Audacity project window
Tip
To move a toolbar to a different location in the project window:
1. Drag the toolbar grabber.
2. Move the toolbar to the desired location in the project window.
To reset the toolbars to their original positions, go to View > Toolbars > Reset Toolbars.
Menu bar
The Menu bar contains functions for playback and recording, audio editing, and file management commands. It also allows access to built-in effects, analysis tools, and software preferences.
| Menu bar commands | |
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| File | Perform file management tasks, such as opening, saving, and exporting a project. |
| Edit | Perform basic audio editing tasks, such as copying and pasting audio creating clips and labels, and configuring preferences. |
| Select | Select audio tracks or specific sections of an audio track. |
| View | Adjust zoom levels, change track size, configure toolbar preferences and show action history. |
| Transport | Play, record, loop, and scrub audio. |
| Tracks | Perform track management tasks, such as adding, removing, and mixing tracks. |
| Generate | Create noise, tones, or silence. |
| Effect | Apply built-in audio effects, including ones that reduce noise, fade audio, and change volume, speed, and pitch. |
| Analyze | Use analysis tools that examine and analyze audio data. |
| Tools | Use miscellaneous tools and plug-ins that are not included in the Effect, Generate, or Analyze menus. |
| Help | View the help manual and current version number, capture screenshots, and show diagnostic resources. |
Transport toolbar
The Transport toolbar contains buttons for playing and recording audio.
| Transport toolbar buttons | |
|---|---|
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Pause pauses playback without losing the Playback cursor’s position on the Timeline. |
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Play starts playback at the Playback cursor’s position on the Timeline. |
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Stop stops playback and moves the Playback cursor’s position to the beginning of the Timeline. |
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Skip to start moves the Playback cursor’s position to the beginning of the Timeline. |
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Skip to end moves the Playback cursor’s position to the end of the Timeline. |
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Record records audio using the currently selected input device. |
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Loop automatically repeats playback after the Playback cursor reaches the end of the track or audio selection. |
Tools toolbar
The Tools toolbar contains buttons for selecting audio, smoothening volume levels, and redrawing waveforms.
| Tools toolbar buttons | |
|---|---|
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Selection tool marks a start and end point for playing, editing, and moving specific sections of audio. |
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Envelope tool edits a track’s waveform and smoothens the volume levels of specific sections of audio. |
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Draw tool redraws a track’s waveform and edits individual samples of audio to remove unwanted noise, clicks, etc. |
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Multi-tool combines the Selection, Envelope, Draw, and Zoom tools into one tool that changes based on the keys you press and where you move the mouse in the project window. |
Edit toolbar
The Edit toolbar contains buttons for zooming in and out of audio, trimming and silencing audio, and undoing and redoing changes.
| Edit toolbar buttons | |
|---|---|
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Zoom in magnifies a track’s waveform. |
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Zoom out condenses a track’s waveform. |
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Fit selection to width magnifies or condenses a section of a track’s waveform so that it fits horizontally in the project window. |
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Fit project to width magnifies or condenses all tracks so that they fit horizontally in the project window. |
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Zoom toggle switches between two zoom level presets. |
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Trim audio outside selection hides the area outside of the audio selection and prevents it from being played during playback. |
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Silence audio selection replaces an audio selection with silence. |
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Undo cancels the last editing action that you performed. |
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Redo restores the last editing action that you undid. |
Audio setup toolbar
The Audio setup toolbar contains functions for configuring playback and recording settings.
The Audio setup button shows a dropdown menu with options to change the host playback device, recording device and channels, and other audio settings.
Share audio toolbar
The Share audio toolbar contains functions for sharing your project online.
The Share audio button shows a dialog box with options to share your project publically or privately with other Audacity users.
Recording meter toolbar
The Recording meter toolbar shows the input signal volume and controls the recording level.
The Recording meter shows how loud audio gets recorded in the project.
When it’s active during recording or monitoring, it shows gradient meter bars that move and change color based on the input signal volume:
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Green indicates that the audio is not clipped or distorted. An ideal input signal range is between -12 dB and -6 dB.
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Yellow indicates that the audio is at risk of getting clipped or distorted. An ideal input signal maximum is -6 dB.
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Red indicates that the audio will likely get clipped or distorted. Clipping occurs when the input signal exceeds 0 dB.
If you’re recording in stereo, the gradient meter bars will move and change independently in separate left (L) and right (R) channels in the Recording meter.
The slider changes the recording level:
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To increase the recording level, drag the slider to the right.
