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6 reasons why Audacity is still a great audio editor today
Maybe you have decided to build a great setup for audio production or just need something to record and edit something quickly. As soon as you begin any journey with audio editing, one name will probably come up right away and that's Audacity.
Whether you're recording podcasts or music, these apps are for you
This multi-platform, open source, and free audio creation tool has been knocking about for over twenty years. We recently looked at audio creation tools, and this came as one of our top picks, so lets take a deeper look at what makes this a great choice even today.
Audio support
Import and export every major sound format
When it comes to working with audio file formats, Audacity supports just about every major format you can think of. Youll be able to record or work with lossless audio and easily be able to edit and export to a variety of alternative lossless or lossy formats.
The options for dealing with file formats are extensive. The basics are covered in the form of FLAC, WAV, MP3, and WMA, but you can import and export almost anything. Need to output an audio file to use on your 1990s Amiga? No problem. It covers your IFF file needs too!
Real-time effects
Quickly assess how effects will change the sound of your audio
Included with the core package youll also get access to seven real-time audio effects you can add to your audio. These core effects are a decent starting place for testing out and adding a professional touch to your audio.
Each of these built-in effects can be switched off and on dynamically and each edited during playback. Each effect here gets its own window where you can adjust its parameters live and play about until you get the result you need. For those who are looking to try out a few essential effects on podcast or live performance, these core real-time effects should help give you an idea of what can be done.
Built-in effects
The core effects provide an excellent foundation for audio editing
As well as being able to audition and play around with effects in real-time, youll want to be able to apply these to the final audio for export. The applicable effects available in Audacity are organized into around ten groups. Each of those groups holds a number of useful tools to apply to your audio.
The core effects represent more than a good showing for essential audio editing. Noise reduction, compression, EQ, filters, and more should easily provide basic users and more advanced users with more than enough to work with.
Lightweight cross-platform heavyweight
Audacity is simple and quick at getting core actions completed
Since Audacity is lighter on its feet than some of its bigger and more powerful digital audio workstation cousins, it's quicker to use. Firing up Audacity is rapid, meaning you can just jump in and get things done.
Due to it being lightweight, you can also install it on just about anything you happen to be working on for a quick audio edit fix. The specifications required to install and use this program are so low you can just say anything built in the last twenty years will run it just fine.
It works in the same lightweight fashion on Windows, Mac and Linux, so you can get the same familiar tool on whatever youre working on.
Concise user interface
Clean and clear controls without clutter
Dovetailing somewhat into the lightweight aspects of Audacity is that the user interface is clear and simple. Being able to get on with core audio recording, auditioning, and basic edits quickly without user interface clutter is a real positive here.
Even if youre using more complex tools for audio production, having Audacity alongside can help you avoid distractions from busy user interfaces. Digital audio workstations do have all the bells and whistles, but sometimes youll want the simplest option for speed.
Extensible
Plug in, don't drop out
Audacity supports a range of audio plugins such as VST and other Mac and Linux specific variants. Additionally, Audacity hosts their own plugins store where you can grab further utilities for the platform.
Youre not going to be stuck with the existing preset plugins with Audacity. If you want to tap into some of the vast array of existing plugins out there, it won't hold you back. Having this kind of flexibility makes Audacity a great place for beginners to wet their feet with audio editing.
Audacity today
Considering that this software is a few decades old, its still in fine shape. Plus, with a very low barrier for entry and zero cost, it's such a solid package. It is certainly better than "good enough" if you just want to experiment with audio editing for fun or if you're studying digital audio in school.
There are reasons why you might want to opt for a paid audio editor, but they are vanishingly small when you look at what you get for free with Audacity.