Name: Audacity
Rating: 3.9447 (170 reviews)

Free

Absolutely Free

Audacity overview

Audacity is a free audio recorder/editor/mixer. You can record sounds, play sounds, import and export WAV, AIFF, and MP3 files, and more. Use it to edit your sounds using Cut, Copy and Paste (with unlimited Undo), mix tracks together, or apply effects to your recordings. It also has a built-in amplitude envelope editor, a customizable spectrogram mode, and a frequency analysis window for audio analysis applications. Built-in effects include Bass Boost, Wahwah, and Noise Removal, and it also supports VST plug-in effects.

Note: While the software is classified as free, it is actually donationware. Please consider making a donation to help support development.

What’s new in version 3.2.0.0

Updated on Sep 23 2022

Prominent changes:

Added a new Effects button to the tracks menu, allowing you to place realtime effects.
Merged the mixer bar with the meter bars.
Added a new Audio Setup button, replacing the Device Toolbar by default. The device toolbar can be re-added via the View > Toolbars menu.
The Effects menu has gotten a new sorting. Other sorting and grouping options can be found in the Effects preferences.
Updated the icons.
Added a quick audio sharing feature.

Plugin changes:

VST3 effects are now supported.
The following plugin formats are now realtime capable: VST3, LV2, LADSPA, Audio Units.
Plugins now automatically get scanned, tested and enabled when Audacity starts.

System changes:

Apple Silicon (arm64) is now supported on macOS
FFMPEG 5.0 (avformat 59) is now supported, in addition to avformat 55, 57 and 58
Added support for Wavpack
On Linux, Audacity can now be compiled without JACK present.
Audacity now uses XDG directories on Linux.
Switched from mad to mpg123 as MP3 importer

License update:

Audacity binaries are now licensed under the GNU General Public License, Version 3.
Most code files remain GPLv2-or-later, but VST3 support required this license update.
More information can be found in the announcement post.

Removals:

Removed the Zoom Tool. You can use the zoom buttons or Ctrl+Scroll (macOS: Cmd+Scroll) to zoom instead.
The Audacity Manual HTML pages are no longer included in the installation.

Fixed bugs:

Fixed Audacity sometimes not being able to import MP3 files (or reporting Huffman Data Overruns)
Fixed rare data loss bug when placing labels during recording
Fixed clip titles being able to disappear off-screen when editing them
Fixed Punch and Roll not paying tracks in sync
Fixed clip titles changing name when applying some effects
During batch processing, Audacity will no longer stop to ask for a sample rate when an unsupported one is chosen, but choose the nearest supported one instead.
Fixed mod-script-pipe not being installed on Linux
Fixed GTK packaging in Appimages. This fixes various issues with icons, dropdowns and similar things not appearing properly.
Improved M4A/AAC support. Previously the target bitrate was not honored at all, now it can be set between 98 and 160 kbit/s (mono) or 196 and 320 kbit/s (stereo). The UI does not yet reflect these limits.

Information

License

Free

Size

23.6 MB

Developer’s website

https://www.audacityteam.org/

Downloads

445008

App requirements

Intel 64
OS X 10.9.0 or later
Version for Apple Silicon

0.0

(0 Reviews of )

There are no reviews yet

Aargl

Aug 10 2022

3.1.3

Version: 3.1.3

I'm a long time Amadeus user and, just like peterbreis's comment, I have not yet really tried Audacity, mainly due to its prehistorical interface but I've just bumped today on a site that compares many converters and Audacity appears to give the best results amongst its competitors, very close to a big software like WaveLab! :-o (https://src.infinitewave.ca) This is likely to improve the enticement for this freeware!

peterbreis

Jul 10 2022

Another FOSS App that gets recommended all the time but is simply terrible design. I assume it can technically do what people want, it is just getting it to do it. I downloaded it to do simple trims on MP3 files as MP3 Trimmer has not been updated for M1 Macs. I'd just love to know how to move the playhead to where I want, or make selections, none of the obvious methods apply. How hard can this be? You know: Click, Drag, Move play head...? The Help is as bad as the UI.

melanie-18

Jan 10 2022

I recently updated to mac OS 12.01, Monterey but the audacity requirements don't include this new OS so I didn't download audacity 3.1.1 Will this new audacity work on Monterey?

steppr

Dec 7 2021

3.1.2.0

Version: 3.1.2.0

...also, "ZoomAudioDevice" appears under "Built-In Microphone" selection, which never appeared before nor I have ever chosen... Thanks!

Hi, Just attempted to record like usual with my Audio-Technica 2020 USB microphone on Audacity on my MacBook. However, this version: Audacity3.2.1 is not recognizing my mic. After checking possibilities, I believe it may be due to this last version of Audacity, but not sure at all. Anyone able to assist me regarding this issue?!

Derekcurrie

Aug 26 2021

3.0.4.0

3.0

Version: 3.0.4.0

If the link above for Audacity dumps you at an XML server page, try this URL: https://www.audacityteam.org/download/mac/

Jul 27 2021

3.0.3.0

Version: 3.0.3.0

If the link to Audacity fails, use this link: https://www.audacityteam.org/download/mac/

Hermie

Jul 5 2021

3.0.2.0

Version: 3.0.2.0

WAARSCHUWING: Audacity registreert en verkoopt uw prive-gegevens! Caveat Emptor. https://www.computeridee.nl/nieuws/audio-editor-audacity-gaat-ip-adressen-en-meer-verzamelen/

Aeschylus

Audacity has recently been accused of being spyware. Before using, please read this: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/audacity-spyware-claims-follow-privacy-policy-changes-by-new-owner.2303275/

Sjha

Jun 24 2021

5.0

Audacity is my go-to app for sound editing. It does everything so well. And the help available frok the website is second-to-none. A brilliant free app.

anilmushi

Dec 1 2020

2.4.2.0

Version: 2.4.2.0

Great. My go to for quick audio editing and format conversion.

AnthoLogical

May 18 2020

2.4.0.0

Version: 2.4.0.0

Wait before installing v2.4.0 !!! audacityteam.org: "We're currently looking into a serious bug with 2.4.0 and have paused release of it." But you can still download it from macupdate.com...

ertidshehu

Mar 27 2020

2.3.3.0

Version: 2.3.3.0

good

dwchandl

Mar 26 2020

I have used Sound Studio for years, but rather than spend $40 to upgrade I decided to check out Audacity. It does everything Sound Studio does with a clean intuitive interface.

Penguirl

Jan 28 2020

Haven't been able to DL for a couple days now, Cloud Flare error message. I hope it's not been abandoned.

bilancia051

Mar 31 2019

2.3.1.0

Version: 2.3.1.0

Ho zbagliato instalarlo e lo rifaccio dinuovo

rajeckas

Mar 23 2019

4.0

Love Audacity. With a paucity of sound editing/mixing apps I love Audacity for its comprehensive toolkit and ease of use. Unfortunately the latest version screws up the menu bar on any open audio file, I am running High Sierra OS.

Scion777

Sep 20 2018

2.3.0.0

Version: 2.3.0.0

There is no mention of any release 2.3.x on the Audacity home site. Is this a real release? MU should delist this until it is confirmed.

anonymous-antelope-2748

Jul 11 2018

2.2.2.0

Version: 2.2.2.0

A great free audio recorder, editor.

www-purabume

Jul 10 2018

nice

Audacity