Audacity

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Audacity
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Popular open source audio editor
Developer(s) Dominic Mazzoni
Release information
Initial release {{{released}}}
Stable release 1.2.5
Preview release 1.3.2b
Compatibility
Operating system Windows, Mac OS/X, Linux/BSD
Additional information
Use Digital Audio Editor
License GPL
Website http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Introduction

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use popular open source audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.

Features

Recording

Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, digitize recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, and minidiscs. With some sound cards, it can also capture streaming audio.

  • Record from microphone, line input, or other sources.
  • Dub over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings.
  • Record up to 16 channels at once (requires multi-channel hardware).
  • Level meters can monitor volume levels before, during, and after recording.
  • Intel Mac support

Import and Export

Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in several common file formats.

  • Import and export WAV, AIFF, AU, (Ogg) Vorbis, and FLAC files.
  • Import MPEG audio (including MP2 and MP3 files) with libmad.
  • Export MP3s with the optional LAME encoder library.
  • Create WAV or AIFF files suitable for burning to CD.
  • Import and export all file formats supported by libsndfile.
  • Open raw (headerless) audio files using the “Import Raw” command.
  • Note: Audacity does not currently support WMA, AAC, or most other proprietary or restricted file formats.

Editing

  • Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete.
  • Use unlimited Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps.
  • Very fast editing of large files.
  • Edit and mix an unlimited number of tracks.
  • Use the Drawing tool to alter individual sample points.
  • Fade the volume up or down smoothly with the Envelope tool.

DSP Effects

  • Change the pitch without altering the tempo, or vice-versa.
  • Remove static, hiss, hum, or other constant background noises.
  • Alter frequencies with Equalization, FFT Filter, and Bass Boost effects.
  • Adjust volumes with Compressor, Amplify, and Normalize effects.
  • Other built-in effects include:
    • Echo
    • Phaser
    • Wahwah
    • Reverse

Sound Quality

  • Record and edit 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit (floating point) samples.
  • Record at up to 96 kHz.
  • Sample rates and formats are converted using high-quality resampling and dithering.
  • Mix tracks with different sample rates or formats, and Audacity will convert them automatically in realtime.

Plug-ins

  • Add new effects with LADSPA plugins.
  • Audacity includes some sample plugins by Steve Harris.
  • Load VST plugins for Windows and Mac, with the optional VST Enabler.
  • Write new effects with the built-in Nyquist programming language.

Screenshots

Development API

Optional components

  • libmad
  • libsndfile
  • libvorbis

External links