Audacity Multitrack Audio Recording and Editing Tool

4.66/5 (25 Reviews)

Audacity is an easy to use multi track audio editor and recorder for Windows and other operating systems.

Multimedia And Design Audio Production Open Source / Freeware
FREE DOWNLOAD (v3.4.2)
File Size: 15MB | Safe & Verified

Key Features of Audacity Audio Editor

  • Audacity is the gold standard for open-source audio production, providing a comprehensive suite for musicians and podcasters.
  • It supports multitrack recording, live audio capture, and deep manipulation of sound files.
  • The software includes built-in effects like noise reduction and equalization.
  • As a community-driven project, it remains free of tracking and ads, offering a professional environment for high-fidelity audio projects.

How to record and edit audio with Audacity

Audacity is a powerful, free, open-source audio editor that allows you to record live audio, remove background noise, and mix multiple tracks. Follow these steps to create your first project:

  1. Set Up Your Hardware
    Download and install Audacity for your OS (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Before recording, connect your microphone and ensure it is selected in the Audio Setup toolbar under "Recording Device."
  2. Record or Import Audio
    Click the red Record button to start capturing live audio, or go to File > Import > Audio to load an existing music or voice file into the timeline.
  3. Clean Up Background Noise
    Highlight a silent section of your track containing only noise. Go to Effect > Noise Removal and Repair > Noise Reduction and click "Get Noise Profile." Then, select your entire track and apply the effect to remove hum or hiss.
  4. Edit and Export
    Use the Selection Tool to highlight and delete unwanted sections (using the Delete key). Once your edit is complete, go to File > Export > Export as MP3 to save your final high-quality audio file.
Pro Tip: Use the "Envelope Tool" to manually fade music in and out or adjust volume levels at specific points in your track for a professional mix!

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Audacity is open-source software licensed under the GPL. This means you can use it for any purpose—personal, commercial, or educational—without paying any licensing fees or royalties.

This usually happens if the microphone was plugged in after Audacity was already open. Go to Transport > Rescan Audio Devices to refresh the list, or ensure that Audacity has "Microphone Permissions" enabled in your Windows or macOS Privacy Settings.

Audacity is primarily a digital audio editor, not a MIDI sequencer. While you can import and display MIDI files, you cannot currently record MIDI data from a keyboard or controller directly into Audacity.

Latency occurs when there is a delay between your voice and the software. You can adjust this by going to Edit > Preferences > Audio Settings and adjusting the "Latency compensation" value until your tracks align perfectly.

Technical Specifications

Audacity Audio Editor Screenshot

Screenshot of Audacity Download Professional Open Source Audio Editor