Audacity

Audacity is a free, open-source multitrack audio editor and recorder for voice recordings, podcasts, sound editing and music projects. Audacity 4 rebuilds the interface on Qt and changes several Audacity 3 workflows, so check compatibility before moving an existing production workflow.

Main features

• Record audio from supported microphones, interfaces and other input devices.
• Edit multiple tracks and directly select, group, move, trim and stretch clips.
• Use destructive and realtime effects, generators and analyzers supported by the installed version.
• Inspect audio as waveforms or spectrograms and adjust clip gain and track controls.
• Import audio and export mixed output or, in 4.0.1, separate tracks and labeled regions.
• Customize dockable panels, workspaces, themes and track colors.

Install and start

Install on Mac with brew install --cask audacity, or obtain the official Intel or Apple Silicon DMG and copy Audacity 4.app into Applications. Choose input/output devices in Audio Setup, grant macOS microphone permission when recording requires it, record or import audio, then save a project and export a separate audio file for sharing. Keep backups of original recordings and projects.

Audacity 4 uses .aup4 projects. It opens and converts .aup3 projects without changing the original, but converted projects cannot be saved back to .aup3. Older .aup projects can be imported. Save to reliable local storage: upstream warns that uninterrupted fast disk access is important and that network storage, USB thumb drives and some external drives may be unreliable.

Requirements, dependencies and platforms

The official Mac download page says Audacity is tested on macOS 14 and 15 and may work on versions from macOS 10.11 onward; possible operation is not a guarantee of tested support for every old system or for every optional component. It lists Intel and Apple Silicon downloads. The current 4.0.1 cask selects a native ARM64 DMG for Apple Silicon and x86-64 for Intel. The ARM64 asset is 50,034,126 bytes according to official GitHub release metadata, matching the production package's size; transfer bytes are not installed space.

Audacity also provides Windows and Linux builds. Version 4.0 supports VST3 and Nyquist plug-ins, LV2 on Linux and Audio Units on macOS. Third-party plug-in compatibility depends on format, architecture and version. FFmpeg is an optional separate library for additional import/export formats; the Homebrew cask does not declare an additional formula dependency or explicit cask conflict, which does not establish that every optional workflow has no dependencies. There is no universal RAM or installed-space minimum confirmed here.

Audacity 4.0 initially omitted Time Tracks, Note/MIDI tracks, Mixer, Macro Manager/scripting pipe, VAMP/LADSPA hosting and Play-at-speed, with some export, rendering, analyzer and effect functionality also absent. Version 4.0.1 restores multiple export and some keyboard shortcuts; do not assume it restores every Audacity 3 feature. If these features are essential, review the official release notes and keep compatible original projects before upgrading.

Accounts, pricing and license

The official application is free software under GNU GPLv3. Ordinary local recording and editing do not require an online account or subscription. Optional Audio.com cloud saving/sharing, MuseHub services and third-party plug-ins have their own accounts, terms or pricing; MuseHub is not needed to install this direct Homebrew DMG. Local processing can work offline, while downloads and cloud features require connectivity.

The image is an official website promotional example of multitrack clip editing shown on a Surface Studio device. It is a device mockup, not a verified current macOS 4.0.1 capture.

Sources: Official website, Mac requirements and downloads, 4.0 release and compatibility notes, 4.0.1 release, License.