Audacity

What is Audacity?

Audacity is a full-featured multitrack audio editor that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. You can record, cut, paste, mix, apply effects and export audio in a huge range of formats, all through a straightforward interface that has barely changed in spirit since the project started in 2000 at Carnegie Mellon University.

In 2021 the project was acquired by Muse Group, which brought a bigger team and a wave of modernization. The version 3 releases introduced a new project format, better performance, cloud saving, and most excitingly for AI fans, built-in neural tools: AI noise suppression, music separation that splits songs into stems, and mastering effects.

These AI features run locally on your machine using Intel's OpenVINO toolkit, which means no cloud uploads and no subscription. Audacity remains 100% free, and its combination of classic editing power and modern AI tricks makes it a uniquely complete audio tool for the price of nothing.

Key Features

• Multitrack recording and editing with unlimited undo
• AI noise suppression for cleaning up recordings
• AI music separation to split songs into vocal and instrument stems
• Mastering effects for loudness and polish
• Effects library with EQ, reverb, compression and more
• VST, VST3 and LV2 plugin support for third-party tools
• Export to MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG and many other formats
• Free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux

How to get started

Download Audacity from the official website and install it like any desktop app. The interface takes a few minutes to learn: audio appears as waveforms on a timeline, and the toolbar gives you record, play, pause and editing tools. Recording a voice note or importing an audio file is the fastest way to get comfortable.

To try the AI features, open the Effects menu: Noise Removal and Music Separation are under the AI effects section, and Mastering is under Effects too. These can take a minute or two on long files since they run locally. Check the Audacity manual or the website's tutorial section if you want guided walkthroughs.

• Download Audacity from audacityteam.org
• Install and launch it, then import an audio file
• Record or edit your audio on the waveform timeline
• Use Effects > AI for noise removal and music separation
• Export your finished project from File > Export

Use cases

• Recording and editing podcasts and voiceovers
• Cleaning up audio with AI noise suppression
• Splitting songs into stems for remixes and sampling
• Creating sound effects and audio assets for games
• Learning audio editing and production on any budget

Pricing and licensing

Audacity is free, period. It is open source under the GNU GPL v3, so you can use it commercially, modify it, and even redistribute your own versions. There is no paywall, no watermark and no subscription, which is remarkable for a tool with this feature set.

The only cost to be aware of is support: free software means community forums and documentation rather than a phone line. Muse Group funds development through the separate audio.com service and other products, keeping the editor itself free.

Pros and cons

Audacity wins on accessibility and capability. It is genuinely powerful, runs on old hardware, supports plugins, and the new AI tools close the gap with commercial editors. The price of free makes it the default recommendation for beginners and a solid second editor for professionals.

Its weaknesses are polish and scope. The interface can feel dated compared to modern DAWs, non-destructive editing is limited, and the AI tools are solid but not as refined as dedicated services like Adobe Podcast's enhancer. For complex multitrack music production, a full DAW is still a better fit.

Alternatives

• Ocenaudio: lightweight free editor with a friendlier interface
• Ardour: free open-source DAW for serious multitrack recording
• Reaper: affordable commercial DAW with a free trial
• Adobe Audition: professional editor with advanced restoration
• BandLab: free browser-based DAW with AI mastering