Audacity is a free, open-source digital audio editor and recording application that has become the industry standard for audio production on personal computers. Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, Audacity provides professional-grade audio editing capabilities without the cost of commercial alternatives.
The multi-track editing interface allows recording and mixing multiple audio sources simultaneously. Support for 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit audio at sample rates up to 384 kHz ensures broadcast-quality output. Audacity imports and exports numerous formats including WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG Vorbis, and FLAC, with additional format support through the FFmpeg library.
Recording capabilities include microphone input, computer playback capture, and multi-channel device support. The software provides real-time monitoring and latency correction for professional recording workflows. Timer recording automates scheduled recording sessions.
Audacity's editing tools include cut, copy, paste, and delete operations with unlimited undo history. The envelope tool adjusts volume changes over time. Auto-duck automatically lowers background music during voiceovers perfect for podcast production. Clips can be easily moved, trimmed, and crossfaded for seamless editing.
Built-in effects include noise reduction, compression, equalization, reverb, and normalization. The spectrogram view enables visual frequency analysis for detailed audio examination. Support for VST, LV2, and LADSPA plugins extends functionality with thousands of additional effects. The Label Track feature helps organize recordings with markers for transcription work. Batch processing automates repetitive tasks across multiple files.