Audacity: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Software
{{Infobox Software
| name = Audacity  
| name = Audacity
| screenshot = [[Image:audacity-linux.png|250px]]  
| screenshot = [[Image:audacity-linux.png|250px]]
| caption = Popular open source audio editor  
| caption = Popular open source audio editor
| maintainer = Dominic Mazzoni  
| maintainer = Dominic Mazzoni  
| stable_release = 1.2.5
| stable_release = 1.2.5
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}}
}}


=Introduction=  
= Introduction =  
'''Audacity''' is a free, easy-to-use popular open source audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.
'''Audacity''' is a free, easy-to-use popular open source audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.


==Features==
== Features ==
 
=== Recording ===
===Recording===
Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, digitize recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, and minidiscs. With some sound cards, it can also capture streaming audio.
 
Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, digitize recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, and   minidiscs. With some sound cards, it   can also capture streaming audio.


* Record from microphone, line input, or other sources.
* Record from microphone, line input, or other sources.
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* Intel Mac support
* Intel Mac support


===Import and Export===
=== Import and Export ===
 
Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in several common file formats.
Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in several common file formats.


* Import and export [[WAV]], [[AIFF]], [[AU]], [[Ogg Vorbis]], and [[FLAC]] files.
* Import and export [[WAV]], [[Audio Interchange File Format|AIFF]], [[AU]], (Ogg) [[Vorbis]], and [[Free Lossless Audio Codec|FLAC]] files.
* Import [[MPEG]] audio (including [[MP2]] and [[MP3]] files) with libmad.
* Import [[MPEG]] audio (including [[MP2]] and [[MP3]] files) with libmad.
* Export MP3s with the optional [[LAME]] encoder library.
* Export MP3s with the optional [[LAME]] encoder library.
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* Import and export all file formats supported by libsndfile.
* Import and export all file formats supported by libsndfile.
* Open raw (headerless) audio files using the “Import Raw” command.
* Open raw (headerless) audio files using the “Import Raw” command.
* Note: Audacity does not currently support [[WMA]], [[AAC]], or most other proprietary or restricted file formats.
* Note: Audacity does not currently support [[Windows Media Audio|WMA]], [[Advanced Audio Coding|AAC]], or most other proprietary or restricted file formats.
 
===Editing===


=== Editing ===
* Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete.
* Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete.
* Use unlimited Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps.
* Use unlimited Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps.
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* Fade the volume up or down smoothly with the Envelope tool.
* Fade the volume up or down smoothly with the Envelope tool.


===DSP Effects===
=== DSP Effects ===
 
* Change the pitch without altering the tempo, or vice-versa.
* Change the pitch without altering the tempo, or vice-versa.
* Remove static, hiss, hum, or other constant background noises.
* Remove static, hiss, hum, or other constant background noises.
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** Reverse
** Reverse


===Sound Quality===
=== Sound Quality ===
 
* Record and edit 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit (floating point) samples.
* Record and edit 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit (floating point) samples.
* Record at up to 96 KHz.
* Record at up to 96 kHz.
* Sample rates and formats are converted using high-quality resampling and dithering.
* Sample rates and formats are converted using high-quality resampling and dithering.
* Mix tracks with different sample rates or formats, and Audacity will convert them automatically in realtime.
* Mix tracks with different sample rates or formats, and Audacity will convert them automatically in realtime.


===Plug-ins===  
=== Plug-ins ===
 
* Add new effects with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LADSPA LADSPA plugins].
* Add new effects with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LADSPA LADSPA plugins].
* Audacity includes some sample plugins by Steve Harris.
* Audacity includes some sample plugins by Steve Harris.
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* Write new effects with the built-in Nyquist programming language.
* Write new effects with the built-in Nyquist programming language.


==Screenshots==
== Screenshots ==
* [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/images/audacity-windows.png Audacity Windows] screenshot of the main editor window under Windows.  
* [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/images/audacity-windows.png Audacity Windows] screenshot of the main editor window under Windows.
* [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/images/audacity-linux.png Audacity Linux] screenshot of the main editor window under Linux.
* [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/about/images/audacity-linux.png Audacity Linux] screenshot of the main editor window under Linux.


