Review & Comparison · 2026
Audacity Review + the Best Online Alternative
Audacity is the audio editor almost everyone tries first — free, powerful, and a desktop download with a steep learning curve. This is an honest review, then a deep, function-by-function comparison with Notevibes’ browser-based tools: the actual effect names, parameters, DSP, and workflows — and which tool is faster for each job.
Part 1 — Audacity, reviewed
Audacity is a free, open-source digital audio editor first released in 2000 and now developed by Muse Group (MuseScore, Ultimate Guitar), which took over in 2021. It runs as a desktop application on Windows, macOS, and Linux — no official browser version, no mobile app. The current 3.7.x line is a mature, feature-dense multi-track editor; a full UI rewrite (Audacity 4.0, moving from wxWidgets to Qt) is in development. With 100M+ downloads, it’s the default free choice for podcasters, musicians, and students.
Two design facts shape every minute you spend in it. First, it’s selection-based and historically destructive: select a region, apply a cut or effect, and the change is written into the audio. Non-destructive real-time effects only arrived in 3.2 (2022) and still don’t cover the whole model. Second, it’s dense: effects live behind menus and modal dialogs, and discoverability is poor. Projects save to a single .aup3 file (internally a SQLite database).
On price it’s 100% free and open-source (GPL) with no limits — its single biggest advantage. The only “catch” isn’t money: the optional Muse Hub installer, and the 2021 privacy-policy controversy, when a revised policy describing analytics and data sharing got it labeled “possible spyware” before Muse Group apologized, revised the policy, and dropped the telemetry plan. The app is considered safe, but trust took a hit.
Strengths
- Genuinely free with no limits — a complete editor at $0
- Deep multi-track editing and a large built-in effect library
- Plugin support (VST, Nyquist, LV2, AU), now with real-time effects
- Works fully offline once installed; Windows, macOS, Linux
Weaknesses
- Desktop download and install required — no browser, phone, or Chromebook
- Dated, dense interface with a steep learning curve
- Editing is destructive by default; real-time effects recent and partial
- M4A/AAC and video import need a separate FFmpeg install
- No AI text-to-speech, voice generation, or document-to-audio
Verdict: still the best free desktop audio editor — unbeatable for deep multi-track production, plugin chains, spectral repair, and offline work. But it asks for the download, the install, and the learning curve before you trim a single clip. For the quick, common jobs most people need, that overhead is the whole problem.
Part 2 — The Notevibes alternative
Notevibes works from the opposite direction: a browser-based editor plus a library of focused single-purpose tools, each doing one Audacity job in a click. The Online Audio Editor is the hero — a full multi-track timeline in a browser tab. Record, drop in files, trim, split, mix, fade, export. Nothing to install.
Around it sit ~40 single-purpose tools that replace menu-diving with one-screen flows, and it adds the one thing Audacity can’t do at all: AI text-to-speech in 550+ voices across 72 languages, plus document-to-audio for PDF, EPUB, and Word. The honest trade-off, repeated where it matters: no third-party plugin hosting — the one area where Audacity’s depth is genuinely unmatched.
Part 3 — Function by function
For each function: what Audacity actually gives you (effect, parameters, workflow), what Notevibes gives you (tool, controls, formats), and a concrete head-to-head with a recommendation.
Recording
Audacity
Recording runs through the Device Toolbar (host API → input device → channels) and the Transport menu. You get genuine depth: simultaneous multi-track recording, overdub (play existing tracks while recording a new one, on by default), input monitoring, Timer Record (scheduled start/stop), and Sound Activated Recording (only captures above a threshold). Inter-track latency is correctable in Devices → Latency compensation. The catch: all of this assumes the app is installed and the right host/device/sample-rate are selected — the most common place beginners get silence or the wrong input.
Notevibes
The Voice Recorder records from the mic in the browser with a live waveform, pause/resume, and the browser’s built-in echo cancellation, noise suppression, and auto-gain on by default — so a laptop-mic take comes out usable with no setup. You can trim the take in place and export MP3 or WAV. For layered work, the Online Audio Editor records straight onto a multi-track timeline. No device routing, no host-API confusion.
Head-to-head
Audacity wins on control (precise input selection, latency compensation, scheduled/threshold recording, unlimited interface inputs). Notevibes wins on time-to-first-take and clean-out-of-the-box capture. Tracking a band or multi-mic interview → Audacity. A voiceover, solo podcast take, or quick clip on whatever device is nearby → Notevibes.
Trimming and cutting
Audacity
Editing is selection-based: drag to select, then Trim (⌘/Ctrl+T, keeps selection), Cut (removes and ripples the timeline), Split Delete (removes without shifting, leaving a gap), or Silence Audio (zeroes the selection in place). The cut-vs-split-delete distinction is powerful but is exactly what confuses newcomers. Snapping, zoom, and the selection toolbar give sample-accurate edits.
Notevibes
The Audio Trimmer shows the file as a waveform with two drag handles; everything outside is discarded on export, with 0.1-second precision. It accepts almost any input (MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, AAC, WebM, OPUS, AIFF) and outputs 192 kbps MP3. The MP3 Cutter is the MP3-only twin. No “ripple vs gap” decision — it’s keep-the-middle, every time.
