Audacity
by Audacity
4.3 / 5     (24 votes)
Win32 Win64 OSX Linux
   
VST
Audacity is a free, easy-to-use and multilingual audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux and other operating systems.

Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, or digitize recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, or minidiscs. With some sound cards, it can also capture streaming audio.
  • Record from microphone, line input, or other sources.
  • Dub over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings.
  • Record up to 16 channels at once (requires multi-channel hardware).
  • Level meters can monitor volume levels before, during, and after recording.
Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in several common file formats.
  • Import and export WAV, AIFF, AU, and Ogg Vorbis files.
  • Import MPEG audio (including MP2 and MP3 files) with libmad.
  • Export MP3s with the optional LAME encoder library.
  • Create WAV or AIFF files suitable for burning to CD.
  • Import and export all file formats supported by libsndfile.
  • Open raw (headerless) audio files using the “Import Raw” command.

EDITION
  • Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete.
  • Use unlimited Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps.
  • Very fast editing of large files.
  • Edit and mix an unlimited number of tracks.
  • Use the Drawing tool to alter individual sample points.
  • Fade the volume up or down smoothly with the Envelope tool.
  • Change the pitch without altering the tempo, or vice-versa.
  • Remove static, hiss, hum, or other constant background noises.
  • Alter frequencies with Equalization, FFT Filter, and Bass Boost effects.
  • Adjust volumes with Compressor, Amplify, and Normalize effects.
  • Other built-in effects include: Echo, Phaser, Wahwah, Reverse.

QUALITY

  • Record and edit 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit (floating point) samples.
  • Record at up to 96 kHz.
  • Sample rates and formats are converted using high-quality resampling and dithering.
  • Mix tracks with different sample rates or formats, and Audacity will convert them automatically in realtime.

PLUG-INS

  • Add new effects with LADSPA plug-ins.
  • Audacity includes some sample plug-ins by Steve Harris.
  • Load VST plug-ins for Windows and Mac, with the optional VST Enabler.
  • Write new effects with the built-in Nyquist programming language.

ANALYSIS

  • Spectrogram mode for visualizing frequencies.
  • “Plot Spectrum” command for detailed frequency analysis.
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Stoby Joe Feb 12 2022
(5 / 5)
Feb 12 2022
Love Audacity. I use it for several post production and mastering applications. I especially like the limiter. Makes it very easy to maximize your headroom without digging into the meat of the tune and causing loss of tonality.
ian luca alvarez Nov 21 2021
Nov 21 2021
I LIKE AUDACITY 3.0.0
Anon Aug 29 2021
Aug 29 2021
I am almost sure it also supports Vsts. But be aware! I have read that since April 2021 Audacity was developed by another author and there is the chance it has a spyware due its new continuous internet link, to update and to report crashes improving the program, they say.... So, until everything is clear I would recommend the version before April 2021, from the original developer.
anoni Jun 29 2021
(5 / 5)
Jun 29 2021
Buen programa, ya he testeado la version de x64 bits audacity-win-3.0.3-RC1-x64.exe de https://github.com/audacity/audacity/releases con Carla_2.2.0-win64.zip de https://github.com/falkTX/Carla/releases en win7_x64 funcionan los vst plugins de x32 y x64. habra uno que otro vst que no funcione. Para que funcionen los vst3 tendria que hacer una compilacion de audacity con soporte ASIO. Este FFmpeg_v4.3.1_for_Audacity_on_Windows_64bit funciona en esta version de x64 https://github.com/lllucius/audacity/releases . Soporte ASIO no distribuible en Audacity. Audacity proporciona soporte ASIO en Windows para personas que están preparadas para compilar Audacity a partir del código fuente utilizando el SDK Steinberg ASIO opcional. El soporte ASIO se proporciona estrictamente sobre la base de que NO ES DISTRIBUIBLE , es decir, NO puede copiar ni distribuir compilaciones, incluido el soporte ASIO, a nadie más. La construcción es estrictamente para su uso personal (privado o comercial). Por las mismas razones, Audacity NO puede distribuir compilaciones de Audacity, incluido el soporte ASIO https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/asio_audio_interface.html
joe Jul 13 2020
(5 / 5)
Jul 13 2020
If you want a DAW that's really simple and easy to use and don't need a lot of (or hardly any) bells and whistles, try this. Works well, so easy to figure out, and it's free.
Apinya5 Mar 01 2020
(5 / 5)
Mar 01 2020
I use this program on my music record. It can finish my job and can mastering. I love this daw.
marcello Jul 29 2019
(5 / 5)
Jul 29 2019
I have recorded some tracks with Audacity and the quality is great. It records from VSTHost and other music applications. Great alternative to paid software
Ugo Sept 01 2018
(5 / 5)
Sept 01 2018
This piece of software is A MUST. It's not as appealing as it could be on the "look" side, but it's really, really efficient on the "do-your-job" side. Go for it with no regret.
yairisan Dec 01 2022
Dec 01 2022
Have you heard of Dark Audacity? It's the same program with a slightly simplified interface that looks much nicer, has better meters, etc. Functionally the same, but with a few things hidden under the hood so it's less cluttered, and a much nicer color scheme.
R3FORMED Jul 12 2018
(5 / 5)
Jul 12 2018
Excellent Software, I use it for mastering vocals and it's also very useful for many other tasks
k8d Jan 28 2017
(4 / 5)
Jan 28 2017
Audacity is the best free tool for mastering, composing, recording, converting etc. I use this software to make voice/instrument recordings, tracks mastering, electronic compositions, spectral analysis and many other things... I recommend
wr Oct 17 2016
(5 / 5)
Oct 17 2016
Nothing compares to audacity. Even paid sw. It's perfect.
John Apr 02 2016
(5 / 5)
Apr 02 2016
This should be the gold standard! It's absolutely awesome! I learn more everyday it's cool features.
Thrak Jul 04 2014
(5 / 5)
Jul 04 2014
A real work horse app. I have used this app for years and it improves with each version. Great for recording Vinyl ect. Some of the built in filters are a bit weak compared to commercial apps but it can use VST plugs.
Bobby Mar 24 2014
(5 / 5)
Mar 24 2014
One of my all time favorites. I swear by this one. Great for mastering tracks, importing exporting and file conversion.
JoE Apr 21 2012
(3 / 5)
Apr 21 2012
Nice program, but doesn't support VST instruments, only VST effects.
GibbS Nov 18 2013
Nov 18 2013
Becoz it's not a DAW, it's sound editor.
Allan Kardec Sept 05 2016
Sept 05 2016
Maybe in future versions could support VSTi's :)
joe Jul 13 2020
Jul 13 2020
uh, yeah, actually, it is a DAW. Limited for sure, esp compared to others, but it is a DAW (and does now offer some VST support).
Anon Aug 29 2021
Aug 29 2021
I think Audacity has been supporting Vst for years.
DonnieDarkcore Oct 13 2021
Oct 13 2021
It only supports 32 bit vst effects.
yairisan Dec 01 2022
Dec 01 2022
Yeah, it opens all my vst's no problem. It's weird when you open something like Lexicon Native reverb with all it's glossy interface - looks incongruous on top of the meh look that Audacity has.