Likes:
I'm really happy with Goldwave; I still use a very early version. Others have asked how to add "punch" to existing recordings. My method, though some may believe it's "evil", is a give the recording a "lite" dynamic boost (maybe twice, depending). This works wonders for early CD (re)masters. With early CDs, I don't believe they even had any digital "tools" to work with. The parametric equalizer works wonder for shaping the sound; many CDs lacked bass, for example. I use WinAmp's equalizer to help me know (in advance) how to shape the sound, real-time, to my liking. I take advantage of the entire envelope (amplitude) and Maximize or change RMS level, when I'm done enhancing.
Dislikes:
Things I have noticed, and maybe later editions may have fixed these, but when altering the dynamics, it causes a DC offset. I typically select each stereo track and correct (zero) each, never both at once. Also, if removing tape hiss noise , that *sometimes* creates a phase shift between stereo tracks, progressively altering the stereo image. I use Audacity for low bit rate MP3 encoding, saving Goldwave's output as 32 bit .wav. Feel it's (internal) MP3 encoder works better than LAME, at low bit-rate levels.
Anyway, I make my snippets (for my web site) from existing 256k MP3s I "rip".
If you remember The Turtles, here's snippet(s) of Goldwave in action. I believe this (Happy Together, 1967) sounds better than what has been professionally published..
http://www.angelfire.com/empire/abpsp/i ... ppy-r1.mp3
Or, Frank Sinatra, Nice 'N' Easy (1960). Love the dynamics of a Big Band..
http://www.angelfire.com/empire/abpsp/i ... ceeasy.mp3
I do thank the developer(s) for a fine audio editor.
Jack