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To decrease the recording level, drag the slider to the left.
The Microphone button shows a dropdown menu with options to monitor audio and configure Recording meter options.
Playback meter toolbar
The Playback meter toolbar shows the output signal volume and controls the playback level.
The Playback meter shows how loud audio gets played in the project.
When it’s active during playback, it shows gradient meter bars that move and change color based on the output signal volume:
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Green indicates that the audio is not clipped or distorted. An ideal output signal range is between -12 dB and -6 dB.
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Yellow indicates that the audio is at risk of getting clipped or distorted. An ideal output signal maximum is -6 dB.
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Red indicates that the audio will likely get clipped or distorted. Clipping occurs when the output signal exceeds 0 dB.
If you're playing a track that was recorded in stereo, the gradient meter bars will move and change independently in separate left (L) and right (R) channels in the Playback meter.
The slider changes the playback level:
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To increase the playback level, drag the slider to the right.
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To decrease the playback level, drag the slider to the left.
The Speaker button shows a dropdown menu with an option to configure Playback meter options.
Timeline
The Timeline contains a horizontal ruler that measures a track’s length. The horizontal ruler changes scale as you zoom in and out of the project.
It also shows a Play/Record button and Playback and Record cursors. These change appearance depending on whether audio is currently being played or recorded and whether the Play/Record head is pinned or unpinned.
The Timeline during playback.
The Timeline during recording.
Use the Timeline when playing and recording audio:
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Play/Record head button controls the Timeline’s appearance and functionality. It shows a menu with options to change the horizontal ruler’s measurement units, loop audio, and pin or unpin the Play/Record head.
By default, the horizontal ruler measures in minutes and seconds. To change the measurement units to beats and measures, click the Play/Record head button and select Beats and Measures.
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Playback start position cursor indicates the point on the horizontal ruler where audio will start playing when you press the Play button. Clicking on the waveform moves the cursor to the corresponding position on the horizontal ruler.
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Playback cursor indicates the point on the Timeline where audio is currently being played:
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When unpinned, the cursor moves along the horizontal ruler during playback. If Update display while playing is enabled, both the cursor and track scroll as audio plays.
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When pinned, the cursor stays in a fixed position in the middle of the horizontal ruler and the track scrolls during playback.
Clicking the Timeline during playback moves the Playback cursor to the clicked position on the horizontal ruler.
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Record cursor indicates the point on the Timeline where audio is currently being recorded:
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When unpinned, the cursor moves along the horizontal ruler and the track scrolls during recording. If Update display while playing is enabled, both the cursor and track scroll as audio gets recorded.
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When pinned, the cursor stays in a fixed position in the middle of the horizontal ruler and the track scrolls during recording.
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The Timeline also shows where audio loops. To create a loop region where audio will loop during playback, drag the cursor over the desired section on the Timeline. To delete the looping region, right-click the Timeline and select Clear Loop.
Track control panel
The Track control panel shows track management options, such as functions to rename, move, delete, and collapse a track. Track control panels differ in appearance depending on the track type.
In an audio track, the Track control panel shows additional buttons and information, such as the audio track’s status and functions for various playback, selection, and editing controls.
Use the Track control panel to manage tracks:
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X button deletes the track from the project.
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Track dropdown menu shows additional track options, including options for naming tracks, moving tracks, changing waveform color and sample rate, and converting track type.
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Mute button silences the track during playback.
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Solo button mutes all other tracks except the selected track during playback.
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Realtime effects button shows a sidebar with options to use non-destructive plug-ins that can be adjusted in real time.
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Gain slider controls the track’s volume level relative to all other tracks in the project.
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Pan slider controls how loud the track plays in the left and right output device (headphone or speaker).
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Status indicator shows the track type, sample rate, and sample format.
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Upwards arrow button collapses the track’s waveform in the project window.
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Select button selects the entire track.
Vertical scale
The Vertical scale measures the waveform amplitude in an audio track and the speed and pitch in a time track. Vertical scales differ in appearance depending on the track type.
In an audio track, the Vertical scale shows the waveform amplitude levels. It measures audio loudness and controls the track’s vertical zoom settings.
Mono tracks contain one Vertical scale, and stereo tracks contain two Vertical scales (one for each channel).
Right-clicking the Vertical scale shows options to change the audio track’s scale settings and vertical zoom levels.