Head-to-head
Audacity is more expressive (ripple edits, internal gaps, multi-region accuracy) and right when the trim is one move in a bigger edit. Notevibes is faster for the common case — “cut this clip to the good part” — because it removes the decision tree and the import step. Single-clip topping-and-tailing → Notevibes; surgical edits inside a session → Audacity.
Splitting and joining
Audacity
Inside a project: Split (Ctrl+I, break a clip at the cursor), Split New (move a selection to its own track), and Join. To export several pieces you place labels (Ctrl+B) and use Export Multiple by label or track. Capable, but “chop this one file into five equal parts” isn’t a single command — you place markers by hand.
Notevibes
The Audio Splitter splits one file into equal segments with presets (2/3/4/5/10 parts), shows split points as waveform markers, cuts on sample boundaries, and batch-exports MP3s. The Audio Joiner merges multiple files with up/down reordering and broad format input. The Ringtone Maker is a specialized splitter that trims to a 30-second ringtone.
Head-to-head
For labeled, content-aware splitting (split at each chapter marker), Audacity’s label workflow is more flexible. For mechanical “equal parts” or “stitch these together,” Notevibes is one click vs several manual steps. Standalone split/merge → Notevibes; export-by-region within a project → Audacity.
Multi-track mixing
Audacity
A real multi-track editor: unlimited tracks, per-track gain and pan, mute/solo, the Envelope tool for drawing volume automation over time, Time Shift for sliding clips, and Mix and Render to bounce. Tracks can be mono or stereo; export sums everything. One of Audacity’s genuine strengths — it behaves like a lightweight DAW.
Notevibes
The Online Audio Editor gives a browser multi-track timeline: record or import multiple tracks, per-track gain, pan, mute/solo, drag-to-reorder and rename, zoom, undo/redo, and a final mixdown — without installing anything. It now also draws volume automation: ride levels up and down across a clip over time, exactly the Envelope-tool job. Align clips to the playhead and crossfade overlaps round out assembly. It covers voiceover-over-music, segment assembly, and level balancing.
Head-to-head
Much closer than it was: Notevibes now has per-track pan and drawn volume automation, so panning and level-riding no longer require Audacity. Audacity still leads on very large sessions — many simultaneous tracks and sample-accurate alignment. 10+ track production → Audacity; voice-over-music, assembly, and everyday automation → Notevibes, with no install and Chromebook support.
Noise reduction
Audacity
Effect → Noise Reduction is a two-step, FFT-based spectral subtraction. Step one: select a region of pure noise and click Get Noise Profile. Step two: select the whole clip and apply with three parameters — Noise reduction (dB, default ~12), Sensitivity (default ~6.00), Frequency smoothing (bands, default 3). Push it too hard and you get the “underwater”/warbly artifact. Powerful and tunable, but it requires a clean noise sample, which short clips often lack.
Notevibes
The Noise Remover runs the same FFT spectral subtraction but auto-detects the noise profile (no manual sample) and exposes one choice: Light / Standard / Aggressive. It targets steady-state noise — hiss, hum, fan, AC, room tone. For dead air rather than broadband noise, the Silence Remover is the companion.
Head-to-head
Audacity gives more control — with an isolated noise sample and patience you can chase difficult, uneven noise further. Notevibes is faster, more forgiving, and works on clips with no noise-only section because it estimates the profile for you. Difficult/uneven noise to hand-tune → Audacity; everyday hiss/hum/fan in seconds → Notevibes.
Silence, gates, and de-essing
Audacity
Truncate Silence detects passages below a Level (dB, default ~−20) lasting longer than a Duration (default 0.5 s) and either truncates them to a set length or compresses them by a ratio — great for tightening pauses, but it’s a parameter dialog. A Noise Gate ships as a Nyquist plugin. De-essing isn’t a dedicated effect — you do it with a narrow EQ cut or a third-party plugin.
Notevibes
Three separate tools: Silence Remover auto-cuts gaps ≥0.3 s and trims lead/trail silence; Noise Gate mutes everything below a threshold (kills between-word room tone); and a purpose-built De-Esser reduces S/SH sibilance via spectral subtraction — the thing Audacity makes you improvise with EQ.
Head-to-head
Audacity’s Truncate Silence is more configurable (truncate vs compress, exact thresholds). Notevibes wins on having a dedicated de-esser and one-click operation per task. Podcast/voiceover cleanup → Notevibes (especially de-essing); precise silence-compression rules → Audacity.
Normalization and loudness
Audacity
Two distinct effects. Normalize does peak normalization — remove DC offset, set the peak to a target dB (default −1.0), optionally per-channel. Loudness Normalization targets perceived loudness in LUFS (default −23) or RMS, the correct approach for broadcast/platform delivery. Both quick, but in separate menu entries.
Notevibes
Split equally cleanly: the Audio Normalizer for peak normalization to 0 dB (max headroom without clipping), and the Audio Loudness Normalizer for LUFS targets (−23 / −16 / −14) — including ACX-friendly levels for audiobooks — with integrated LUFS metering.