=Development API=
= Development API =
* [http://audacity.cvs.sourceforge.net/audacity/ CVS repository] online source code for Audacity
* [http://audacity.cvs.sourceforge.net/audacity/ CVS repository] online source code for Audacity
==Optional components==
* <code>libmad</code>
* <code>libsndfile </code>
* <code>libvorbis </code>


==External links==
== Optional components ==
* libmad
* libsndfile
* libvorbis


== External links ==
* [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Audacity Home Page]
* [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ Audacity Home Page]
* Audacity discussions: check out this [http://www.nabble.com/Audacity-f463.html Audacity User Forum] hosted by [http://www.nabble.com Nabble] archiving [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/contact/lists Audacity mailing lists] into a searchable forum.
* Audacity discussions: check out this [http://www.nabble.com/Audacity-f463.html Audacity User Forum] hosted by [http://www.nabble.com Nabble] archiving [http://audacity.sourceforge.net/contact/lists Audacity mailing lists] into a searchable forum.

Revision as of 15:13, 14 June 2007

Audacity
{{{logo}}}

Popular open source audio editor
Developer(s) Dominic Mazzoni
Release information
Initial release {{{released}}}
Stable release 1.2.5
Preview release 1.3.2b
Compatibility
Operating system Windows, Mac OS/X, Linux/BSD
Additional information
Use Digital Audio Editor
License GPL
Website http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Introduction

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use popular open source audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems.

Features

Recording

Audacity can record live audio through a microphone or mixer, digitize recordings from cassette tapes, vinyl records, and minidiscs. With some sound cards, it can also capture streaming audio.

  • Record from microphone, line input, or other sources.
  • Dub over existing tracks to create multi-track recordings.
  • Record up to 16 channels at once (requires multi-channel hardware).
  • Level meters can monitor volume levels before, during, and after recording.
  • Intel Mac support

Import and Export

Import sound files, edit them, and combine them with other files or new recordings. Export your recordings in several common file formats.

  • Import and export WAV, AIFF, AU, (Ogg) Vorbis, and FLAC files.
  • Import MPEG audio (including MP2 and MP3 files) with libmad.
  • Export MP3s with the optional LAME encoder library.
  • Create WAV or AIFF files suitable for burning to CD.
  • Import and export all file formats supported by libsndfile.
  • Open raw (headerless) audio files using the “Import Raw” command.
  • Note: Audacity does not currently support WMA, AAC, or most other proprietary or restricted file formats.

Editing

  • Easy editing with Cut, Copy, Paste, and Delete.
  • Use unlimited Undo (and Redo) to go back any number of steps.
  • Very fast editing of large files.
  • Edit and mix an unlimited number of tracks.
  • Use the Drawing tool to alter individual sample points.
  • Fade the volume up or down smoothly with the Envelope tool.

DSP Effects

  • Change the pitch without altering the tempo, or vice-versa.
  • Remove static, hiss, hum, or other constant background noises.
  • Alter frequencies with Equalization, FFT Filter, and Bass Boost effects.
  • Adjust volumes with Compressor, Amplify, and Normalize effects.
  • Other built-in effects include:
    • Echo
    • Phaser
    • Wahwah
    • Reverse

Sound Quality

  • Record and edit 16-bit, 24-bit, and 32-bit (floating point) samples.
  • Record at up to 96 kHz.
  • Sample rates and formats are converted using high-quality resampling and dithering.
  • Mix tracks with different sample rates or formats, and Audacity will convert them automatically in realtime.

Plug-ins

  • Add new effects with LADSPA plugins.
  • Audacity includes some sample plugins by Steve Harris.
  • Load VST plugins for Windows and Mac, with the optional VST Enabler.
  • Write new effects with the built-in Nyquist programming language.

Screenshots

Development API

Optional components

  • libmad
  • libsndfile
  • libvorbis

External links