PureTools
Cut Any Audio File to a Precise Range Directly in Your Browser
Set start and end points on a visual waveform timeline, preview the selection, then cut and download, entirely in your browser. No upload, no watermark, 100% private.
Drop your audio file here
or · up to 200 MB
Drag the handles to set the cut range — click the waveform to seek
Preparing…
How to use the Audio Cutter
Load an audio file, drag the handles on the waveform timeline to mark your start and end points, preview the selection, then click Cut. The tool processes the clip locally without uploading your audio and downloads the result directly. No watermark is added to any output.
- Select your audio file — drag and drop an audio file onto the drop zone, or click to browse. MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG, FLAC, AAC and OPUS files are all supported, up to 200 MB. The waveform timeline and audio player load automatically once the file is selected.
- Set the cut points — drag the left handle on the waveform timeline to the start of the segment you want to keep, and the right handle to the end. The brighter region between the handles shows exactly what will be in the output. The time inputs below update as you drag and can be typed into directly for exact second values.
- Preview the selection — click the Preview buttons next to the time inputs to jump the audio player to each cut point. The player stops automatically when it reaches the end handle, so you can hear the exact selection before cutting.
- Choose output format and filename — the tool pre-selects the same format as your input file so the cut uses fast stream copy with no quality loss by default. Choose a different format to convert and cut in one step. Edit the filename as needed.
- Cut and download — click Cut audio. The result card shows the output format, file size and clip duration. Click Download to save the file. All processing runs locally on your device — no file is ever uploaded.
Fast copy vs re-encoding
When the output format matches the input format — for example cutting an MP3 and saving as MP3 — the tool uses fast stream copy: the audio data is extracted directly without decoding or re-encoding, which preserves quality exactly and is fast even for long files. When you choose a different output format, the tool re-encodes at 192 kbps for lossy formats (MP3, M4A, OGG) or losslessly for WAV and FLAC. Re-encoding takes a little longer depending on file size and device speed. If your goal is to change the format without trimming, the Audio Converter gives full control over bitrate and sample rate.
Setting precise cut points
The time inputs accept both plain seconds (83.5) and minutes:seconds format (1:23.5). Keyboard arrow keys move the focused handle in 0.1-second steps — hold Shift for 1-second steps. Clicking anywhere on the waveform seeks the audio player to that position. When you release a handle after dragging, the player automatically seeks to that point so you always hear the exact frame at each boundary before confirming the cut.
Frequently asked questions
Is my audio file uploaded to a server?
No. The entire cutting operation runs inside your browser without any server involvement. Your audio file is loaded into your browser's memory, processed using a local audio engine, and the cut file is created directly in your browser. PureTools has no server infrastructure to receive files. You can disconnect from the internet after the page loads and the tool continues to work. Your file exists only in your browser's memory and is discarded when you close the tab. Your data is never used to train AI models or improve machine learning systems.
How do I set the cut start and end points?
After loading your audio file, a waveform timeline appears with two vertical handles. The left handle sets the start of the segment to keep, and the right handle sets the end. Drag either handle left or right to choose where the output begins and ends. The highlighted region between the handles shows exactly what will be in the output file. The time inputs below update automatically as you drag and can be typed into for precise values. Use the Preview buttons to jump the audio player to each point and verify before cutting.
What audio formats are supported?
The cutter accepts MP3, M4A (AAC), WAV, OGG, FLAC, AAC and OPUS files as input. Output formats are MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG and FLAC. By default the tool pre-selects the output format matching your input, so a same-format cut uses fast stream copy with no quality loss. Choose a different output format to convert while cutting. For converting between formats without trimming, the Audio Converter gives full bitrate and sample rate control.
Will cutting reduce audio quality?
In most cases, no. When the input and output format are the same — for example cutting an MP3 and saving as MP3 — the tool copies the audio data directly without re-encoding, which preserves quality exactly. This is called fast stream copy. If you choose a different output format, the tool re-encodes at 192 kbps for lossy formats (MP3, M4A, OGG) or losslessly for WAV and FLAC. Re-encoding always starts from the original file, not from a compressed intermediate, so quality is preserved as much as possible. No watermark is added to any output.
Why does the first cut take longer than expected?
The very first time you click Cut, the tool downloads a local audio processing engine of around 30 MB. This happens once — your browser caches the engine so all later cuts start immediately without another download. After the initial download, same-format cuts using stream copy finish in seconds even for large files, because no audio data is decoded or re-encoded. Cross-format cuts that require re-encoding take longer depending on the file size and your device's processing speed.
Is there a file size limit?
Yes. The maximum input file size is 200 MB per file. This protects your device's memory — the file is loaded entirely into the browser for processing. Most audio files are well within this limit: a 60-minute podcast at 128 kbps is about 55 MB. If your file is large and you only need a small section, drag the handles to that section and cut — the output will be much smaller. For high-bitrate files close to the limit, the MP3 Compressor can reduce the size before you cut.
Does the audio cutter work offline?
Yes, after the tool has loaded at least once on that device. The first visit downloads and caches the page files and the audio processing engine (around 30 MB). Every subsequent visit — including offline — loads from local cache and runs entirely without a network connection. If you plan to work offline, visit the page once with an internet connection to cache everything first. Temporary output files are cleared automatically when you close the tab.
Can I use the audio cutter on a phone?
Yes, the tool works on phones and tablets. Files over 50 MB may be slower on older devices because the audio processing engine uses your browser's memory. The waveform timeline and handles respond to touch — drag to set cut points on a touchscreen exactly as on a desktop. For very precise cuts on mobile, tap the time input fields and type exact start and end times directly. For files over 100 MB, a desktop browser will give better performance and reliability.