Audacity v2.1.2
by Audacity Developers
(Audacity Developers Website)

Download from the
Author's Website

 
Operating System:
File Size: 22.9 MB
License:
License Conditions:

Open Source

System Requirements:

Minimum Requirements 2 GB RAM, 1 GHz CPU

Last Updated: 2016-05-02
For more detail about software : Software Description
  View Audacity v2.1.2 Screenshot

Software Description

Featured in our list of the Best Music Production Software

Audacity is a free multi-featured multi-track sound editor and DAW for MacOS, Windows, and Linux. It can record directly or import WAV, Ogg Vorbis, MP3, AIFF, and many other formats. Features include builtin effects, VST plugin loading, fast editing, and unlimited undo.

Features:

  • Record from microphone, mixers, cassettes, records, minidiscs, FM radio… Scheduled recording feature.
  • Import sound files, edit them and mix with other files or new recordings. Export to several common file formats including WAV, AIFF, FLAC, MP3 (with optional LAME library), AAC (import only).
  • Fast sample-level editing with Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete, and unlimited Undo/Redo. 32 bit float internal storage and high quality resampling and dithering. Smooth volume envelope.
  • Many more features.

Related Hardware:
You will need an Audio Adapter - see our review of USB Adapters here.
Report on the best Microphones to use for Home Recording

studio monitors
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Changes in v2.1.2:

  • New option ‘Spectral Reassignment’. This algorithm deduces a ‘finer’ spectrogram for vocal work.
  • Improvements to Pitch (EAC) – cleaner (sharper) display.
  • Spectrogram Settings are now available per-track.
  • Upgraded the key wxWidgets library we use from version 2.8.12 to version 3.0.2 to fix Linux related bugs

Changes in v2.1.1:

  • Track seeking and scrubbing
  • Quick-Play
  • Improved Draw Tool and zooming of spectrogram
  • Improved effects plug-in
  • Various bugfixes and interface improvements

Changes in v2.1.0:

  • Built-in effects were improved.
  • Redesigned and improved interface
  • Operating system and sound device support changes
  • Various bugfixes

Changes in v2.0.6:

  • Improved interface
  • Improved effects
  • VST effects now support standard FXP presets
  • LV2 effects supported on all platforms
  • Various bugfixes

Changes in v2.0.5:

  • Windows WDM-KS removed
  • Recording bug fixed
  • Fixed shaped dither being too loud
  • Improved tracks menu and label editor.

Changes in v2.0.3:

  • Uses libsoxr resampling library by default, instead of libresample, for higher quality and speed.
  • Bugfix for Time Tracks and improvements
  • New effects: "Studio Fade Out", "Adjustable Fade" and "Bass and Treble"

Changes in v2.0.2:

  • Bugfix for JAWS screen-reader
  • Bugfix for Normalize crash
  • Bugfix for clicks on split lines
  • Improved toolbars
  • Enhanced some Nyquist effects

Changes in v2.0.1:

  • New option to reset Preferences on next launch.
  • Selection Toolbar: a value for the previous whole second displayed if the value was close to a whole second.
  • Finding zero crossings could cause the selection to expand into white space at either side of the clip.
  • Clips did not drag to another track if mouse was over a selection.
  • Mixer Board: Rendering four tracks resulted in a redundant Track Strip followed by a crash.
  • Imports, Exports and Files
  • Exporting to WAV or AIFF led to a "Libsndfile says" error or corrupted output due to order of metadata in imported files.
  • Bugfix for issues where normalization could be to wrong value if applied with DC offset correction, or if applied to "read-directly" WAV and AIFF files
  • Sliding Time Scale: fixed an audible discontinuity at the beginning of the processed selection; fixed a serious quality problem on Linux 64-bit.
  • Bugfix to prevent zooming with mouse wheel or ball scrolling the content off-screen.
  • Shortcuts can now be added in Keyboard Preferences to items in the Generate, Effect or Analyze menus, including user-added plug-ins.
  • Nyquist Effect plug-ins can now be added to Chains.
  • New "Paulstretch" effect for extreme slowdown without pitch change.
  • New "Sample Data Export" Analyze effect for exporting a file containing amplitude values for each sample in the selection.
  • New Preference (off by default) to import files On-Demand (without seek ability) when using the optional FFmpeg library.
  • New Preference (off by default) to retain labels when deleting a selection that snaps to the label without extending past it.
  • CleanSpeech Mode (no longer supported)
  • Added Serbian (Latin and Cyrillic) translations.