By default, the Vertical scale’s measurement setting is set to Linear (amp) or a linear scale with amplitude values. 1.0 indicates the maximum positive signal value, and -1.0 indicates the maximum negative signal value. If the waveform exceeds either 1.0 or -1.0, audio clipping or distortion may occur.
The Logarithmic (dB) setting measures using a logarithmic scale with decibel values, and the Linear (dB) setting measures using a linear scale with decibel values. If the waveform exceeds 0 dB on either end of the scale, audio clipping or distortion may occur.
In a time track, the Vertical scale shows the playback speed and pitch levels. It measures the audio's speed and pitch, which are controlled using the time warp line.
Right-clicking the Vertical scale shows options to change the time track’s scale (either to a Linear scale or Logarithmic scale) and speed limit range.
By default, the Vertical scale’s measurement setting is set to Linear scale. The 100 point indicates the normal audio speed (100%). The number above 100 is the upper speed limit (maximum speed change allowed), and the number below 100 is the lower speed limit (minimum speed change allowed). To change the upper and lower speed limits, select Range.
In a label track, the Vertical scale shows nothing.
Track
The Track is a project component that you can edit independently. A project can contain multiple tracks, which get combined as a single track after mixing or exporting.
In Audacity, there are three main types of tracks:
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Mono track
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Stereo track
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Audio track
An audio track shows audio data from an audio source, such as an individual instrument in a musical performance, voiceover in a podcast, or song in a mashup compilation. A project may contain multiple tracks, such as one for voiceover, a second for another voiceover, and a third for background music.
Audio tracks contain one or more clips that show audio data represented as waveforms. Clips can be split into smaller clips that you can edit independently or move elsewhere in the same track or in a different track.
Mono track
A mono track is an audio track that shows a waveform in one channel. Audio in the single channel plays evenly in the left and right speakers or headphones.
Stereo track
A stereo track is an audio track that shows a waveform in two separate channels: a left and right channel. Audio in the left channel plays in the left speaker or headphone, and audio in the right channel plays in the right speaker or headphone.
Depending on how the track was recorded, the waveforms in the two channels may differ slightly.
Label track
A label track shows annotations for specific points or sections of audio. You can use label tracks to create notes and navigate through the project more easily.
A point label annotates a specific point of audio, and a region label annotates a specific section of audio.
Time track
A time track shows speed and pitch changes that affect all tracks in the project. You can use a time track to gradually increase or decrease speed and pitch.
The time warp line controls the speed and pitch level. The 100 point on the time track’s Vertical scale indicates the normal audio speed (100%).
A control point adjusts a specific point on the time warp line.
Adjusting the time warp line or a control point above or below 100 changes the speed and pitch:
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To increase the speed and pitch, drag the time warp line or control point above 100.
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To decrease the speed and pitch, drag the time warp line or control point below 100.
Snapping toolbar
The Snapping toolbar contains functions for snapping the cursor or current audio selection.
The Snap checkbox enables and disables the ability to snap the cursor or audio selection to the nearest millisecond or other selected time format. By default, snapping is disabled.
The dropdown menu shows options to change the time format. It's enabled when the Snap checkbox is checked.
Time toolbar
The Time toolbar shows the current audio position on the Timeline. During recording and playback, the display field shows the Play/Record head’s current position and timestamp. Outside of recording and playback, the display field shows the cursor’s current position and timestamp in the track.
Clicking the downwards arrow beside the display field shows a dropdown menu with options to change the time format.
Selection toolbar
The Selection toolbar shows the start and end times of the current audio selection.
The start time display field shows the selection’s current start time, and the end time display field shows the selection’s current end time. Clicking the downwards arrow beside either display field shows a dropdown menu with options to change the time format.
The cogwheel button shows a dropdown menu with options to change the selection display field’s format.
Play-at-speed toolbar
The Play-at-speed toolbar controls playback speed.
The Play-at-speed button plays audio at the speed indicated by the slider.
The slider changes the playback speed:
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To increase the playback speed, drag the slider to the right.
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To decrease the playback speed, drag the slider to the left.
Double-clicking the slider shows a dialog box with a field box and slider for adjusting the playback speed more precisely.
Status bar
The Status bar shows the project’s playback and recording status. It also shows information about Audacity’s GUI whenever you hover the cursor over a button, meter, or slider.
During playback, the Status bar shows the project status and actual rate, which is the active sample rate at which Audacity communicates to the sound card or audio interface.
During recording, the Status bar shows the project status, amount of free disk space left for recording, and actual rate, which is the active sample rate at which the sound card or audio interface communicates to Audacity.