Head-to-head
Capability is essentially even; both separate peak from loudness correctly. Audacity exposes a few more knobs (RMS target, per-channel). Notevibes reaches the right standard faster via named presets. For ACX/audiobook delivery, both work; Notevibes’ labeled LUFS presets are slightly quicker.
Volume, limiting, and dynamics
Audacity
A full dynamics set: Amplify (gain with clip-warning), Compressor (Threshold, Noise Floor, Ratio, Attack, Release, make-up gain) to even out level, Limiter (soft/hard, input gain, limit dB, hold, make-up) for a ceiling, and Auto Duck for ducking music under a voice. Real compression with attack/release control is a meaningful Audacity advantage.
Notevibes
Now matched directly: the Online Audio Editor includes a manual Compressor (Effects → Compressor) with adjustable threshold, ratio, attack, release, and makeup gain, plus a live transfer-curve preview — alongside one-job tools (Audio Volume Booster, Audio Limiter), the Audio Enhancer chain, and an Auto Duck effect that lowers a clip under louder clips on other tracks.
Head-to-head
Now essentially even. Notevibes added a manual compressor (threshold/ratio/attack/release/makeup) and an Auto Duck effect, so deliberate compression and ducking music under a voice no longer need Audacity. Audacity’s remaining edge is hosting third-party compressor plugins. Quick loudness, hand-set compression, or ducking → Notevibes; a specific plugin compressor → Audacity.
EQ and tone
Audacity
A strong suite and a clear power area: Filter Curve EQ lets you draw an arbitrary frequency response by dragging control points; Graphic EQ gives fixed band sliders; Bass and Treble is the two-knob version; Classic Filters provides textbook low/high/band-pass with selectable rolloff. Free-form curve drawing is something lightweight tools rarely match.
Notevibes
The Audio Equalizer is a 5-band parametric EQ (low-shelf + three peaking + high-shelf) with a live visual response curve and presets. For the two most common fixes there are one-click Bass Booster (+6 dB low-shelf ~100 Hz) and Treble Booster (+6 dB high-shelf ~8 kHz).
Head-to-head
Audacity is more surgical — arbitrary curves and steep classic filters beat five bands for precision. Notevibes is faster and more visual for everyday “add warmth / add air / cut mud.” Precise corrective EQ or steep filtering → Audacity; quick tonal shaping → Notevibes.
Pitch
Audacity
Change Pitch shifts pitch without changing duration, set by semitones, percent, or from/to frequency, with a high-quality stretching option (SoundTouch/SBSMS). Sliding Stretch ramps pitch/tempo over a selection; Paulstretch does extreme time-stretch for sound design. Applied destructively from a dialog.
Notevibes
The Audio Pitch Changer shifts ±12 semitones while preserving duration using a phase-vocoder (SoundTouchJS) — no “chipmunk” speed-up — as six presets. For character work the Voice Changer bundles pitch+tempo into presets (Chipmunk, Helium, Baby, Deep, Giant, Demon), and the Vocoder builds robotic/talkbox voices.
Head-to-head
Core duration-preserving pitch-shifting is comparable in quality (similar algorithms). Audacity wins for arbitrary amounts, frequency targets, and extreme stretches (Paulstretch). Notevibes wins for instant interval shifts and ready-made voice FX. Precise/extreme pitch → Audacity; quick semitone shifts and voice effects → Notevibes.
Tempo and speed
Audacity
Two correctly separated effects. Change Tempo alters length while preserving pitch (BPM from/to, percent, or length). Change Speed and Pitch is the classic resample — speed and pitch move together (percent, multiplier, or vinyl rpm). Sliding Stretch ramps it gradually. Naming makes the difference explicit, but you still pick the right effect.
Notevibes
Mirrored as three tools so you can’t choose the wrong behavior: Audio Tempo Changer (0.5/0.75/1.25/1.5/2×, pitch preserved), Audio Speed Changer (same presets, pitch couples — the tape/vinyl effect), and the pitch tool for pitch-only.
Head-to-head
Functionally equivalent; both use phase-vocoder stretching for the pitch-preserving case. Audacity allows arbitrary values and ramps; Notevibes uses presets and removes the “which mode?” ambiguity. Exact/odd ratios or ramps → Audacity; standard speed-ups (podcast at 1.5×, slow-down for transcription) → Notevibes.
Vocal removal
Audacity
Vocal Reduction and Isolation uses center-channel phase cancellation (L−R subtraction) with an Action (Remove/Isolate Vocals and variants), a Strength control, and low/high frequency bounds to protect bass and cymbals. It is not AI stem separation — it removes only what’s panned dead center, and thins anything else in the middle.
Notevibes
The Vocal Remover applies the same deterministic L−R subtraction in one click to produce an instrumental/karaoke track. Like Audacity, it works best on commercial stereo pop/rock/hip-hop where the lead vocal is center-panned — a DSP trick, not ML separation.
