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Audacity is an impressive audio recording and editing software free and open-source.
Don't let the “free” part baffle you. Even though it's free, it rivals any commercial audio software or plugin thanks to its powerful feature set.
You can use Audacity for a variety of tasks such as recording, editing, mixing audio clips, adding effects, converting audio files, and more.
So, whether you are looking for'A software for your podcast, vlogger, audio producer, video producer, or whether you're just working with sound, it's a great tool for you. It is very lightweight and can run on numerous operating systems and even the oldest machines.
This guide will provide you with the main features of Audacity, why you should use it, and how to use Audacity step-by-step. You can download for free Audacity directly from their website.
Audacity is a versatile audio recording software that is perfect for professionals and amateurs alike.
Audacity is an ideal tool for anyone looking to create quality audio recordings, whether for podcasts, music, or other audio projects.
Audacity offers advanced recording options and a range of effects to enhance your audio projects.
With its ability to handle complex projects and offer a variety of effects, Audacity is a solid choice for detailed audio editing.
Audacity stands out for its destructive, though limited, audio editing capabilities.
Although it offers basic editing features, Audacity may not be sufficient for projects that require more advanced non-linear editing.
Audacity offers analysis and mixing tools for precise control of your audio projects.
Audacity's analysis and mixing features are useful for fine-tuning sound details, making the software suitable for a variety of audio projects.
Audacity is expanding its capabilities with plug-in support and flexible export options.
The integration of plug-ins and multiple export options make Audacity a solid choice for users looking for greater flexibility in their audio work.
Audacity continues to evolve with features like automatic recovery and customization options.
These additions make Audacity even more robust and adaptable to the specific needs of users.
The Audacity user interface is designed to be accessible and easy to use.
The intuitive interface design makes Audacity easy for new users to learn, while offering advanced features for experienced users.
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Riverside.fm is a great Audacity alternative for podcasters looking to include remote guests with high recording quality.
Ocenaudio is a cross-platform audio editor that offers simplicity and ease of use, ideal for beginners.
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While it doesn't offer multi-track editing capability, Ocenaudio is still a solid alternative for those looking for a free and easy to use option.
Garageband is Apple's music-making app, offering a user-friendly interface and an extensive media library.
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Garageband is a great alternative to Audacity for Mac users, offering an intuitive platform for music creation and podcasting.
Audacity is free. And that's all there is to do. Apart from the donation button mentioned above on the website.
Audacity is a very simple audio software, so it's easier to grasp the basics. Follow the steps below to learn how to use Audacity on Windows and how to use Audacity on Mac as well.
How do I use Audacity step by step? Here's how:
Start by importing an audio file into Audacity. It supports common audio formats like MP3, WAV, and AIFF. You need to install the optional library FFmpeg for a wider range of formats. Note that Audacity cannot import copy-protected music files.
To import an audio file, select File > Import > Audio.
For a faster method, simply drag and drop the files into the Audacity window.
The stereo waveforms in Audacity look similar to the image above. The audio is louder where the waves reach or approach the top or the bottom (vice versa.) The rule indicates the length of the audio clip.
Check the waveforms to detect everything DC lag, which refers to a waveform that is not centered on the horizontal line at 0.0 amplitude. Most of the time, this is caused by recording with a faulty audio interface.
Select the clip, click Normalize to remove the DC lag.
Listen to the audio by clicking the play ▶️ and stop ⏹️ buttons, or you can use the Space button as a shortcut to play and pause.
To edit any part of your audio clip, start by selecting the part you want to edit. You can cut, copy, paste, and duplicate, just like editing selected text.
The image above shows the Audacity toolbar. So how do you zoom in Audacity? You can use magnifiers to zoom in and out or View > Zoom > Zoom In (or Ctrl + 1) and View > Zoom > Zoom Out (or Ctrl + 3).
Zooming in and out allows you to make the most of window space. Once you've selected a specific portion of the audio and clicked “play,” you can listen to only the selected portion.
If you make mistakes, you can always click Edit > Undo.
Make sure to stop the audio by pressing Space if it is still playing. Select the snippet you want to delete. Click Edit > Special Delete > Audio Trim. You can cancel or redo if you make mistakes. After deleting selected parts or cutting out the audio, the remaining clip may be moved away from the start of the track. Use Tracks > Align Tracks > Start at Zero to align it.
However, this is not required when exporting the file as Audacity ignores white space when exporting.
Keep in mind that when you select File > Save Project > Save Project, you're only saving the file as an Audacity project, and it can only be opened with Audacity. If you want to open your file in other applications like Windows Media Player or Apple Music/iTunes, you need to export it.
Before exporting the file, go to import/export preferences and consult the section”When exporting tracks to an audio file”, then uncheck “Show the metadata editor before the export step”.
This metadata editor adds additional voice or music information to the file. You can always pick them up if needed.
Finally, you should test the audio file you recorded. Open the exported file (not the Audacity project file or the AUP in short) in Windows Media Player or Apple Music/iTunes etc.
Remember to save the changes to your Audacity project file if you want to make additional changes to the final version in the future.
You can get a real-time preview of VST, LV2, Audio Unit, and LADSPA effects using this software. These effects manage the installation of the corresponding plug-in and remove or add generators and effects from the menus.
The software supports 16, 24, and 32-bit systems and the sound quality feature allows you to convert formats and sample rates using high-quality resampling and dithering.
Audacity has a spectrogram viewing mode that is used to select and visualize frequencies. The software also supports Vamp plug-ins and users can plot the spectrum window for detailed frequency analysis.
Audacity allows you to easily edit so you can cut, copy, paste, and delete. The software has an unlimited sequential cancel feature, so you can go back to any step you choose.
Audacity allows you to easily record live audio through a microphone or mixer. Users can also scan recordings from other media types.
The Muse Group bought Audacity and updated its privacy policy by implying that the company might share your personal data with its employees, law enforcement, the U.S. government, and the Muse Group's main office in Russia, which caused an uproar among fans of the app.
So far, no ill effects have materialized and we continue to confidently recommend Audacity. It's a powerful editor that gives you much of the power you had to pay a lot for with Sony's Sound Forge or the (long gone) Bias Peak.
Audacity will not replace an appropriate digital audio workstation or other non-linear audio editors such as Editors' Choice Apple Logic Pro and Avid Pro Tools, or Propellerhead Reason when it comes to composing music with virtual instruments. However, if you want to start a new podcast or cut out a batch of 100 sound effects for an indie game, Audacity should be your first stop. If your needs are fairly light, Audacity could be your last.
