short ends softly.

Drop in your file and the fades are added at once: 2 seconds in and 3 seconds out. You see them on the waveform as a yellow volume line. Move the sliders, type the seconds, or drag the handles on the waveform — then press Play, or Hear the fade-out to check just the end.

Everything happens in your browser. Your audio is never uploaded.

Features

• Fade in and fade out — set each one in seconds, in steps of 0.1; 0 turns it off
• See the fade — the waveform shrinks where the sound gets quieter, and a yellow line shows the volume
• Drag on the waveform — two handles mark where the fade-in ends and where the fade-out starts
• Three curves — linear, smooth (S-curve) or exponential
• Listen first — play the whole file, or jump straight to the fade-in or the fade-out
• Same format back — an MP3 comes back as an MP3, a WAV as a WAV
• One-click download — the file is made in the background while you listen
• Remembers your settings — your fade lengths, curve and MP3 quality are kept for next time

Which curve should I use?

• Linear — the volume changes in a straight line. Simple and even, good for speech and short sounds.
• Smooth — an S-curve: it starts gently, moves faster in the middle and lands gently. This is the default and works well for most things.
• Exponential — the volume changes evenly in decibels, which is how our ears hear loudness. A fade-out drops quickly at first and then fades slowly away. Many people find this the most natural on music.

Your ears notice the difference most on long fades (5 seconds or more). Try each one with Hear the fade-out.

MP3 or WAV? An MP3, M4A or OGG file is saved as MP3. For an MP3 file the quality starts at about the same bitrate as the original (otherwise 192 kbps); you can choose 128 to 320 kbps. A WAV or FLAC file is saved as a lossless WAV.

To make the whole file louder or quieter as well, use Change Audio Volume. To cut the file first, use Trim Audio.

Common uses

• Songs — a soft fade-out for a song that ends suddenly
• Ringtones and alarms — a fade-in, so the sound does not start at full volume
• Podcasts and videos — fade the intro music in and the outro music out
• Voice recordings — remove the click at the start and end of a voice note
• Clips cut from a longer track — after Trim Audio, fade both ends so the cut does not sound sharp
• Presentations and slideshows — background music that starts and ends gently

Frequently asked questions

Is it free, and is my audio uploaded?

It is free, with no sign-up and no watermark. The fades are added in your browser, and the file is never sent to a server.

How long should a fade be?

For a song, a 3 to 8 second fade-out is common, and a 1 to 2 second fade-in. For speech or a short sound effect, 0.2 to 1 second is usually enough to remove a click.

Can I add only a fade-out (or only a fade-in)?

Yes. Set the other fade to 0 and it is turned off.

Will it lower the quality of my MP3?

An MP3 has to be saved again after the change, so there is a very small loss, the same as with any audio editor. For an MP3 file, the tool starts at about the same bitrate as the original. Choose 320 kbps, or save as WAV, to keep as much quality as possible.

Does the file get shorter?

No. The length stays the same — the fades only change the volume. An MP3 may be a few milliseconds longer, because the MP3 format adds a tiny bit of silence at each end.

Which files can I use?

Any audio your browser can play: MP3, WAV, M4A (AAC), OGG and usually FLAC. Very long files (an hour or more) may be too big for the browser's memory — cut them first with Trim Audio.

How to use it

• Drop an audio file on the box, or click it to choose one
• The fades are added at once — 2 seconds in and 3 seconds out
• Move the Fade in and Fade out sliders, type the seconds, or drag the handles on the waveform
• Pick a curve: Linear, Smooth or Exponential
• Press Hear the fade-out (or Play) to listen
• Choose MP3 or WAV and press Download