Head-to-head
Same underlying technique, so similar results and the same limitation (center-panned only; reverb tails leak). Audacity gives frequency-bound and strength knobs; Notevibes is one click. Quick karaoke track → Notevibes; fine-tune surviving frequencies → Audacity. Neither replaces a true AI stem-splitter.
Reverb, echo, and fades
Audacity
Reverb is a full Schroeder-style algorithm with Room Size, Pre-delay, Reverberance, Damping, Tone Low/High, Wet/Dry Gain, and Stereo Width — properly tweakable. Echo is a simple fixed delay+decay; Delay (Nyquist) adds feedback. Fades include Fade In/Out, Adjustable Fade (choose the curve), Studio Fade Out, and Crossfade. Each is a separate dialog.
Notevibes
The Reverb Adder uses convolution with Room / Plate / Hall presets (native Web Audio). The Echo Effect gives tape-style delay with feedback character. Add Fade to Audio applies smooth fade in/out envelopes.
Head-to-head
Audacity wins on adjustability — multi-parameter reverb and selectable fade curves give finer control. Notevibes wins on realism-per-click — convolution presets sound spacious immediately. Tailoring a specific space or fade shape → Audacity; “add a nice hall and a clean fade” fast → Notevibes.
Reverse, channels, bitrate, utilities
Audacity
Reverse flips a selection; Tracks → Mix → Mono / Split Stereo and resampling handle channel work; MP3 export exposes CBR/VBR/ABR modes and quality. All present, but spread across menus and the export dialog.
Notevibes
A row of one-tap utilities: Audio Reverser, Mono to Stereo, Stereo to Mono, Audio Bitrate Changer (128/192/256/320 kbps), plus Ringtone Maker. Each does exactly one thing.
Head-to-head
Audacity bundles these into the editor (fine if you’re already in a session). Notevibes turns each into a standalone link — faster when the utility is the whole task. Mid-edit → Audacity; one-off utility → Notevibes.
One-click enhancement and analysis
Audacity
No single “enhance my voice” button — you build the chain: high-pass to de-rumble, EQ, Compressor, de-ess via EQ, Limiter, Normalize, in sequence. Total control, several steps, and you need to know the order. Analysis (Plot Spectrum, beat-finder plugins) lives in the Analyze menu.
Notevibes
The Audio Enhancer runs a fixed broadcast voice chain — de-rumble → EQ → compressor → de-esser → limiter → normalize — behind one button, producing a podcast-ready result. The BPM Detector reads tempo instantly.
Head-to-head
Audacity wins if you want to design the chain and tune each stage. Notevibes wins for the outcome most people want — “make this voice sound professional” — in one click. Mastering with intent → Audacity; instant voice polish → Notevibes.
Format conversion and extraction
Audacity
Exports WAV, MP3 (LAME now bundled), FLAC, OGG natively. M4A/AAC, WMA, AC3 and importing audio from video require a separate FFmpeg library install — a genuine setup hurdle and a frequent support question. Custom FFmpeg export allows arbitrary codec/container combos for advanced users.
Notevibes
The Audio Converter handles MP3, WAV, FLAC, M4A, AAC, OGG, Opus, WebM, AIFF and video containers (MP4, MOV, MKV, 3GP) entirely in-browser with no FFmpeg setup, and works offline once loaded. The Audio Extractor pulls audio straight out of a video. Direct converters (mp4-to-mp3, m4a-to-mp3, flac-to-wav…) skip even the format-picker step.
Head-to-head
Notevibes wins clearly: broader one-click coverage, audio-from-video built in, no codec install. Audacity only matches it after installing FFmpeg, and even then conversion means importing and re-exporting inside the editor. Any standalone conversion or “grab the audio from this video” → Notevibes.
Text-to-speech & document-to-audio
Audacity
None. Audacity edits audio that already exists and cannot synthesize speech from text in any form — there is no equivalent feature.
Notevibes
Text to Speech generates speech from text with 550+ AI voices, 72 languages, emotion control, sentence/paragraph breakdown, and ACX-compliant loudness, exporting MP3. Document readers turn files into audio: PDF to Audio, plus EPUB, DOCX, and PPTX converters.
Head-to-head
No contest — this category doesn’t exist in Audacity. If you need a voiceover from a script or a PDF read aloud, Notevibes does it and Audacity can’t participate.
Where Audacity still wins outright
After Notevibes added volume automation, per-track pan, non-destructive effects, and project save/reopen, the list keeps shrinking. One thing still has no browser equivalent, and one more where Audacity simply goes deeper:
- A specific third-party processor — VST, Nyquist, LV2, or Audio Units. The thing to be clear about: “plugins” aren’t a capability, they’re a delivery method, and the jobs people load them for — compression, EQ, reverb, de-noise, de-click, limiting — are already built in here. What a desktop host genuinely adds is aparticular processor you already own, or a deep restoration suite, that we don’t replicate. If you need that exact tool, only Audacity can load it — browsers can’t host native plugins. For everyone not chasing a specific plugin, the built-in effects cover it.
- Spectral editing — Notevibes now has it (drag boxes on a spectrogram to erase a cough, hum, or click), but Audacity’s spectral selection and repair tools are more mature for fine, harmonic-level work.
