Audacity is a free and open-source digital audio editor and recording application software, available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and other Unix-like operating systems. In addition to recording audio from multiple sources, Audacity can be used for post-processing of all types of audio by adding effects such as normalization, trimming, and fading in and out.
What's new in 3.0.0
New Project File
The new .aup3 project file in Audacity 3.0.0 is now regrouping all the various save files into one. Previously, many files were created along with a .aup file to coordinate them. The problem that often happen is the user would move .aup file without the other files resulting in a project with missing pieces.
Note that opening the .aup3 project file should be quicker than the previous method as there is only one file that needs to be loaded from memory. On the other hand, saving will be slower as there is more to do to put everything inside one file. The team thinks the trade off is worth it as the users won't lose any data.
Improved effects
Audacity 3.0.0 features an improved 'Noise Gate' effect and a new analyser 'Label Sounds' that can label sounds and silences.
It is now possible to import and export macros. There are new commands for using the last used tool or last used analyser that you can give shortcuts to.
Bug Fixes
The team has resolved over 160 bugs, some quite minor, but others quite juicy and quite crucial to fix.
Audacity can record live audio through microphone or a mixer. It can also digitize recordings from other media (like vinyls players). Audacity can even capture streaming audio.
Manage multiple recording and playback devices.
Level meters monitors volume levels before, during and after recording. Clipping can be displayed in the waveform or in a label track.
Record microphones, line input, USB/Firewire and other various devices.
Record the computer's audio.
Auto start recordings with the Timer Record and Sound Activated Recording features.
Dub over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings
Record 24-bit depth with sample rates up to 192 000 Hz on any devices and with high-resolution devices, it can even reach 384 000 Hz.
Audacity supports 16-bit, 24-bit and 32-bit (floating point) sample rates. They can be converted using high-quality resampling an dithering. Tracks with different sample rates or formats are converted automatically in real time.
Editing
Editing tracks comes easily with Audacity
All the usual basics are supported: Cut, Copy, Paste, Delete.
Unlimited sequential Undo and Redo.
Use the scrubbing and seeking, or Timeline Quick-Play features to find the spot to edit.
Edit and mix a large numbers of tracks in the same session.
Use multiple clips per track.
Label tracks and keep them synchronized with the Sync-Lock Tracks feature.
Alter individual sample points with the Draw Tool.
Fade in/out track smoothly
Audacity offers an Automatic Crash Recovery in the event of abnormal program termination.
Effects
Audacity has +65 built-in effects that you can use to modify your audio.
Generate tones, silence, noise, instruments or rhythm track.
Change the pitch/tempo without altering the other.
Noise Reduction to remove static, hiss, hum and other constant background noises.
Modify frequencies with Equalization, Bass and Treble, High-Pass, Low-Pass and Notch Filters.
Adjust the volume with Compressor, Amplify, Normalize, Fade In/Out, Crossfade, and much more.
Create voice-overs for podcast and music sets.
Use Macros to runs chains of effects on a project or multiple files.