CNET Editors' review
With so many audio editors out there, finding the right tool for the job can be tricky. The multiplatform, open-source editor Audacity has leaped to the top of our list with its clean interface, excellent features, and support for 32-bit floating-point audio. Audacity succeeds at being both feature-rich and flexible, while keeping the toolbar and work space uncluttered. It does this by relegating most functions--such as effects, edits, and project management--to handy drop-down menus.
Audacity supports uncompressed audio standards such as WAV and AIFF in addition to OGG and MP3 files. A full complement of basic effects such as reverb, delay, and compression are included. Virtual Studio Technology (VST), Linux Audio Developers Simple Plugin Architecture (LAPSDA), and Nyquist plug-ins also are available if you're looking to expand. Another eye-catching feature is the Beat Analyzer, which helps you peg the beats per minute of a phrase.
The performance of most functions is quick--even CPU-hogging tasks such as exporting to MP3 or adding complex effects. Though Audacity doesn't offer advanced effects or features out of the box, its usability and price set this freeware wonder above the crowd.
Watch the CNET video review of Audacity:
Publisher's Description
From Audacity Developer Team:
This editor can record and play sounds and import and export WAV, AIFF, MP3, and OGG files. Edit your sounds using cut, copy, and paste features (with unlimited undo functionality), mix tracks, or apply effects to your recordings. The program also has a built-in amplitude-envelope editor, a customizable spectrogram mode, and a frequency-analysis window for audio-analysis applications. Built-in effects include bass boost, wah wah, and noise removal, and the program also supports VST plug-in effects.
Version 1.2.6 enables FLAC support and contains some bug fixes.
What's new in this version: Version 2.0 improves many effects, improves track labeling, features automatic crash recovery, and more.
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 728 votes
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Current version:
4.2 starsout of 14 votes
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My rating:
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"Great to use, but BE CAREFUL!"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
Easy to use, plenty of effects, editing tools, its easily a $60 program, if not more...for free. Fantastic program.
Cons
Crashes randomly. I've run windows XP, Vista Home Premium, and 7 home premium on different computers and they have all done the same thing. They crash if you try to cancel a save. You would probably ask "why would you want to cancel a save process?" well, i dont save, I export as WAV or mp3. it's easier and i dont have to deal with as many files. well, save. save after every edit, because Audacity DOES recover, but It's usually corrupted.
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"Audacity 2.0 is here!!!!"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
What can I say....Audacity will always be on a computer of mine as long as I live. First it's free....ya' can't beat the price anywhere...secondly it's easy to use. You can record and mix tracks all day using just a simple PC....no matter how simple the PC is or How many "bells and audio whistles" ya' put on it Audacity will take it...While it's not my recorder of choice for pro audio it is my recorder for choice if I gotta Idea and I don't want to go through a bunch of setup screens torecord...let's face it by then the essance of the Idea for the song would be long gone....but with this simple program you can create all day long....just point click and record mutitrack ideas...for free!!!!
Cons
How can you put cons on a freebee???? As long as it works Hey it's free use it for what it was intended to be used for...If you want something more goto your local music store and flop down 2 grand..It's as simple as that! I did hear a few flaws in this version as compared to 1.3 but like I said....It's free! I'm sure there will be some patches downloadable soon.
Summary
As always Aduacity came through with another award winning package....FOR FREE!!!! and dispite all the B.S. from the big time musicians who are in the biz for the money go out and buy your 10K recording time at a big guy studio and print your $25.00 cd's as for me.....I make my music for free.....and I give it to God for free.....it's a gift that always gives back in fun as it used to be....as so many have forgotten....except for the folks at Audacity!
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"Overwhelming"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
Has alot of features.
Cons
Too complex for me. Too much junk. All the bells and whistles in this program doesn't make the files sound any better than the built in Sound Recorder. Tinny-distorted audio.
Summary
Why can't someone make a program that records directly just like the old boom boxes with casette recorders?
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"Simple, easy, intuitive audio recorder/editor"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
Works very well, easy to use without spending hours going thriugh a user's guide.
Cons
Haven't found any yet
Summary
Works great and the price is right - FREE!
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"One of the best free music programs"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
Excellent for multi-tracks, a great little home studio program
Cons
limited export types
Summary
It's been better for me than a couple of very expensive music composers. It works well with my keyboard input. The tracks stay on sync. I've used expensive programs and problems with tracks falling out of sync. The effects are great for turning an acoustic guitar into an electric sound. Great for enhancing vocals. I've used this program for years now, very happy with it.
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"Versatile tool,useful in educational settings"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
Audacity has proven to be a useful, user-friendly tool for some of the students (late teens and up) I work with. Even those previously unfamiliar with multimedia software find it easy to teach themselves the basics. They have used Audacity to create presentation voice-overs, video voice-overs, and to work with sound effects. For some it is their first introduction to the concept of open source software, and I think that using Audacity makes this an other technological concepts less intimidating to many students.
Cons
Nothing in particular.
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"Many Improvements in version 2"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
I've been using AudaCity since early on and have been anxiously awaiting V2 for months. Initially upon first execution my anticipation appeared short lived, however upon using V2 the changes became apparent, under the bonnet. In my honest opinion I have always considered AudaCity to be above basic with many features not included with other so called freeware editors that actually require pay for add-ons to execute certain tasks or allow more than a couple of tracks. AudaCity is truly free and can host VSt's alongside it's own numerous effects. Version 2's changes make using AudaCity all the more simple, with a simplified interface and nice little under the bonnet feature, for instance a simplified silence insert-er.
Cons
Sometimes prone to crashing mid way through a project however it does auto recover your work.
Summary
You can take it from me, I am a singer and now part of a band, I have produced many original song's using AudaCity to help improve the sound and edit portions of my tracks. I simply wouldn't be without it.
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"outstanding simple recordings"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
tis has been a GREAT simple version of recording software. plug in my mic..click record...and i have been able to use this a simple multi tracking scratch pad. and being WAV...i can transfer what i've recorded to other software. pretty easy to use...
Cons
can't use it to master...while i don't need to...it would be nice if the pug ins and effects were there...but they're not.
Summary
great simple recording tool...very good for simple recording...
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"A feature rich application especially for a beginner"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
The capability to record live audio, edit it, manipulate (coping, mixing and cutting among others) and the digital recording.
Cons
It took a while to get used to it but I'm an amateur in this subject that usually do not use manuals
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"Best editor/converter out there"
Version: Audacity 2.0
Pros
For free or not this little puppy still hums after all these years and is a staple for sounds and recordings. Great for editing sound and music files and also a great little converter. Keep on the low side when recording to bring out all the souds. Louder isn't always better. Keep up the great work Audacity peeps. It works perfectly.
Cons
None to think of. Takes some getting used to but not a minus by any means.
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