Audacity

What is Audacity?

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use, multi-track(opens in new window) audio editor and recorder for Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux and other operating systems. The interface is translated into many languages(opens in new window). You can use Audacity to:

• Record(opens in new window) live audio.
• Record computer playback(opens in new window) on any Windows Vista or later machine.
• Convert tapes and records(opens in new window) into digital recordings or CDs.
• Edit WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP2, MP3, Ogg Vorbis sound files.
• AC3, M4A/M4R (AAC), WMA, Opus and other formats supported using optional libraries.
• Cut, copy, splice(opens in new window) or mix(opens in new window) sounds together.
• Numerous effects(opens in new window) including change the speed(opens in new window), pitch(opens in new window) or tempo(opens in new window) of a recording.
• Write your own plug-in effects with Nyquist(opens in new window).
• And more! See the complete list of features(opens in new window).

Audacity is free software, developed by a group of volunteers and distributed under the GNU General Public License (GPL)(opens in new window).

Free software is not just free of cost (like “free beer”). It is free as in freedom (like “free speech”). Free software gives you the freedom to use a program, study how it works, improve it and share it with others. For more information, visit the Free Software Foundation(opens in new window).

Programs like Audacity are also called open source software because their source code is available for anyone to study or use. There are thousands of other free and open-source programs, including the Firefox(opens in new window) web browser, the LibreOffice(opens in new window) or Apache OpenOffice(opens in new window) office suites, and entire Linux-based operating systems such as Ubuntu(opens in new window).

Anyone can contribute(opens in new window) to Audacity by helping us with documentation(opens in new window), translations(opens in new window), user support(opens in new window) and by testing(opens in new window) our latest code.

Open HUB(opens in new window) (formerly known as “Ohloh”) has statistics on the value of Audacity development. The statistics are set up by us to show only the values of Audacity-specific development, excluding the third-party code libraries Audacity uses.

Here is a recommended resource to get started with essential training for Audacity(opens in new window).
In case the link above did not work you can copy and paste this link:
https://www.linkedin.com/learning/learning-audacity-2

You can also explore more Linkedin Learning Audacity resources designed to help enhance what you are learning in your courses, or to achieve academic and personal goals.

Video(opens in new window): Range from 1 minute to 59 minutes .

Courses(opens in new window): Range from 1 hr to 15 hrs .

How do I access Audacity?

Visit the Audacity page(opens in new window) for details and downloads for Windows(opens in new window) and Mac(opens in new window). (unavailable for Chromebooks)

Documentation and Support for Audacity

Questions? First, check our Frequently Asked Questions(opens in new window) and the following resources:

• Manuals(opens in new window) – Read the Audacity Manual (with  Tutorials(opens in new window)). These Tutorials offer step-by-step help with common tasks in Audacity, such as making ringtones, removing vocals, creating podcasts and transferring tapes and records to computer.
• Audacity Wiki(opens in new window) is a further help resource including:
  • Tips(opens in new window) – these articles will help you work with and understand Audacity and your audio hardware.
  • support forums in languages other than English(opens in new window)

Still need help? Please read Contact Us(opens in new window) for how to ask your question on the Audacity Forum(opens in new window).

Forum help in some other languages can be obtained from the Audacity International Forums(opens in new window).