Audacity® is free, open source software for recording and editing sounds. It is available for macOS, Microsoft Windows, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. Learn more about Audacity... Also check our Forum for more information.
License: Audacity is free software. You may use it for any personal, commercial or educational purpose, including installing it on as many different computers as you wish. Audacity is licensed under the terms of version 3 of the GNU General Public License (GPL) as published by the Free Software Foundation. The full text of the license is also available when running Audacity, via the Help menu > About Audacity... command > GPL License tab.
BIAB & RB2025 Win.(Audiophile), Sonar Platinum, Cakewalk by Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M Monitors, Pioneer Active Monitors, AKG K271 Studio H'phones
For my duo's backing tracks (http://s-cats.com) I make the tracks using MIDI, then record into Audacity. I export them as 192 mp3 files, and load them on a ThinkPad laptop to take to the gig.
Why mp3? I started this when 2G was the maximum RAM a computer could access.
I did a blind test with musicians, one who had her ears recently tested as perfect. Then I played them rendered as WAV and mp3 with various bit rates. 192 was the best compromise. The difference in the very high frequencies was barely noticeable, and in the noisy nightclub environment which I gig in, that would not be noticed.
If I had to start all over again, I'd choose WAV files.
I've been using Acon Digital's Acoustica Premium Edition for years, and haven't looked at Audacity for a long time. But...I recently switched from Presonus' Notion (which has been stuck on v6 for a long time, and for a couple of years has failed to connect to its update server) to MuseScore v4. I never realized that MuseScore and Audacity were related. A couple of weeks ago, I uninstalled MuseHub because it irritated me, but I think I'll reinstall it and check out Audacity.
ThinkPad i9 32GB RAM 7TB SSD; Win11 Pro; RME Fireface UCX II; BiaB 2025 Ultra Bitwig Studio 5; Studio One Pro 7; Melodyne Studio 5; Acoustica Premium 7 Gig Performer 5; NI S61 MK3; Focal Shape 65; Beyerdynamic DT 880 & 770
For my duo's backing tracks (http://s-cats.com) I make the tracks using MIDI, then record into Audacity. I export them as 192 mp3 files, and load them on a ThinkPad laptop to take to the gig.
Why mp3? I started this when 2G was the maximum RAM a computer could access.
I did a blind test with musicians, one who had her ears recently tested as perfect. Then I played them rendered as WAV and mp3 with various bit rates. 192 was the best compromise. The difference in the very high frequencies was barely noticeable, and in the noisy nightclub environment which I gig in, that would not be noticed.
If I had to start all over again, I'd choose WAV files.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
In my tests many years ago, 192 was a pretty good trade-off. I actually rendered everything at 320 because I could hear a slight loss of the very low end between 256 and 320 on the 9 speaker (8 plus a hefty subwoofer) Harmon Kardon stereo in my Nissan truck. I couldn't even hear any difference on my home DAW monitors at the time.
Now, it's .WAV or .FLAC. I have 7 TB of SSD, so I'm less concerned about disk space used. Also, Gig Performer added a Streaming Audio File Player (SAFP) with a recent update, so the whole backing track doesn't need to be loaded into RAM at once.
Last edited by TheMaartian; 11/06/2309:43 PM.
ThinkPad i9 32GB RAM 7TB SSD; Win11 Pro; RME Fireface UCX II; BiaB 2025 Ultra Bitwig Studio 5; Studio One Pro 7; Melodyne Studio 5; Acoustica Premium 7 Gig Performer 5; NI S61 MK3; Focal Shape 65; Beyerdynamic DT 880 & 770
<...snip...> Now, it's .WAV or .FLAC. I have 7 TB of SSD, so I'm less concerned about disk space used. <...>
If I had to do it all over again, that's what I'd use.
I can't bring 7TB of SSD in my laptop and bring it to the gig. We have over 650 songs in our playlist, and some of them have been recorded more than once at different tempos or arrangements to make them useful in different circumstances.
I'm thinking about 320, but I don't want the new songs we learn to 'outshine' the old ones. But I suspect the general public wouldn't notice.
I'm using ElectroVoice ZLX15P speakers on the gig, and they reproduce the sound quite well for the gig needs. I also use a BBE Sonic Maximizer which when used properly, brightens the highs without over EQing them, and with the low contour, I can add more bass punch if I need it for a particular gig.
I upgraded to Audacity 3.42 the day it was made available. Been using Audacity since the early 2000s. It's the closest thing I have to a DAW. With these new updates, it covers almost all my editing and mixing needs. Every vocal my wife and I have recorded was accomplished using Audacity with an AT-35 condenser mic. We get pretty danged good sounds with it. If interested, we have a couple of songs on the first page or two of the Showcase forum - you can listen to one or two of them to hear the quality sound we get with it. Not looking for cheap listens or comments - just letting you know they're there for you to evaluate the quality of our efforts, as a reference, using Audacity, should you choose to do so.
I have Cakewalk but don't really really know how to use it - so I don't. Audacity has served me well. And my budget likes the price!
Although it's a bit early, Merry Christmas to everyone. Hope it's the best ever.
Update your Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows® Today!
If you’ve already purchased Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®, great news—a new update is now available! This update introduces a handy new feature: a vertical cursor in the Tracks window that shows the current location across all tracks, and more.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator
With Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®, we've introduced an exciting new feature: the AI Lyrics Generator! In this video, Tobin guides you step-by-step on how to make the most of this new tool.
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Boot Camp: The AI Lyrics Generator video.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins
Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows® now includes support for VST3 plugins, bringing even more creative possibilities to your music production. Join Simon as he guides you through the process in this easy-to-follow demonstration!
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using VST3 Plugins
Video: Band-in-a-Box 2025 for Windows: Using The BB Stem Splitter!
In this video, Tobin provides a crash course on using the new BB Stem Splitter feature included in Band-in-a-Box 2025® for Windows®. During this process he also uses the Audio Chord Wizard (ACW) and the new Equalize Tempo feature.
Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows®: Using the BB Stem Splitter
Check out the forum post for some optional Tips & Tricks!
Congrats to Misha (Rustyspoon)…downloaded/installed a full Audiophile 2025!
Breaking News!
We’re thrilled to announce that Rustyspoon has made PG history as the very first person to successfully complete the download and install of the full Band-in-a-Box 2025 Windows Audiophile Edition (with FLAC files)—a whopping 610GB of data!
A big shoutout to Rustyspoon for stepping up to be our test "elf!"
With the launch of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows, we're adding new videos to our YouTube channel. We'll also share them here once they are published so you can easily find all the Band-in-a-Box® 2025 and new Add-on videos in one place!
Whether it's a summary of the new features, demonstrations of the 202 new RealTracks, new XPro Styles PAK 8, or Xtra Styles PAKs 18, information on the 2025 49-PAK, or detailed tutorials for other Band-in-a-Box® 2025 features, we have you covered!
Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Windows is here, packed with major new features and an incredible collection of available new content! This includes 202 RealTracks (in Sets 449-467), plus 20 bonus Unreleased RealTracks in the 2025 49-PAK. There are new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 4, two new sets of “RealDrums Stems,” XPro Styles PAK 8, Xtra Styles PAK 19, and more!
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We've packed our Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK with some incredible Add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is automatically included with most Band-in-a-Box® for Windows 2025 packages, but for even more Add-ons (including 20 Unreleased RealTracks!) upgrade to the 2025 49-PAK for only $49. You can see the full lists of items in each package, and listen to demos here.
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