---
title: "How to cut an audio file to the part you need | ToolSugar"
description: "Trim a song or recording by typing start and end times, add a fade, and save the clip as MP3, M4A or an iPhone M4R ringtone."
canonical: https://toolsugar.com/blog/how-to-cut-an-audio-file
image: https://toolsugar.com/og.png
---

# How to cut an audio file and keep one section

Updated 2026-11-09

To cut an audio file, set a start time and an end time and keep what lies between them. Audio Cutter does this in your browser. You can type the times or set them while the file plays, add a fade, and save the clip as MP3, M4A or iPhone M4R. A video works too, and you get its sound.

[Open Audio Cutter](https://toolsugar.com/tools/audio-cutter)

## Trim an audio file in four steps

Start by choosing an audio file, or a video if you only want its sound. The ffmpeg engine is about 32 MB and loads on the first cut.

1. Choose an audio file, or a video to cut its sound.
2. Play it and press Start here and End here, or type the times.
3. Add a fade in or fade out if you want one.
4. Pick a format, cut and download.

## How to type start and end times

Times can be plain seconds, such as 95, or minutes and seconds, such as 1:30.5. Use the player to find the spot by ear, then fine tune the number by hand.

If the end time is past the end of the file, the cut stops at the last sample. A start time past the end gives a clear message instead of an empty file.

## How exact is the cut?

The audio is re-encoded rather than cut at packet edges, so the clip can start on the time you asked for. In our tests the result landed within 0.1 seconds. Re-encoding also lets the tool apply a fade, and the output is set to 192 kbps.

That means the cut is not lossless. Work from your best source file, and avoid cutting the same clip again and again.

## Make an iPhone ringtone

M4R is the file type iPhone uses for ringtones. Cut the part you like, add a short fade out so the sound does not stop abruptly, and choose M4R as the format. Getting the file onto the phone is a separate step done in your Apple tools.

## When the preview will not play

The player uses your browser, so a format the browser cannot play will not preview. It can still be cut. Our tests cut AMR and WMA files that no preview could play.

## Questions

### Can I delete a part from the middle of a song?

Not in one pass. Each run keeps one continuous section. Cut the two outer parts as separate files and join them in an editor.

### What bitrate does the cut file use?

The output is set to 192 kbps.

### Can I cut the sound out of a video?

Yes. Choose the video, set the times, and the tool saves the chosen stretch of its sound.

[Open Audio Cutter](https://toolsugar.com/tools/audio-cutter)

## Related guides

- [How to convert audio files to MP3, M4A or WAV](https://toolsugar.com/blog/how-to-convert-audio-files)
- [How to extract audio from a video](https://toolsugar.com/blog/how-to-extract-audio-from-a-video)
- [How to trim a video without re-encoding](https://toolsugar.com/blog/how-to-trim-a-video)
- [How to remove background noise from audio](https://toolsugar.com/blog/how-to-remove-background-noise-from-audio)