Is my audio uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything runs inside your browser tab, and the result is created on your device. Nothing is sent to a server.
Long pauses make an episode drag. This tool finds stretches of silence and shortens them to the length you choose, so the rhythm stays natural. It does not touch your words: only pauses longer than your setting are changed.
It uses the silence filter of ffmpeg, compiled to WebAssembly, and runs on your device.
How to use it
Choose a file
Drop an audio file (up to 500 MB) onto the box or pick it from your device.
Set the silence level and the pause length
Pick the level that matches your room, then choose how long a pause may stay. Pauses longer than that are shortened to it.
Compare and download
The tool shows how much shorter the audio became. Listen to both versions, then download the result as WAV or MP3.
Which silence level to choose
| Level | Threshold | Use when |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet room | -45 dB | Studio recordings with a low noise floor. |
| Normal | -40 dB | Most recordings. A good place to start. |
| Noisy room | -32 dB | Pauses that still have fan or room noise in them. |
Getting the best result
- Remove noise first. Otherwise room noise in the pauses can count as sound and the pauses stay long.
- Keep pauses between 0.3 and 0.6 seconds for a natural rhythm. 0.1 seconds sounds rushed.
- Listen to the result before you publish. If a word is clipped, choose a quieter silence level.
- Silence at the very start of the file is removed completely.
What happens to your file
The file is read and processed by your browser using ffmpeg compiled to WebAssembly, and the result is written back as a download. It is not sent to Airtape or any other server, and it is not stored. You can check this in your browser's network tab: no request carries your file.
The converter engine is about 30 MB. Your browser downloads it the first time you convert a file and then keeps it, so later runs start right away. Files are limited to 500 MB because a browser has limited memory.
Credits
This tool is built on open-source software. Its source code and license are available at the links below.
- FFmpeg — The audio engine, licensed GPL-2.0-or-later.
- ffmpeg.wasm — FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. Source code and license are available there.
Frequently asked questions
Does it cut breaths and short pauses?
Only pauses longer than your setting plus a short margin are shortened, so normal breaths and natural gaps stay. A pause is never cut below the length you chose.
Will it change how the voice sounds?
No. It only removes stretches of silence. The voice itself is not processed.
Should I save as WAV or MP3?
WAV is lossless and best if you keep editing. MP3 is smaller and ready to publish.
Why is the first run slower?
The first time, your browser downloads the converter engine, about 30 MB. After that it is cached and later runs start right away.
Further reading
Free background noise remover
Clean the raw recording first, before cutting pauses.
Free audio converter
Convert the finished file to MP3, M4A, Opus or FLAC.
How to record your first podcast
From setup to a finished episode.
Podcast recording with Airtape
Local tracks per guest, so the call quality never ends up in the file.