What is the FFmpeg afade filter?

The afade filter applies amplitude fade effects to audio streams. It supports fade-in (type=in) and fade-out (type=out), with configurable start time, duration, and curve shape (linear, quadratic, logarithmic, etc.).

Do I need to know the total audio duration for fade-out?

Yes. The afade fade-out start_sample or start_time must be set so the fade ends exactly at the file end. Enter the total duration and the fade-out length, and the tool calculates the correct start offset automatically.

Can I apply both fade-in and fade-out in one command?

Yes. Use a filter chain: -af "afade=t=in:st=0:d=FADEIN,afade=t=out:st=START:d=FADEOUT". The generated command includes this when both fades are enabled.

Which audio formats does afade support?

The afade filter works with any audio format FFmpeg can decode and encode — MP3, WAV, FLAC, AAC, OGG, OPUS, M4A, and more. The output format is determined by the output file extension or the -f flag.

What fade curve types are available?

Common options: tri (triangular/linear, default), qsin (quarter sine), hsin (half sine), esin (exponential sine), log (logarithmic), ipar (inverted parabola), qua (quadratic), cub (cubic). Linear and quarter-sine are most natural sounding.

Audio Fade Tool

Name: Audio Fade Tool
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

Generate FFmpeg afade commands for fade-in and fade-out effects on any audio file.

Fade Settings

Input file name

Total audio duration (seconds)

Used to calculate fade-out start time. Run ffprobe -i file.mp3 to get duration.

Fade-in Enable

Duration (seconds)

Start time (seconds, usually 0)

Fade-out Enable

Duration (seconds)

Fade curve

Output file name

FFmpeg Command

Filter Breakdown

afade Filter Reference

Parameter	Values	Description
t	in \| out	Fade direction
st	0, 2.5, 120 …	Start time in seconds
d	1, 3, 5 …	Fade duration in seconds
curve	tri, qsin, hsin …	Amplitude curve shape

Full docs: ffmpeg -h filter=afade or ffmpeg.org/ffmpeg-filters.html#afade

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Summary

Generate FFmpeg afade commands for fade-in and fade-out effects on any audio file.

How it works

Enter the input file name and select its format.
Set the fade-in duration (seconds from the start of the file).
Set the fade-out duration and the total audio duration so the tool can calculate the correct start offset.
Choose an output format and file name.
Copy the generated FFmpeg command and run it in your terminal.

Use cases

Add a professional fade-in to a podcast intro.
Apply a smooth fade-out at the end of a music track.
Add both fade-in and fade-out in a single FFmpeg pass.
Prepare audio clips for video production with clean entry and exit.
Batch-fade multiple tracks by adapting the generated command.
Learn the afade filter syntax without memorizing the docs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-07-01 · Reviewed by Nham Vu