Audacity 4.0 brings new dark mode and advanced editing features
Audacity 4.0 lands with a fresh dark mode and major editing improvements.
The update greatly expands non-destructive editing, first introduced in version 3.2. Clips can now overlap, and trimming back reveals covered audio. Multiple clips can be selected and trimmed together by dragging a single handle, and they can be grouped for complex edits. A new envelope tool lets users create draggable control points for gain, with waveforms updating in real time. There's also a one-click splitting tool for cutting clips, similar to tools in other creative software. By zooming in, users can edit down to the sample level. Each track now has an accompanying meter to show if a track is clipping the mix.
A controversial change is the removal of sync-lock, which allowed multiple clips to be edited in tandem, but new keyboard shortcuts have been added to replicate this functionality. The software also gains more robust plugin support. Engadget notes that many of the new editing features resemble those in full-featured digital audio workstations like Ableton Live or ProTools, programs that often cost hundreds of dollars; Audacity remains free.
Engadget points out that the update is the first major release since version 3.0 caused controversy over five years ago. The developer, Muse Group, appears to have focused on keeping the program approachable for users who don't want to relearn it. More details are available on the Audacity 4 webpage and in a companion YouTube video.