Audacity 1.2.6

Publisher's description of Audacity

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This editor can record and play sounds and import and export WAV, AIFF, MP3, and OGG files. Edit your sounds using cut, copy, and paste features (with unlimited undo functionality), mix tracks, or apply effects to your recordings. The program 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, wah wah, and noise removal, and the program also supports VST plug-in effects.

Version 1.2.6 enables FLAC support and contains some bug fixes.

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Editor's review of Audacity

With so many audio editors out there, finding the right tool for the job can be tricky. The multiplatform, open-source editor Audacity has leaped to the top of our list with its clean interface, excellent features, and support for 32-bit floating-point audio. Audacity succeeds at being both feature-rich and flexible, while keeping the toolbar and work space uncluttered. It does this by relegating most functions--such as effects, edits, and project management--to handy drop-down menus.

Audacity supports uncompressed audio standards such as WAV and AIFF in addition to OGG and MP3 files. A full complement of basic effects such as reverb, delay, and compression are included. Virtual Studio Technology (VST), Linux Audio Developers Simple Plugin Architecture (LAPSDA), and Nyquist plug-ins also are available if you're looking to expand. Another eye-catching feature is the Beat Analyzer, which helps you peg the beats per minute of a phrase.

The performance of most functions is quick--even CPU-hogging tasks such as exporting to MP3 or adding complex effects. Though Audacity doesn't offer advanced effects or features out of the box, its usability and price set this freeware wonder above the crowd.

User reviews of Audacity

• Average user rating: out of 392 votes
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  Audacity

  I think its great; especially for podcasting

  by: nmahynski on 08-Dec-2006 09:45:39 AM

  Pros: Its great because its open-source and very easy to use. It also somes with some great editing features you usually don't get for free in normal studio software editors!

  Was this review helpful? Yes | No (8 of 9 users said yes)

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  Audacity

  One of the best sound editors at any price

  by: PVTele on 25-Jul-2007 02:39:07 PM

  Pros: This one is up there with the very best commercial software, and preferable to several major editing suites. Totally flexible: every functional aspect of the software can be configured to suite whatever project, and whatever hardware setup, you are working with. Seamless export to major formats; basic plugins for every sort of post-production work come as part of the download. A separately downloadable package of LADSPA plugins takes this to full professional post-production standards.

  Cons: Interface is very plain, certainly quite free from eye-candy of any sort, and can look a little daunting at first acquaintance. Use the excellent help file though, and the downloadable manual - and a little patience - and it will all make sense.

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  Audacity

  One of the best, if not THE BEST, audio production software available

  by: silentghost on 16-Jan-2007 03:17:09 PM

  Pros: Free with no limitations and no malware, perfect for recording analog to digital (audio cassettes to audio CDs or .mp3 format), good for audio editing before finalizing projects, a lot of built-in effects, low memory usage, mini pop-ups when hovering over a button is a great help, HELP file is excellent, one of the best written

  Cons: Graphic user interface (GUI) is very basic, could be more user-friendly (more of an audio novice problem?)

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  Audacity

  great sound editor

  by: barakat_khaled on 12-Jan-2007 09:15:38 AM

  Pros: When its about sound editing, I dont think i need more!

  Was this review helpful? Yes | No (1 of 7 users said yes)

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  Audacity

  Excellet free audio editor

  by: lfagti22 on 13-Dec-2007 09:21:31 AM

  Was this review helpful? Yes | No (0 of 1 users said yes)

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