Audacity – Free Audio Editor and Recorder

Complete Guide to Audacity: Professional Audio Editing for Everyone

Audacity has served as the world’s most popular free audio editor for over two decades, providing powerful recording and editing capabilities to millions of users worldwide. This open-source application handles everything from simple podcast editing to complex multi-track music production. Its accessibility and comprehensive feature set have made it the go-to choice for podcasters, musicians, educators, and audio enthusiasts.

The software supports virtually every audio format, offers extensive effects and plugins, and runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Whether recording voiceovers, editing music, or processing field recordings, Audacity delivers professional results without cost.

Installing Audacity

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt update
sudo apt install audacity

# Flatpak
flatpak install flathub org.audacityteam.Audacity

# Fedora
sudo dnf install audacity

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S audacity

# macOS
brew install --cask audacity

# Windows
winget install Audacity.Audacity

# Verify
audacity --version

Recording

# Basic recording:
1. Select input device (dropdown)
2. Set recording channels (mono/stereo)
3. Click Record (R) or red button
4. Click Stop when done

# Recording settings:
Edit > Preferences > Recording
- Channels: Mono or Stereo
- Buffer settings
- Software playthrough

# Record new track:
Shift+R: Record on new track
Continues from selection

# Timer recording:
Transport > Timer Record
Set start time and duration

# Sound activated:
Transport > Sound Activated Recording
Records only when audio detected

# Punch and Roll:
Transport > Punch and Roll Recording
Re-record sections seamlessly

# Monitor input:
Click microphone icon
Watch levels before recording
Avoid clipping (red zone)

Basic Editing

# Selection:
Click and drag to select
Shift+Click: Extend selection
Ctrl+A: Select all
Double-click: Select clip

# Playback:
Space: Play/Stop
Loop: Shift+Space

# Cut/Copy/Paste:
Ctrl+X: Cut
Ctrl+C: Copy
Ctrl+V: Paste
Ctrl+D: Duplicate

# Delete:
Delete key: Remove selection
Ctrl+K: Delete and close gap

# Undo/Redo:
Ctrl+Z: Undo
Ctrl+Y: Redo
View > History: Edit history

# Zoom:
Ctrl+1: Zoom to selection
Ctrl+2: Zoom to project
Ctrl+3: Zoom to fit
Scroll wheel: Zoom in/out

# Navigation:
Home: Go to start
End: Go to end
J/K: Move cursor

Tracks

# Add tracks:
Tracks > Add New > Mono/Stereo Track

# Track controls:
Mute button: Silence track
Solo button: Only play this track
Gain slider: Volume
Pan slider: Left/right balance

# Track menu (dropdown arrow):
- Name track
- Move track up/down
- Split stereo to mono
- Make stereo track
- Resample

# Multi-track editing:
Select tool: Edit single track
Time shift: Move clips on timeline
Align tracks: Tracks > Align Tracks

# Mix and render:
Tracks > Mix > Mix and Render
Combines selected tracks

# Label tracks:
Tracks > Add New > Label Track
Mark sections, timestamps
Ctrl+B: Add label at selection

Effects

# Apply effects:
Select audio region
Effect menu > Choose effect
Preview before applying

# Essential effects:

# Amplify:
Effect > Amplify
Increase/decrease volume
New Peak Amplitude option

# Normalize:
Effect > Normalize
Consistent volume level
-1 dB typical for headroom

# Compressor:
Effect > Compressor
Reduce dynamic range
Attack, release, threshold, ratio

# Equalizer:
Effect > Filter Curve EQ
Boost/cut frequencies
Presets available

# Noise Reduction:
Effect > Noise Reduction
1. Select noise sample
2. Get Noise Profile
3. Select audio to clean
4. Apply reduction

# Noise Gate:
Effect > Noise Gate
Remove quiet noise between sounds

# Limiter:
Effect > Limiter
Prevent clipping

# Fade In/Out:
Effect > Fade In
Effect > Fade Out
Or use Envelope Tool

# Reverb:
Effect > Reverb
Add room ambiance

# Change Pitch/Speed:
Effect > Change Pitch
Effect > Change Speed
Effect > Change Tempo

Plugins

# Plugin types:
- Built-in effects
- Nyquist plugins (.ny)
- LADSPA plugins (Linux)
- VST plugins (Windows/Mac)
- Audio Unit (Mac)
- LV2 plugins

# Install plugins:
Windows: C:\Program Files\Audacity\Plug-Ins
macOS: /Applications/Audacity/plug-ins
Linux: ~/.audacity-data/Plug-Ins

