Tool: Sodaphonic
One of my colleagues, Robin Hodson, sent me a link to a fantastic new tool that he found online called Sodaphonic. This simple but powerful little tool allows you to do a bunch of things with audio - all in the browser - for free (though there is a freemium model that allows you to upgrade for $5/month). There are 3 tools included with Sodaphonic: an Editor that allows you to record and edit audio, Boombox which you can use to record you voice and share it instantly, and Format Flipper (my personal favorite) where you can convert audio files from mp3, ogg, flac, wma or wav. Sodaphonic isn’t a DAW, but it is a great audio editing suite that is easy to use. Here is a little more in depth review of each tool.
The Editor is an easy-to-use audio editing tool designed for quick and efficient editing, perfect for music educators (and their students) who need to make quick, simple edits without getting confused by more complex audio editing software. With a user-friendly interface, users can easily cut, trim, and rearrange audio clips, making it ideal for preparing music tracks, podcasts, or classroom activities and tasks. The Editor also offers essential features like fade-ins and fade-outs, allowing users to create professional-sounding transitions in their audio files. This streamlined approach ensures that you spend less time learning the software and more time focusing on the content and instructional value of their audio materials.
The Boombox tool is a useful resource that lets users record high-quality audio directly from their browser without the need for any external software, hardware or downloads. It’s perfect for capturing lectures, ensemble rehearsals, student performances, or podcasts. The ability to record and immediately edit within the same platform streamlines the process, allowing users to produce polished audio content quickly. For music teachers looking to document and assess student progress or to create instructional recordings, the Boombox provides a convenient and reliable solution. Perhaps my favorite feature is the BLEEP tool that allows you to cover any audio that you don’t want your students (or listeners) to hear. Very useful!
The Format Flipper is a VERY useful tool that supports a wide range of audio formats, ensuring compatibility across various devices and platforms. As music teachers, we often work with different file types, such as MP3s, WAV files, or AAC recordings, depending on the devices and recording setups available to our students. The Format Flipper makes it easy to convert between these formats, enabling users to prepare audio files for use in different educational contexts, such as uploading tracks to learning management systems (like the MusicFirst Classroom), sharing resources with students, or integrating audio into presentations. By offering fast and seamless conversion capabilities, Sodaphonic’s Format Flipper helps educators manage their audio files easily.
I hope that you find this tool useful. It’s a great alternative to locally installed software and more efficient than using a DAW when you just need to edit audio. Big thanks to Robin Hodson for pointing it out to me!