Audacity
Free, open-source, cross-platform audio editor and recorder.
Loved as a free, easy tool for light audio work like trimming samples and recording voice clips,12 and for a redesigned interface that commenters call a big improvement under Muse's stewardship.345 The most cited caveats are that it is not a full DAW,6 that project files bloat in size,7 and unease about creeping audio.com integration.8
Why people recommend it
Redesigned interface · 3
Commenters say the new version is a big upgrade over the dated old UI.
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“I still think this Audacity version has promise.”
Loved and robust · 3
Many commenters say they love it and call it a robust tool.
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“I love audacity”
Easy light editing · 3
Its low-hassle workflow suits quick jobs like trimming samples and recording voice clips.
“It was my go-to for light audio work like trimming a sample, for being free and easy to use for exactly that.”
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“I always thought audacity was great, and still prefer its workflow”
Good stewardship · 3
Commenters feel Muse is investing well in the app.
“I'm fine with them making money as they're investing into a utility I use.”
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Free software · 2
Valued for being free and part of an all-FLOSS toolset.
“It was my go-to for light audio work like trimming a sample, for being free and easy to use for exactly that.”
“QtCreator, Allegro, GIMP, Inkscape, Audacity, LMMS”
AI plugins · 1
OpenVINO plugins add AI audio processing with good results.
“Audacity can also do this through the OpenVINO plugins and I've been happy with its results”
Caveats and dissent
Not a DAW · 1
Fans warn it should not be used as a fully fledged DAW.
File size bloat · 1
Project files (aup3) can grow very large.
audio.com integration · 1
Some commenters are wary of the optional audio.com features creeping in.
“I still think this Audacity version has promise.”
Audacity 3 glitches · 1
Version 3 sometimes failed to save projects and produced clicks between clips.
“I still think this Audacity version has promise.”
Repetitive workflows · 1
Repeating the same polishing steps took enough effort that one user built a one-click tool.
“I love audacity”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
Data: audacity.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 14
“It was my go-to for light audio work like trimming a sample, for being free and easy to use for exactly that.”
“I mean I love it”
“I used Audacity as recently as yesterday”
“I'm fine with them making money as they're investing into a utility I use.”
“Otherwise I love it!”
“I love it, it’s an incredibly robust tool.”
“it's a massive glow-up”
“the interface looks vastly improved”
“I always thought audacity was great, and still prefer its workflow”
“I still think this Audacity version has promise.”
“Audacity can also do this through the OpenVINO plugins and I've been happy with its results”
“QtCreator, Allegro, GIMP, Inkscape, Audacity, LMMS”
“I love audacity”
“Ones I actually use.”