Audio Waveform Viewer
Choose a file to draw its waveform, zoom into any part and read its levels.
Drag a sound file here or choose one
Click the waveform to play from that point.
About Audio Waveform Viewer
A waveform draws the height of the sound over time. Quiet parts look thin, loud parts look tall and silences look like a flat line. It is the quickest way to see where a recording starts and ends, where the gaps are and whether it was recorded too quietly or too loudly.
Choose a file to draw its waveform, then zoom in and move along with the sliders. Click anywhere to play from that point. A table gives the length, sample rate, channels, loudest point and average level in decibels, the number of samples that touch the maximum and how much of the file is near silent. You can save the waveform as a picture.
How to use Audio Waveform Viewer
- Choose a sound file.
- Use the zoom and position sliders to look at any part.
- Click the waveform to play from that point.
- Read the table, or save the waveform as a picture.
Common uses
- Checking a recording for clipping
- Finding where speech starts after a long silence
- Making a waveform picture for a podcast post
- Comparing the loudness of two takes
Frequently asked questions
What does a flat top on the waveform mean?
The sound hit the maximum and was cut off, called clipping. It sounds harsh and cannot be fully repaired, so re-record at a lower level if you can.
What are decibels in this table?
They are measured against the maximum a file can hold, so 0 dB is the loudest possible and quieter sounds are negative. Speech often averages between -30 and -18.
What does near silent mean?
The share of samples with a very small value. A high figure may mean long gaps or a very quiet recording.
Can I zoom in?
Yes. The zoom slider goes up to 50 times, and the position slider moves along the file.
Does it change my file?
No. It only reads the file to draw it. Nothing is saved unless you press the picture button.