New Version Of Audacity Is Available

David H. Lawrence XVII August 18, 2017
19 Comments

Hey, there!

There’s a new version of Audacity, the free audio recording and editing software I use and recommend every day.

It’s been out for a few months now (as of this writing), and many people haven’t yet taken the plunge to update to it. You should.

Here’s how to get it for free.

Visit:

https://www.vo2gogo.com/get-audacity

And just so you know what’s in the new version, here’s what the Audacity development team said about it:

  • Transport improvements
  • Pinned play/record head
  • Scrubbing – user interface improved
  • Timer Record – completion actions added
  • Effects and Generators
  • Stop and Do if paused – stops and carries out your action if you are paused
  • Distortion effect – replaces Hard Limiter and Leveler (not to be confused with the separate piece of software we use called Levelator)
  • Rhythm Track – replaces Click Track
  • Sample Data Import
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • New menu items
  • Audacity Tour Guide – includes some specialized features you may not know
  • New shortcuts
  • Type to Create a Label
  • Track naming
  • True Export to mono MP3
  • SBSMS high quality options – in Change Pitch and Change Tempo
  • Higher precision for ratio – in Compressor
  • Real Time Preview – added for Bass and Treble effect
  • Scrolling on Mac – two fingered swipe and pinch/zoom added

(Don’t worry if any or none of that makes sense to you – you should be using this latest version.)

You can, if you want to immerse yourself in the very technical nature of what’s new, read all about it here:

http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Release_Notes_2.1.3

But more importantly, upgrade here:

https://www.vo2gogo.com/get-audacity

Hope this helps!

David

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  3. Steve Krumlauf September 30, 2014

    David,

    Wow! You’ve left us with yet another example of VO people who “pay it forward.”

    Had it not been for you, I would’ve had no idea that the number one tool in my toolbox had just been upgraded.

    Thank you for the heads-up! Bless you!

  4. Gina Manegio September 30, 2014

    David,
    Thank you for this info!! Unfortunately, I’ve had trouble actually getting the newer version to launch on my computer. Anyone else having this problem?
    Thanks,
    Gina

  8. Linda Roper August 18, 2017

    Dear David, I’m in the middle of a book, not technical and really happy with the way things work. Afraid to change.
    I use your special ACX. Mastermind method of recording . In simple language that a novice can understand what change will I see if I update. What should I avoid. Thank you for all of your wonderful advice. Linda

  9. Amber August 18, 2017

    Dear David,

    Thank you for letting us know about the updated version of Audacity. I have been reading your Daily VO Tips and :60 Second Blogs for some time now, and really enjoy them.

    I have a question about Vocal Sweetening. In a conversation with a person who does Audio and Video Editing, I was told that one of the ways to improve the sound of a person’s voice would be to apply certain vocal sweetening functions or settings. Is there a particular feature(s) in the new version of Audacity that allows for vocal sweetening? What is your professional opinion on vocal sweetening when doing Audiobooks, in particular; but in any area of VO, in general.

    I realize this questions may have been asked and answered by you in the past, my apologies for any redundancy, but I am new to the industry. If there is a VClass of yours that addresses this question, please let me know.

    Many thanks!

    1. David H. Lawrence XVII August 18, 2017

      Vocal sweetening is a process that has very broad applications, and includes everything from EQ to compression to various effects. It depends upon what your original raw recordings sound like, and there’s no one quantifiable way to sweeten audio that applies to every situation. We teach you a process that includes the “vocal sweetening” you need for audiobooks, but it’s not applied when in Audacity.

  10. Marlon Braccia August 18, 2017

    So glad you informed us about the new version. Thank you, my torch, my inspiration! Can you please expound upon the feature you mentioned: Distortion effect – replaces Leveler and Hard Limiter. What should we all be doing now instead please?

    1. David H. Lawrence XVII August 18, 2017

      Leveler in Audacity has nothing to do with our process – I think you may be confusing the Audacity effect called Leveler with the software we use to master called Levelator. I’m updating the article to note that distinction. Everything remains the same in our process.

    1. David H. Lawrence XVII August 18, 2017

      I wouldn’t rock the boat if I didn’t have to (especially if you’re in the middle of a project), but I have had some very recent experience with one of my Pros who just got a new 2017 MacBook (yay!) with Sierra, and for what we use Audacity for, it seems to be solid.

  12. Tansy August 18, 2017

    Audacity is a wonderful “free” software, although nothing is really free so why not join me in making a small donation to audacity to help them keep moving forward with software development that helps us in our daily recording sessions. If you don’t have money to help they accept help in other forms such a software development Etc.

    There is a donate button on the upper right corner of their home page. 🙂 🙂

  13. Jon August 18, 2017

    Curious, and possibly a dumb question, but will I lose all my current settings if I update the software? I have a few EQ settings that someone set up for me and I use constantly, that I would absolutely HATE to lose. I have no idea how he did them either, so I couldn’t duplicate the process.

    1. David H. Lawrence XVII August 18, 2017

      From the manual at http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/preferences.html :

      Upgrading from previous versions or reinstalling
      By default, Audacity settings are not changed when you upgrade from a previous release of Audacity or explicitly uninstall or reinstall Audacity. This allows you to upgrade from a previous Audacity version (legacy 1.3.2 and later) and retain your previous preferences wherever current Audacity still has an equivalent setting.

      ——

      I would absolutely backup your entire system and be ready to restore it whenever you upgrade, and I would also copy down any settings you have for EQ curves, compression ratios and I would save my Chains.