Audacity®
Free, Open Source, Cross-Platform Audio Software for multi-track recording and editing.
Audacity®
Audacity is a free, open source audio recording software slash, multi-track recorder. The program was designed to be easy to use and understand, while still delivering high quality recordings. Audacity is an ideal program to use for everything from ripping CDs in digital format for easy storage, to creating and recording live music and DJ sets.
There are several ways to record audio with Audacity. The first of which and likely the most easy is with your computer’s built-in microphone. Of course you may wish to use an external microphone an you can run that directly into you computer or through your external sound card. In short, if you have an audio source that can be plugged in, either directly or via sound card, you can record it in Audacity
Audacity can handle a huge range of audio files for import and export functions. Importing audio samples and sound clips is a great way to quickly setup the structure to you track or to add unique soundscapes to existing audio.
The following list are a few of the most common audio file you will encounter
These are the most common files you may wish to import or export with Audacity. It is highly recommend to import the very highest quality audio file you can get you hands on. If ever possible, importing WAV files are recommended, this will give you plenty of options for editing in the highest quality, as well as exporting to any format you can think of
The ability to quickly edit audio is a function made easy with Audacity. Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete. Find the spot to edit easily with scrubbing and seeking or Timeline Quick-Play. Unlimited sequential Undo (and Redo) in the session to go back any number of steps.
While Audacity does come with an extensive list of built-in effects and tools, you are never limited due to the use of VST (Virtual Studio Technology) plug-in functionality
The following is a list of the most commonly use effects found in Audacity.
Aside for the built in sound effects, you will enjoy the powerful onboard audio controls such as Real-time preview, Plug-in Manager, Tone Generation, Pitch Change and Tempo. Of course Audacity wouldn’t be complete without Equalization, Bass and Treble, High Pass, Low Pass and Notch Filter effects. There are simply too many effects and tools to list here… Every single one of these effects could have an entire page written to expand on it’ capability.
For a more in-depth and complete look at all the features and their functionality, have a look at the full Audacity Manual found here.
When it comes right down to it, Audacity is a great, free audio recording program with a massive community behind it. Audacity is highly recommended, and seeing as it’s completely free, you can’t go wrong.