How to Trim MP3 Files in VLC Easily

 Q: "Can I use VLC to edit MP3s? I want to cut and paste, make compilations, etc. and end up with a complete MP3 with all my edits. Can someone either tell me how to do this or direct me to the info?” - Reddit

VLC, as an open-source and cross-platform media player, is recognized as one of the most powerful video converters, screen recorders, as well as MP3 trimmers. If you happen to have VLC on your computer, and would like to cut your MP3 songs for different purposes, why not choose this freeware? Hopefully, this article is going to show you how to trim MP3 in VLC in a few simple steps.

 

Part 1. How to Trim MP3 in VLC

Part 2. How to Trim MP3 in VLC Alternative
 

Part 1. Easy Guide to Trim MP3 in VLC for Free

Step 1: Launch VLC and activate Advanced Controls

First of all, you need to install the latest version of VLC media player on your computer. After that, simply open it and then go to "View" > "Advanced Controls" on the menu bar to activate Advanced Controls option, and you'll see four buttons appear including the Record button.

Step 2: Open Target MP3 File and Start to Record

Now click the "Media" > "Open File" button to import an MP3 file you want to trim, or simply drag and drop it to VLC. Next, you can play the file and drag the slider to determine the start point and then click the red Record button to begin recording.

Step 3: Start to Trim MP3 VLC

Wait and pre-hear when the MP3 file is being recorded. To stop it, you can press on the Stop button or click the same Record button again. Now your MP3 file has been trimmed successfully.

Note: The new audio file trimmed from the original MP3 file will be saved as an MP3 file on the local folder of your computer automatically.

Part 2. Easiest Way to Trim MP3 in VLC Alternative

Though VLC media player can be used as an audio trimmer to trim MP3 easily, it still has some limitations. For example, trimming MP3 needs a long time if you have a large file; it cannot merge the audio clips together, etc. Therefore, if you need a more powerful audio trimming tool, here I strongly recommend Joyoshare audio and video cutting Mac and Windows.

Joyoshare Media Cutter is an all-round and easy-to-use audio trimmer that can be used to trim MP3 files at an ultra-fast speed while keeping the original quality. Besides, you can also use it to split large audio file into small parts, remove unwanted fragments and merge the audio clips to form a new one, or make a ringtone for iPhone, Android, etc.

Additionally, Joyoshare Media Cutter is also a powerful audio editor that anyone can use it to edit and enhance the audio file. You can trim the MP3 file precisely, apply special sound effects, add beautiful frames, adjust the channel, sample rate and bit rate, etc.

 

Key features of Joyoshare MP3 Trimmer

• Provide powerful audio editing features
• Trim MP3 on Windows and Mac losslessly
• Change codec, bit rate, sample rate and more for MP3 audios
• Support a wide range of audio formats and compatible devices

Step 1: Open Joyoshare and Add MP3 File

Go to the download page of Joyoshare and install Media Cutter on your computer. Open it and drag-n-drop your target MP3 file or click the "Open" button to import it to the main interface of Joyoshare Media Cutter.

Step 2: Decide Trimming Duration

To trim MP3 in Joyoshare Media Cutter, you can simply drag the slider to determine the start time and end time or write down the specific time manually. There are also shortcut buttons, including Set Segment Start Time and Set Segment End Time, developed to help you quickly cut where the MP3 audio file plays and stops.

Or, you can activate the edit window by clicking the edit icon next to the file and trim the MP3 file likewise. Don't forget to hit the scissor icon to trim MP3 before you close this window.

Note: If you want to merge several audio clips from this MP3 file, you need to select the "Merge Segments" option before going to the next step.

Step 3: Select an Output Mode

Now press on the "Format" panel and choose an output mode. Please select the "High-speed mode" to trim MP3 fast and losslessly if you don't do any other advanced editing to it. Otherwise, you need to choose the "Encoding mode" to finish the task.

Step 4: Begin to Trim and Convert MP3 File

Then hit the "Start" button to let Joyoshare start to trim MP3 as you asked. A few seconds later, you will find the new file on the destination folder once the conversion is completed.