Changes in v2.0:

  • Replaces Audacity 1.2.6, Audacity 1.3.14 and older versions
  • Many effects were enhanced
  • Equalization, Noise Removal and Normalize heavily improved
  • Vocal Remover now included plus GVerb on Windows and Mac
  • VAMP analysis plug-ins now supported
  • Improved label tracks with Sync-Lock Tracks feature in the Tracks Menu.
  • New Device Toolbar to manage inputs and outputs.
  • Timer Record feature.
  • New Mixer Board view with per-track VU meters.
  • Automatic Crash Recovery in the event of abnormal program termination.
  • Fast "On-Demand" import of WAV/AIFF files if read directly from source.
  • FLAC now fully supported
  • Added support for optional FFmpeg library
  • Multiple clips per track
  • Bugfixes for playback speed, synchronization and shortcut use
  • Bugfixes for file imports and exports
  • Bugfixes for analysis and effects
  • New interface preference to show the track name in display
  • Restored use of Page Up/Down to scroll horizontally
  • Longer default playback preference for effects preview

New in 1.3.14 Beta :

  • Bugfix for handling corrupted project files
  • Bugfix for Plot Spectrum to preserve signal level if multiple tracks were analyzed
  • Bugfix for crashes when dragging tracks and resetting toolbars
  • Bugfix for MP2 files import.
  • Bugfix for the excessive delay that occurs when typing into labels in long projects.
  • (OS X) Added support for AudioUnit MusicEffects (but no MIDI support)
  • CleanSpeech Mode has been removed from Preferences but can be run or disabled in 1.3.14 by changing Preferences in a previous Audacity version
  • Mix and Render now preserves clip length by not rendering white space before the start of audio, and preserves audio before time zero
  • Spectrograms now allow window sizes up to 32768 and frequencies up to half the sample rate (the maximum possible)
  • Normalize now preserves left-right balance in stereo tracks by default with an option to normalize stereo channels independently.

New in 1.3.12 Beta :

  • VST Effects now display GUI by default
  • Faster Equalization and Noise Removal; improved Truncate Silence and Click Track
  • Chains applied to files now clear temporary data after processing each file
  • Updated Nyquist implementation with support for SAL syntax and improved memory management
  • Plot Spectrum now analyzes up to 237.8 seconds of audio, with separate windows for each project and improved display; new preferences for Spectrograms
  • Contrast Analysis tool now modeless for easier use

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

I am having real difficulty

I am having real difficulty with recording drop-outs. I am only recording a single voice track and the drop-outs are unpredictable. You can see the wave files sometimes and not hear the record on playback - usually just for a couple of seconds. Sometimes it isn't there on one playback and then it comes back on the second time around. Recording that normally takes me a couple of hours took several hours because of this drop-out problem. I would love it if someone knew why Audacity is doing this....it didn't when I first started using it.

Add-ons

I've tried downloading drums applications but can't seem to get them to work on Audacity. I can do vocal tracks just fine, but no percussion. Are there any percussion add-ons that will work on Audacity which I can download? I'm new at this and its driving me crazy not having some sort of beat to stick to.

Help!

I am using Audacity Beta 1.3 unicode on XP and I am having problems with the program starting and stopping when I get about 6 tracks or I have a long recording. It will often leave out areas of the recording while starting and stopping. Can anyone help explain to me what is going on?

Saving edited audio files

I edit the audio file but it won't save with sections that are edited. It will return back to the way it was originally. Does anyone know how I can save the edited file? I have Audacity Beta because it has the play-at-speed control.

Thank you.

How to save edited songs?

After i edit a song and click file to save it and put it on a cd, "Export Wav" it isn't there. The only export options are export selection and export multiple. What's wrong?

Use this one, its FREE!

The effects are difficult to learn, but not impossible if your patient and smart. Take your time to learn some things.

If you want to record your own music for free. This does fine. I've been using the Stable version, for a few months now.

So is Kristal, and it is

So is Kristal, and it is better than Audacity in most respects and more modular...

Try both - they are free after all.

Recording multiple tracks?

How do I record multiple tracks?

Splitting tracks when recording!

How do you split tracks when recording from a LP?

I get blank tracks! Nothing

I get blank tracks! Nothing is recording. Any ideas?

Problem Opening Program?

I saw someone mentioned they had a problem opening the program even though it is shown as open in task manager. I had this problem and finally figured out to go to "Properties" of the program and change "Run" to "Maximized" if it currently says "None." Hope this helps.

Can't hear anything

I'm sure its my PC but I can't figure out why I can't get sound out of this program. All other programs play sound no problem.

I've checked the output device and everything seems to match up. Any ideas?
Thanks

6 simultaneous tracks?

I have an emagic 6/2 usb interface, but Audacity will only let me record two tracks at a time. How can I fix this?

audio import drop outs!!!

Hey ppl, my biggest prob at the moment is, Im trying to do a keyboard overdub for someone on their audio backing track and the backing track keeps having little dropouts and its driving me insane...like little bumps. I tried importing the mp3 directly to stereo track one and problem still remains.

me too

usb mic, win xp on an acer aspir 5600, 1G RAM, every other app and tray program killed ... this didn't ought to be a problem.

help on line for audacity

Need a link that works for audacity help manual on line. All searches bring me to dead links.

Nevyn

Re: help on line for audacity

: Need a link that works for audacity help manual on line. All searches bring me to dead links.

Jim

sourceforge is were they

sourceforge is were they build it. I think the manual is there.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/audacity/

Help stop me bleeding!

One track bleeds onto the next while recording, How do i stop it?

Re: Help stop me bleeding!