So the honest takeaway isn’t “Audacity has effects we don’t” — it’s the opposite. The everyday processing is here. Keep Audacity when a particular plugin you own, or a specialist restoration suite, is genuinely part of the job.
Part 4 — Side-by-side summary
| Function | Audacity | Notevibes |
|---|---|---|
| Record from mic | Multi-track, overdub, timer (desktop) | Browser, auto noise-suppress |
| Trim / cut | Ripple + gap, sample-accurate | Drag-handle, 0.1 s, any format |
| Split / join | Label-based, flexible | Equal-part + reorder, one click |
| Multi-track mixing | Automation envelopes, deep | Browser timeline + pan |
| Volume automation | Envelope tool | Draw level curves on clips |
| Non-destructive editing | Destructive by default | Remove / toggle any effect later |
| Noise reduction | FFT, needs noise sample | FFT auto-profile, 3 presets |
| Silence / gate / de-ess | Truncate Silence + gate | Dedicated tool each |
| De-click / declick | Click Removal + Repair | De-Click clip or selection |
| Normalize / LUFS | Peak + loudness, extra knobs | Peak + LUFS presets |
| Compressor / dynamics | Full controls + Auto Duck + plugins | Manual threshold/ratio/attack/release |
| EQ | Draw-any-curve + classic filters | 5-band parametric, visual |
| Pitch | Any amount, Paulstretch | ±12 semitones + voice FX |
| Tempo / speed | Any value, ramps | Presets, no mode confusion |
| Vocal removal | Phase cancel + freq bounds | Phase cancel, one click |
| Reverb / echo / fade | Multi-param, curve fades | Convolution presets |
| One-click voice enhance | Build the chain yourself | Single-button chain |
| Format conversion | FFmpeg for many formats | No setup, broad coverage |
| Audio from video | Needs FFmpeg | Built-in extractor |
| AI text-to-speech | None | 550+ voices, 72 languages |
| Document to audio | None | PDF / EPUB / Word / PPTX |
| Host third-party plugins | VST / Nyquist / LV2 / AU | Effects built in, not hosted |
| Spectral editing | More mature tools | Spectrogram select + attenuate |
| Effects on a selection | Selection-based by design | Apply effects to a range |
| Save / reopen project | .aup3 project file | .noty, saved in browser |
| Runs in browser / phone | Desktop only | Anywhere |
| Install required | Yes | No install |
| Price | Free, no limits | Free tools + paid AI |
Part 5 — Who should pick which
Choose Audacity if you
- · Run large multi-track sessions — 10+ tracks, sample-accurate alignment
- · Need a specific plugin you already own, or deep, harmonic-level restoration
- · Want a free, offline tool with no caps
- · Do heavy audio restoration with plugin chains
Choose Notevibes if you
- · Want to record, trim, clean up, or convert in seconds, no install
- · Want non-destructive editing — remove or tweak any effect later
- · Mix voice over music with pan, fades, and volume automation
- · Work on a Chromebook, phone, or locked-down machine
- · Also need AI voices or document-to-audio
For most people the honest answer is both: Audacity for the occasional heavy project, Notevibes for the dozens of quick edits in between.
Part 6 — Every menu & effect, catalogued
A complete reference to Audacity 3.7's menu system and built-in effect library — every command, generator, analyzer, and effect, named exactly as it appears in the app. Tap a menu to expand it.
The 12 menus, command by command
File23 commands · show
Projects save to a single .aup3 file (a SQLite database); audio is imported and exported separately.
- New
Ctrl+NOpen a new empty project window. - Open…
Ctrl+OOpen a project or import an audio file. - Recent FilesSubmenu of recently opened files, with Clear.
- Close Project
Ctrl+WClose the current project window.
Save Project
- Save Project
Ctrl+SSave as an .aup3 file. - Save Project As…Save under a new name or location.
- Save Copy…
Ctrl+Shift+SSave a backup without changing the working file. - Save To Cloud…Save the project to audio.com.
- Open From Cloud…Open a project stored on audio.com.
Export
- Export Audio…
Ctrl+Shift+EExport to MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, Opus… - Export Selected Audio…Export only the current selection.
- Share Audio…Upload audio to audio.com.
- Update Cloud Audio PreviewRefresh the audio.com preview.
Export Other
- Export Labels…Write a label track to a text file.
- Export MIDI…Export a note/MIDI track.
- Export to Backup Project…Lossless .aup3 backup export.
Import
- Audio…
Ctrl+Shift+IImport an audio file into the project. - Labels…Import a label track from a text file.
- MIDI…Import a .mid file.
- Raw Data…Import headerless/raw PCM audio.
- Page Setup…Printer page setup (Windows/Linux).
- Print…Print the waveform view (Windows/Linux).
- Quit Audacity
Ctrl+QExit the application.
Edit26 commands · show
- Undo
Ctrl+ZReverse the last operation. - Redo
Ctrl+YRe-apply an undone operation. - Cut
Ctrl+XRemove to clipboard, closing the gap. - Delete
Ctrl+KRemove without clipboard, closing the gap. - Copy
Ctrl+CCopy the selection to the clipboard. - Paste
Ctrl+VInsert clipboard audio at the cursor. - Duplicate
Ctrl+DCopy the selection into a new track.
