If you have multiple voice memos, podcast segments, or sound effects that you want to stitch together into a single continuous track, you don’t need to download complex audio editing software like Audacity or GarageBand. If you are using a Mac, you can combine audio files natively using the built-in QuickTime Player.
How to Merge Audio Files
QuickTime Player is usually thought of as a video player, but it contains surprisingly powerful, hidden editing tools.
- Open your Applications folder and launch QuickTime Player.
- Go to File > Open File… and select your first audio track (this will be the beginning of your final merged file).
- The audio file will open in a small QuickTime window.
- Open Finder and locate your second audio file.
- Drag and drop the second audio file directly onto the QuickTime Player window.
- The QuickTime window will instantly expand to show a visual timeline. You will see your first audio clip, followed by your newly dropped second clip.
- If you need to rearrange the order, you can simply click and drag the audio segments left or right along the timeline.
- You can continue dragging and dropping as many additional audio files as you need into this timeline window.
Exporting the Final Track
Once you are happy with the arrangement and order of your audio clips, click the yellow Done button on the right side of the timeline.
To save your newly merged track, go to File > Export As > Audio Only… in the top menu bar. Choose a name and a save location, and QuickTime will instantly process and export a high-quality M4A file containing your seamlessly combined audio.