Simplest program/method for MP3 rip+edit?

[bongomania]

I want to take tracks from CDs and cut out short sections of them to share in MP3 format. Point is to illustrate certain musical phrases or patterns, without posting the whole tune.

Currently I import the tracks into iTunes as MP3s, then edit them with a few different MP3 trimmer freeware programs I've found. However the process is cumbersome, annoying, a pain in the rear. The trimmer programs have crappy editing tools.

Can you recommend a better program with fewer steps and a well-designed editor UI? Ideally something that does not involve iTunes.

Thx!

[Thornton Davis]

Try Audacity. You will need to download the MP3 export option but it works well and gives you lots of editing capabilities.

TD

[Renaissance]

+1 on Audacity