Remove Special
- Split Cut
Ctrl+Alt+XCut to clipboard, leaving a gap. - Split Delete
Ctrl+Alt+KDelete leaving a gap. - Silence Audio
Ctrl+LReplace the selection with silence. - Trim Audio
Ctrl+TRemove everything outside the selection.
Clip Boundaries
- Split
Ctrl+ISplit the clip at the cursor. - Split New
Ctrl+Alt+ISplit the selection into a new track. - Join
Ctrl+JJoin adjacent clips into one. - Detach at Silences
Ctrl+Alt+JSplit clips at silences.
Labels
- Edit Labels…Open the Labels Editor.
- Add Label at Selection
Ctrl+BAdd a label at the selection. - Add Label at Playback Position
Ctrl+MAdd a label at the playhead. - Paste Text to New LabelCreate a label from clipboard text.
- Type to Create a LabelToggle type-to-create-label mode.
Labeled Audio
- Cut / Delete / CopyEdit audio within labeled regions.
- Split Cut / Split DeleteSplit-edit labeled regions.
- Silence AudioSilence labeled regions.
- Split / Join / DisjoinClip operations on labeled regions.
- Metadata Editor…Edit ID3/metadata tags for export.
- Preferences…
Ctrl+POpen application preferences.
Select14 commands · show
- All
Ctrl+ASelect all audio in all tracks. - None
Ctrl+Shift+AClear the selection.
Tracks
- In All Tracks
Ctrl+Shift+KExtend selection into all tracks. - In All Sync-Locked Tracks
Ctrl+Shift+YExtend into the sync-locked group.
Region
- Left / Right at Playback Position
[ ]Set a selection edge at the playhead. - Track Start to Cursor
Shift+JSelect from track start to cursor. - Cursor to Track End
Shift+KSelect from cursor to track end. - Store / Retrieve SelectionSave and restore a selection region.
Spectral
- Toggle Spectral Selection
QEnable/disable frequency-range selection. - Next Higher / Lower Peak FrequencyMove selection to the next spectral peak.
Audio Clips
- Previous / Next Clip Boundary to CursorSelect from a clip edge to the cursor.
- Previous / Next Clip
Alt+, Alt+.Select the adjacent clip.
- Store / Cursor to Stored PositionSave and recall a cursor position.
- At Zero Crossings
ZSnap selection edges to zero crossings.
View14 commands · show
Zoom
- Zoom In / Normal / Out
Ctrl+1 / 2 / 3Change the horizontal zoom level. - Zoom to Selection
Ctrl+EFit the selection to the window. - Zoom Toggle
Shift+ZToggle between two preset zooms.
Track Size
- Fit to Width
Ctrl+FFit the whole project to the window. - Fit to Height
Ctrl+Shift+FResize tracks to fit the window height. - Collapse / Expand All TracksMinimize or restore track heights.
- Skip to Selection Start / End
Ctrl+[ Ctrl+]Center a selection edge on screen. - History…Open the Undo History window.
- Mixer Board…Per-track faders and meters.
- Karaoke…Bouncing-ball lyrics window.
- ToolbarsSubmenu to toggle each of ~15 toolbars.
- Extra MenusShow/hide the optional Extra menu.
- Show Clipping / RMS in WaveformToggle waveform overlays.
- Enter / Exit Full Screen
F11Toggle full-screen mode.
Transport20 commands · show
Playing
- Play / Stop
SpaceStart or stop playback. - Play/Stop and Set Cursor
XStop and move cursor to the stop point. - Loop Play
Shift+SpacePlay the selection repeatedly. - Pause
PPause/resume playback or recording.
Recording
- Record
RRecord onto a new track. - Record New Track
Shift+RAppend-record to the end of a track. - Punch and Roll Record
Shift+DRecord with pre-roll over a selection.
Scrubbing
- Scrub / SeekPlay audio as you drag the pointer.
- Scrub RulerToggle the scrub ruler under the timeline.
Cursor to
- Selection Start / End
Home / EndMove cursor to a selection edge. - Track Start / End
J / KMove cursor to a track edge. - Clip Boundary / Project Start / EndJump the cursor to a structural point.
Looping
- Toggle Loop
LTurn looping on or off. - Set Loop to Selection
Shift+LMake the loop match the selection. - Set Loop In / Out, Clear LoopDefine or clear the loop region.
Transport Options
- Audible Input MonitoringHear the input while monitoring.
- Sound Activated RecordingRecord only above a threshold; set the level.
- Pinned Play/Record HeadPin the playhead while audio scrolls.
- OverdubPlay other tracks while recording (default on).
- Software PlaythroughEcho input to output in software.
Tracks15 commands · show
Add New
- Mono Track
Ctrl+Shift+NAdd an empty mono audio track. - Stereo TrackAdd an empty stereo audio track.
- Label Track / Time TrackAdd a label or speed-envelope track.
