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Editors’ Review

Download.com staff

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor favored by musicians, podcasters, and sound designers alike. Its versatility allows users to record, trim, mix, and enhance audio without complicated setup or licensing issues. The software stands out as a reliable solution across systems, offering extensive plugin support and intuitive tools suited for both beginners and experienced users. Its global community keeps development consistent and features regularly updated.

Despite being lightweight, Audacity supports multi-track editing, real-time effects previews, and batch processing, making it ideal for complex sound projects. It continues to be a go-to tool for those who prioritize function, accessibility, and customization.

How this audio tool powers creativity

One of the biggest strengths of Audacity lies in its multi-track editing, which enables users to layer and align multiple sound files easily. Real-time effect previews allow for immediate feedback when applying changes, reducing guesswork and improving workflow. From basic voice edits to multi-layer music mixing, the software is a strong fit for content creators working across genres and formats without being bound to a specific platform.

Its capabilities are expanded through broad plugin support, compatible with VST, LV2, LADSPA, and Audio Unit formats. These powerful plugins enable flexible workflows for tasks like automation, audio correction, and effects integration. Compared to lightweight tools like Ocenaudio, it offers more advanced control and efficient batch processing, making it a better fit for professionals handling large projects or requiring detailed, customizable editing functionality across various use cases.

With batch processing and a detailed spectrogram view, handling large projects becomes efficient and thorough. Although it doesn’t offer real-time collaboration or advanced visual polish, ongoing updates continue to refine stability and usability. Its open-source foundation encourages steady improvements driven by community input. This adaptability allows users to tailor their workflows while benefiting from features that evolve based on practical needs and shared development priorities.

Enlarged image for Audacity
Audacity 0/2
  • Pros

    • Offers powerful multi-track editing features
    • Includes plugin support for added flexibility
    • Allows real-time effect previews
    • Features efficient batch processing tools
  • Cons

    • Lacks advanced visual polish
    • No built-in real-time collaboration features

Bottom Line

Easy choice for audio production needs

Audacity combines function-rich features with a straightforward workflow, making it a powerful solution for those handling voice work, music, or soundscapes. With multi-track editing, plugin flexibility, and fast processing tools, the software remains a strong favorite. Though it has visual limitations, its practical tools, open development model, and cross-platform support make it a worthwhile choice for anyone involved in digital audio editing.

What’s new in version 3.7.4

  • Improved batch processing to speed up repetitive tasks
  • Enhanced spectrogram view for better sound analysis
  • More stable plugin support for broader compatibility
  • Updated real-time effect previews for smoother workflow


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Full Specifications

GENERAL
Release
Latest update
Version
3.7.4
OPERATING SYSTEMS
Platform
Windows
Operating System
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 10
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 7
POPULARITY
Total Downloads
7,318,367
Downloads Last Week
99

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Last Updated


User Reviews

4.2/5

761 User Votes


Developer’s Description

Record, digitize, import, export, edit, combine, preview, and analyze multi-track sound files.
Audacity is an open source, cross-platform audio editor and recorder. Audacity 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. Audacity also has a built-in amplitude-envelope editor, a customizable spectrogram mode, and a frequency-analysis window for audio-analysis applications.

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