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.
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. This program is open-source, and this version adds tool tips, keyboard shortcuts, and OGG exporting and fixes some bugs.
Version 1.2.4b has a Meter Toolbar added for monitoring volume levels during playback and recording, allows you to export multiple files at once, attempts to automatically correct latency in full-duplex recordings, and contains some bug fixes.
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All versions:
4.2 starsout of 711 votes
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Current version:
4.5 starsout of 81 votes
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My rating:
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"it a great program"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
i use it just to edit songs and it great. simple to use interface.
Cons
i hate you can only export as a WAV but heres a free converter for WAV to MP3. just search WAV to MP3 Encoder in downloads.com
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"WoooooW"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
1,569,291
Cons
??
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"This is the best free recording software out there"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
This program is very simple and easy to use. You can access all the things you need to make the input microphone sound good without having to go through endless menus. This program is very straight forward and user friendly.
In addition, this program has a good help file in case you aren't sure how to do something.
Cons
none, this program does exactly what it says it will do
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"It's the best free audio editor, all-around excellent free or not"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
It does the job you ask it to, If you were born to tweak? Then you probably like free stuff that works with tons of options and controls. I took a lower quality MP3 live recording and with my first attempt in using this product the results were awesome, with just a few effects I was able to reduce some noise and clear up some clipping/distortion, with the equalizer bring out some awesome clear sound that made an acoustic guitar sound like an accoustic guitar... I've been an Audio Technician specializing in amplifier repair for over 20 years and this product is the best one across the board, being free gives it this notch above the rest. A beta version is available, it won't overwrite the recent version and works separate, so you can have two audacity's at once if you choose.
Cons
A reviewer claims that the drop down menu choices for effects drop down but you are not allowed to use them, like everything you have to follow directions in order to use the features. That was not a fair thing to report or even legit. If you are someone who just likes to auto-click their way through stuff...you may not like this, you have to make the decisions because nothing is going to make them auto-happen for you - in the click and go world. You will need to have an encoder to "experiment" with MP3's, no big deal. You will have to spend time learning to discover the potentials. Some of the plug-ins available are unstable and will cause it to crash, sometimes...weed them out. On the basis of being easy to use and understand? It's not and it is, you need to know something about waveforms and effects. It's set-up different from what many people are probably accustomed to seeing and using, especially the auto-clicker, no big deal..get used to it, learn, and discover. If it was free, easy, and at a click of a button produced the exact results you wanted? What fun would that be? I know I wouldn't be rating that, you want choices, control, and a little effort or Fisher-Price sells it...right?
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"This is the Best free audio editor around!"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
Lots of features, increase tempo, change pitch, cut off sections, etc. I love this software and you should really get this.
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"Bow down, this software is king!"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
Perfect for podcasting. I can edit 4 audio tracks so I can save it as one. My radio show is so much better now that I have this program.
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"a great free, open source audio/wave/mp3 editor"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
It's free, has a large variety of audio filters, and is easy to use.
Cons
Not as comprehensive as professional products such as Sonic Foundry, but better than many.
Mp3 encoding requires lame encoder, which is not included.
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"it is to use ."
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
it records really good
Cons
it takes to long to load
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"its the best of the free"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
it records rips and saves
Cons
the files can get big very quickly
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"Amazing......"
Version: Audacity 1.2.4b
Pros
This FREE program allows you to edit music. You can change the speed, tempo, pitch, and even add fading. It gives you many options to change the way music sounds. You can also convert music with this some. I actually made a bunch of Wav files out of mp3s and I use those Wav files as sounds on my computer. Most editing programs like this cost cash. A matter of fact most programs dealing with music cost cash to use or have the extra features. To have Audacity for free is surprising but fun. If you like music you will like this alot.
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