Mix
- Mix Stereo Down to MonoCombine stereo channels into mono.
- Mix and RenderRender selected tracks to one (applies gain/pan/envelopes).
- Mix and Render to New Track
Ctrl+Shift+MSame, but keep the originals.
- Resample…Change the sample rate of selected track(s).
- Remove TracksDelete the selected track(s).
Mute/Unmute & Pan
- Mute / Unmute All Tracks
Ctrl+U Ctrl+Shift+UMute or unmute every track. - Pan Left / Right / CenterSet panning of selected tracks.
Align Tracks
- Align End to End / TogetherSequence or align track starts.
- Start/End to Zero / Cursor / SelectionSnap track edges to a reference point.
- Move Selection with TracksKeep the selection aligned when moving.
- Sort Tracks by Start Time / NameReorder tracks automatically.
- Keep tracks synchronized (Sync-Lock)Propagate length edits across a group.
Generate9 commands · show
Creates new audio from scratch. Plugin Manager and Add/Remove Plug-ins sit at the top.
- Chirp…Tone sweeping frequency/amplitude between two endpoints.
- DTMF Tones…Touch-tone telephone dialing tones from digits.
- Noise…White, Pink, or Brownian noise.
- Silence…A span of silence.
- Tone…Sine, Square, or Sawtooth waveform.
- Pluck…Karplus-Strong plucked-string note (Nyquist).
- Rhythm Track…Click/metronome track at a set tempo (Nyquist).
- Risset Drum…Synthesized Risset percussion sound (Nyquist).
- Sample Data Import…Generate audio from a text file of sample values (Nyquist).
Effect4 commands · show
Top items: Add Realtime Effects (E), Repeat Last Effect (Ctrl+R), Plugin Manager…, Get more Effects…. The full built-in effect library is catalogued below.
- Add Realtime Effects
EOpen the non-destructive realtime effects stack on a track. - Repeat Last Effect
Ctrl+RRe-apply the previous effect with the same settings. - Plugin Manager…Enable, disable, or rescan effects.
- Get more Effects…Install additional plugins.
Analyze9 commands · show
- Contrast…WCAG2 foreground/background RMS contrast for accessibility.
- Plot Spectrum…FFT frequency-vs-amplitude plot of the selection.
- Find Clipping…Label regions where the audio clips.
- Beat Finder…Label detected beats by threshold (Nyquist).
- Label Sounds…Label sounds/silences by level and duration (Nyquist).
- Measure RMSReport the RMS level of the selection (Nyquist).
- Regular Interval Labels…Add labels at fixed time/count intervals (Nyquist).
- Sample Data Export…Write sample values to text/CSV/HTML (Nyquist).
- Vamp plug-insAny installed Vamp analysis plugins (note/onset/key).
Tools8 commands · show
- Plugin Manager…Enable/disable/rescan effects, generators, analyzers.
- Reset ConfigurationReset Audacity settings to defaults.
- Manage Macros… / Apply MacroCreate and run batch command chains.
- Screenshot…Capture Audacity windows/toolbars for docs.
- Run Benchmark…Internal disk/processing benchmark.
- Nyquist Prompt…Run ad-hoc Nyquist code as an effect.
- Nyquist Plug-in Installer…Install .ny plug-ins.
- Regular Interval Labels… / Sample Data Export / ImportShared label and sample-data utilities.
Extra8 commands · show
Off by default (View ▸ Extra Menus). Keyboard-accessible duplicates and command-only items, grouped as submenus.
- Transport / Play-at-Speed / SeekExtended play, speed, and seek commands.
- Tools
F1–F6Pick the active tool: Selection, Envelope, Draw, Zoom, Multi. - Mixer / DeviceAdjust volumes; set host, input/output device and channels.
- Select / Cursor / EditSample- and second-level selection and cursor moves.
- ExportQuick export to MP3 / WAV / OGG / FLAC.
- Focus / TrackMove keyboard focus; move/mute/solo/gain/pan tracks.
- Scriptables I & IICommand-line/scripting commands (mod-script-pipe).
- Full Screen / Minimize AllWindow commands.
Help7 commands · show
- Quick HelpGetting-started quick help page.
- ManualOpen the full Audacity Manual.
- Audacity SupportOpen the online support site.
- DiagnosticsAudio/MIDI Device Info, Show Log, Generate Support Data.
- Link audio.com accountLink/unlink for cloud sharing.
- Check for Updates…Check whether a newer version exists.
- About AudacityVersion, credits, libraries, GPL license.
The built-in effect library
Roughly 50 effects ship with Audacity, grouped by category in the Effect menu. A Real-time tag marks the nine built-ins that can run non-destructively in the per-track effects stack; Nyquist marks bundled script plug-ins, and Legacy marks effects disabled by default (enable them in Plugin Manager).
Volume and Compression
Raise/lower volume to a target peak; optional clipping.
Duck a track whenever a control track exceeds a threshold.
Dynamic-range compression: threshold, ratio, attack/release, knee, makeup.
Soft/hard brick-wall ceiling: input/output gain, limit, hold.
Normalize to a perceived-loudness LUFS or RMS target.
