Audacity. The must-have free software to record and edit sound

Last updated on 12 May 2026

Audacity is a free and open source software for recording, playing, editing sounds or audio files. A must-have when it comes to working with computer sound. Ideal for simple uses for the classroom or pure your personal projects.

Audacity has been around for quite some time now and has become a real part of the tools for working with sound. A deserved place, open source and free Audacity offers a solution largely sufficient for most basic uses to work with audio files and use sound in class. It allows bothrecord digital audio data, mount sounds on multiple tracks, or apply filters and other effects.

Free software to record sound

Audacity makes it easy to record sounds from a microphone or mixer live. You will be able to record from a microphone, an online entry, or other sources. Level indicators allow you to control sound levels before, during and after recording. Useful to achieve actionable sound quality. For experts, Audacity also knows how to record up to 16 tracks simultaneously with suitable recording equipment.

Edit and edit audio files

It is arguably one of the easiest to use sound editing software. Quite intuitively, you can cut, copy, paste and erase passages from an audio file. You can go back if you are wrong, and this in an unlimited way. When you start, it is reassuring and very convenient.

Audacity makes it possible to add nice fade effects to the input or output of a sound. Other effects are available as well as settings to work as a real sound engineer the quality of the file. You will be able to intervene on levels, frequencies, background noises, etc.

A complete software with which you can import and export data in several formats including WAV, AIFF and MP3.

Whether you want to start creating a podcast, record your voice or that of your students, Audacity offers everything you need for free.

Open source software also benefits from a very active community that is always quick to lend a hand.

Audacity is free and runs on Mac OS X, Windows and GNU/Linux.

Link: Audacity