I have the same problem!!
Tried line in on track 2 but that does not work, track 1 still bleeds thru!!

Re: Help stop me bleeding!

Turn the volume down on the track not being recorded you'll have to record with the music kind of low but when you play back turn it back up til you balance it the way you want it

Great Program for Starving Artists

Dude, I've been messing around with all of the free programs for years, it's tough to afford software on an underground budget. When I upgraded to windows xp i was pissed cuz you can't really use Pro Tools Free on it. Then I found Audacity. It does have it's limitations, but you CAN record your demo with this program. 2 thumbs up.

Re: Great Program for Starving Artists

How do U prevent tracks from bleeding over top of each other?

I have the same problem with

I have the same problem with CakeWalk 9. I can't figure the problem out. I was in hope of finding help here. Oh well.

Handles HUGE files with ease

Audacity was the answer to my problem of getting an 8.5 hour recording converted from 2 WAV channels into a single stereo MP3. I'd previously used KRISTAL but it refused to open each 2.7GB WAV file. I tried several others too but all failed to handle the file size. No problem with audacity. Not even any sluggish response when all 5.4GB were imported. Excellent product !

Audacity no longer runs in XP

I've just noticed recently that when I execute Audacity it stucks at the initialization phase with the hour-glass icon showing forever. I have to kill it with the Task Manager to get rid off it. I don't know when exactly this started happening because I have not used it for a while and in the meantime I updated XP with all the recent SPs. Using the latest version of Audacity results in the same thing.
Anybody else experiencing this, too?
Rudy

Re: Audacity no longer runs in XP

If you haven't already tried this. Completely uninstall Audacity and then re-install.

This may clear up the problem.

System locks up after short recording

I'm new to computers, so if my problem should be obvious please excuse my ignorance. My problem is that after a minute or more of recording with Audacity my computer completely freezes up. I'm using an HP 8490 with a Pentium 2 and 256 MB Ram on windows 98. Is this insufficient to run the program? Is there anything I can do or another download available that will run more smoothly? Any help would be appreciated.

Re: System locks up after short recording

I have the exact same problem. My computer is an HP
6470z. OS is Windows 98. 450MHz processor. Had 96MB RAM, just upgraded to 128MB RAM and problem still occurs.

I have been able to record audio a couple minutes long and export as mp3, but most of the time it lasts less than a minute. Sometimes just audacity locks up, somethimes the system locks up. If just audacity locks up, I can close it and re-open it to start over again. Most of the time, recording doesn't last more than a minute.

If anyone can tell me what's wrong, I would greatly appreciate it. I'm using it to record music I'm making with friends in a band. It's basically a poor man's studio. I would really like to be able to record live music with free software on this old computer. If anyone knows of other free software that records audio input that will run on windows 98, please tell me where to find it.

Thank you in advance.

This is super software

I personally have used Audacity for about 6 months and it works great, it rivals many softwares that you have to pay for and it continually gets better.

Re: This is super software

: I personally have used Audacity for about 6 months and it works great, it rivals many softwares that you have to pay for and it continually gets better.

How does it compare to Adobe Audition?

Delay

After recording first track the second and the subsequent tracks recorded comes with delay.

Re: Delay

Yeah, it really sucks having to sync the tracks after recording them...this has happened to me with a few other programs as well, so anyone who knows of a program that isn't out-of-sync after recording the tracks should let me know...

Re: Delay

same problem here. How do you sinc it up?

Limited by the processing power of your PC!

your software studio is mostly only limited to the processing power of your pc. I have used audacity for years and still do to record basic starter tracks. I have used audacity on both older and newer machines and have found that as with any multi-track program that you are basically limited to what your pc can handle. On older machines, Ive been lucky to get a total of 8 tracks.....

.On my newest computer I have gotten results of 25 tracks and more. General rule of thumb is processor speed and amount of ram you have installed. Audacity is an awesome program with so much potential for artists on a limited or no budget to afford the latest and greatest of options on the market.

I look forward to all the future updates on this software and see how it progresses in its much more mature stages of productions. Hope that helps anyone who may not have known otherwise.

"Basically with sync/ multitrack software.....Processor speed...amount of ram= The more you have. the better you have. Its ok to use freeware software as long as your hardware doesnt limit you in the process. Rock on everybody

Limited by the processing power of your PC!

Nonsense. Though it is true that memory will definitely limit the number of tracks you can record, it has nothing to do with synchronizing. Something else is going on there.

Can't use the record functions

Whenever I hit the record icon the program will terminate, and says, it has perform illigal operations

help files

Great software but no help files. Is this because it's Beta?

Download is hard to get, but worth it

I spent about half a day trying to connect to the servers to download this lovely little proggie. It was much worth it. This program shares much in common with cooledit, but I think I like the interface (and price!) of this nice program. The VST effect support is a major benefit. My advice: keep trying, and go to the company's web site if you have to.

Problem with downloading the program

When I tried to unzip the download, I got an error message that "Internet Explorer was unable to link to the Web page you requested. The page might be temporarily unavailable." Download cancelled.

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