Set peak amplitude, remove DC offset, equalize channels.
Fading
Linear fade-in across the selection.
Linear fade-out across the selection.
Fade with selectable curve, direction, and gain endpoints.
Smooth equal-power S-curve fade-out.
Crossfade two adjacent clips on one track.
Crossfade the overlapping ends of two tracks.
Pitch and Tempo
Shift pitch without changing tempo (note, %, or frequency).
Change tempo/length without changing pitch (% or BPM).
Resample — speed and pitch move together (vinyl RPM presets).
Glide tempo and/or pitch from start values to end values.
Extreme time-stretch for ambient/stasis sound design.
EQ and Filters
Draw a freehand frequency-response curve.
Per-band slider equalization.
Two-knob low/high shelf boost or cut.
Attenuate below a cutoff; selectable rolloff.
Attenuate above a cutoff; selectable rolloff.
Remove a narrow band around a center frequency.
Low/high shelf boost or cut with Q.
Butterworth/Chebyshev analog-style filters.
Noise Removal and Repair
Two-step FFT removal of constant noise from a profile.
Remove clicks/pops, especially from vinyl.
Interpolate clipped/flat-topped waveform peaks.
Attenuate or gate audio below a threshold.
Interpolate over a very short (≤128-sample) glitch.
Delay and Reverb
Room/hall ambience: size, pre-delay, reverberance, damping, tone, wet/dry.
Simple repeating echo, softer each repeat.
Configurable echo/delay with regular or bouncing types.
Distortion and Modulation
Non-linear waveform shaping (overdrive/clipping/rectifier).
Sweeping comb-filter from phase-shifted signal + LFO.
LFO-driven moving bandpass "wah" sweep.
Periodic amplitude (volume) modulation.
Impose one signal’s spectral envelope onto a carrier.
Special
Detect and shorten or compress silences.
Play the selection back to front.
Polarity-invert (flip) the waveform.
Repeat the selection N times.
Spectral Tools
Delete a frequency band over a time region.
Combined notch/parametric spectral editing.
Boost/cut a spectral-selected band.
Low/high shelf within a spectral selection.
Legacy & Vocal
Remove or isolate center-panned vocals (L−R).
The pre-3.4 compressor.
The pre-3.4 hard/soft limiter.
Beyond the built-ins, the Generate menu synthesizes audio (Chirp, DTMF Tones, Noise, Silence, Tone, Pluck, Rhythm Track, Risset Drum), and the Analyze menu measures it (Plot Spectrum, Contrast, Find Clipping, Beat Finder, Label Sounds, Measure RMS) — all expandable in the menu list above.
Plugin formats: Audacity also loads external VST3 / VST, Audio Unit (macOS), LV2, LADSPA, Nyquist, and Vamp(analysis-only) plug-ins — the one capability no browser tool can match, since browsers can't host native audio plugins.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an online version of Audacity?
No — Audacity has no official browser version; it’s a desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The closest online equivalent is the Notevibes Online Audio Editor, which records, trims, merges, and mixes multi-track audio and applies the same kinds of effects, all in a browser.
Can Notevibes do everything Audacity does?
For everyday editing, yes — recording, trimming, merging, multi-track mixing with per-track pan and volume automation, noise reduction, de-click, normalize, pitch, tempo, EQ, reverb, fades, vocal removal, a manual compressor, auto-ducking, spectral editing, and applying any effect to just a selection all have an equivalent now. On top of that, editing is fully non-destructive (remove or re-tweak any effect later) and projects save and reopen in the browser. Audacity’s one remaining lead is narrow: loading a specific third-party processor you already own (browsers can’t host native plugins) and deeper, harmonic-level spectral repair. The everyday jobs people use plugins for — compression, EQ, reverb, de-noise — are built in here.
Does Notevibes have noise reduction like Audacity?
Yes — the same FFT spectral-subtraction approach, but it auto-detects the noise profile (no manual noise sample) and exposes Light/Standard/Aggressive instead of a parameter dialog.
Is Audacity free, and is Notevibes free too?
Audacity is completely free and open-source with no limits. Notevibes offers a large set of free browser audio tools with no sign-up, plus paid plans for AI text-to-speech and higher-volume features.
Was Audacity really called spyware?
In 2021, just after Muse Group acquired it, a revised privacy policy mentioning analytics and data sharing led some outlets to call it “possible spyware.” Muse Group apologized, revised the policy, and dropped the telemetry plan before shipping. The app remains open-source and is widely considered safe.
Final verdict
Audacity earned its place: a powerful, free, open-source editor that, with time invested, rivals paid DAWs — and for plugin chains, real compression, spectral repair, and deep offline production it’s still the one to beat. But that’s a specific kind of user. For the far more common jobs — trim this, clean that up, change the pitch, convert the format, generate a voiceover — the download, the dated interface, and the learning curve are pure overhead.
That’s the gap Notevibes fills: the same core audio functions, split into fast browser tools that need no install and run on any device, plus AI text-to-speech Audacity can’t touch. Keep Audacity for the heavy lifting. Reach for Notevibes for everything else.