Audacity has been the default free audio editor for two decades, and it remains a genuinely capable tool for recording, editing and cleaning up audio, whether that's a podcast, a voiceover, a band recording, or simply converting old cassette recordings to digital. It's open source, available on Windows, macOS and Linux, and has no feature paywall.
Key takeaway: Audacity handles recording, multitrack editing and noise reduction well for podcasts and music, though its interface looks dated next to newer paid tools and some effects need a light learning curve.
Recording your first track
Audacity records directly from any microphone connected to your PC, whether that's a built-in laptop mic, a USB microphone, or an audio interface. Before recording, check the correct input device is selected in the toolbar, and do a short test recording to check levels aren't clipping (peaking into the red on the meter), which causes permanent distortion that can't be fixed afterwards.
- Connect your microphone and select it as the recording device in Audacity's device toolbar.
- Do a 10-second test recording and check the waveform doesn't clip at the loudest point.
- Record your full take, keeping background noise to a minimum.
- Use Effect > Noise Reduction, first sampling a few seconds of room "noise print" from a silent section, then applying it to the whole track.
- Trim dead air from the start and end, and normalise volume with Effect > Normalize before exporting.
Editing for podcasts
Audacity's multitrack view is well suited to podcast editing: separate tracks for each speaker, background music and sound effects can be arranged, trimmed and volume-balanced independently before being mixed down. The Noise Reduction and Compressor effects are particularly useful for evening out speech volume and reducing background hiss from budget microphones.
Tip: Export podcast episodes as MP3 at 128–192kbps, which keeps voice quality clear while keeping file sizes reasonable for hosting and downloads.
Editing music recordings
For music, Audacity supports basic multitrack mixing, pitch and tempo adjustment, and a library of built-in effects including EQ, reverb, and compression. It's not built for the tight, low-latency real-time monitoring that dedicated DAWs (Digital Audio Workstations) like Reaper or Ableton offer, so serious multitrack band recording with live monitoring may feel less smooth, but for editing and mixing already-recorded material it holds up well.
Plug-ins worth adding
- VST plug-in support: Audacity can load third-party VST and LV2 effects, expanding well beyond its built-in effect set.
- Chris's Dynamic Compressor: A free, popular third-party compressor plug-in often recommended for evening out voice recordings.
Before you start: Download Audacity only from audacityteam.org or its official GitHub releases page. Older third-party download mirrors have previously distributed modified installers bundled with unwanted extras.
| Factor | Audacity (free) | Adobe Audition (paid) |
|---|---|---|
| Multitrack podcast editing | Yes, solid | Yes, more polished |
| Noise reduction | Good, manual setup | Better automated tools |
| Interface | Dated but functional | Modern |
Frequently asked questions
- Can Audacity record system audio, not just a microphone?
- Yes, using "loopback" or "stereo mix" recording, available on Windows and macOS depending on sound driver support, useful for recording streaming audio or calls with permission.
- Is Audacity safe to use, given past concerns about its ownership?
- A 2021 privacy policy update under new ownership raised concerns; the current desktop app functions offline for editing without sending audio anywhere, but check the current privacy policy on audacityteam.org if this matters to you.
- Does Audacity support VST3 plug-ins?
- Recent versions support VST3 alongside the older VST2 and LV2 formats, widening the range of free and paid plug-ins you can use.