# Enable plugins:
Effect > Plugin Manager
Enable/disable plugins

# Popular plugins:
- Noise removal plugins
- Vocal effects
- Mastering tools
- Instrument effects

# Nyquist plugins:
Written in Lisp
Many free plugins available
Easy to install (.ny files)

Export and Import

# Supported formats:
- WAV, AIFF (uncompressed)
- MP3 (requires LAME)
- OGG Vorbis
- FLAC (lossless)
- M4A/AAC
- And many more

# Export:
File > Export > Export as MP3/WAV/etc.
File > Export > Export Audio
Choose format and settings

# Export settings:
MP3: Bitrate (128-320 kbps)
WAV: Sample format (16/24/32-bit)
FLAC: Compression level

# Export multiple:
File > Export > Export Multiple
Split by labels or tracks
Useful for albums/chapters

# Export selection:
File > Export > Export Selected Audio

# Import:
File > Import > Audio
Or drag and drop files

# Import raw data:
File > Import > Raw Data
For headerless audio files

# Project format:
File > Save Project
Saves .aup3 file (Audacity project)
Contains all edits non-destructively

Podcast Editing

# Typical workflow:

# 1. Import/Record:
Record voice track
Import music/sfx as needed

# 2. Clean up:
Remove unwanted sections
Apply noise reduction
Normalize levels

# 3. Edit:
Cut mistakes
Remove silences (Truncate Silence)
Add music beds

# 4. Effects:
Compress for consistent levels
EQ for clarity
De-ess if needed

# 5. Export:
Export as MP3 (128-192 kbps)
Add metadata

# Truncate Silence:
Effect > Truncate Silence
Remove long pauses automatically
Set minimum duration

# Remove clicks:
Effect > Click Removal

# De-clicker/De-esser:
Available via plugins
Reduce harsh sibilance

# Loudness normalization:
Effect > Loudness Normalization
Set to -16 LUFS for podcasts

Music Editing

# Multi-track recording:
Record instrument tracks separately
Use overdub mode
Align tracks properly

# Time stretching:
Effect > Paulstretch
Extreme stretching
Effect > Change Tempo
Preserve pitch

# Pitch correction:
Effect > Change Pitch
Semitone adjustments

# Mixing:
Adjust track volumes
Pan instruments left/right
Use effects per track

# Mastering basics:
1. EQ overall mix
2. Compress for glue
3. Limit final output
4. Check on multiple speakers

# Spectral editing:
Multi-view mode
Visualize frequencies
Useful for noise removal

# Looping:
Edit > Clip Boundaries > Split
Repeat sections
Transport > Loop on/off

Keyboard Shortcuts

# Playback:
Space       Play/Stop
Shift+Space Loop play
P           Pause
Home        Skip to start
End         Skip to end

# Recording:
R           Record
Shift+R     Record new track
P           Pause recording

# Editing:
Ctrl+X      Cut
Ctrl+C      Copy
Ctrl+V      Paste
Ctrl+Z      Undo
Ctrl+Y      Redo
Delete      Delete selection

# Selection:
Ctrl+A      Select all
Ctrl+Shift+A Select none
Ctrl+Shift+K Select from cursor to end

# View:
Ctrl+1      Zoom to selection
Ctrl+2      Zoom to project
Ctrl+E      Zoom to fit
Ctrl+F      Fit in window

# Tools:
F1          Selection tool
F2          Envelope tool
F5          Time shift tool

# Tracks:
Ctrl+Shift+N New track

# Customize:
Edit > Preferences > Keyboard

Tips and Best Practices

# Recording tips:
- Check levels before recording
- Leave headroom (peak at -6dB)
- Record in quiet environment
- Use pop filter for vocals

# Editing tips:
- Work non-destructively (save project)
- Use labels for organization
- Preview effects before applying
- Keep original files

# Quality settings:
- Record at 44.1kHz/16-bit minimum
- 48kHz for video sync
- Higher for mastering flexibility

# Performance:
- Close unused projects
- Use shorter tracks when possible
- Increase buffer for slow systems

# Common mistakes:
- Clipping (recording too hot)
- Over-processing
- Not saving project often
- Destructive editing without backup

Conclusion

Audacity proves that professional audio editing doesn’t require expensive software. Its comprehensive feature set, extensive plugin support, and cross-platform availability make it suitable for everything from casual recording to professional podcast production. Whether you’re a beginner learning audio editing or an experienced producer needing a reliable tool, Audacity delivers the capabilities needed for quality audio work.