In short
- Free and open source, with no ads or subscription.
- Multiple tracks, real-time effects, noise reduction and loudness normalisation.
- Exports to MP3, WAV, FLAC and other formats.
It’s for you if…
- You edit podcasts, voice-overs, interviews or recorded lessons.
- You want to remove noise and even out the volume without paying a subscription.
- You work on Linux or across several systems.
Better pick something else if…
- You edit audio for video with tight sync: Audition shows the video and Audacity doesn’t.
- You rely on advanced restoration tools or Audition’s Essential Sound panel.
- You need to open your Audition sessions (.sesx): they are not compatible.
From Adobe Audition to Audacity: equivalents
| Adobe Audition | Audacity |
|---|---|
| Multitrack view | A project with several tracks: each imported file goes onto its own track |
| Waveform editor | Direct editing on the waveform: select, cut, copy and paste |
| Spectral frequency display | Spectrogram view from the track menu, with spectral selection |
| Effects rack | Real-time effects on each track (Effects button) |
| Noise reduction | Noise Reduction effect, based on a noise profile |
| Match loudness | Loudness Normalisation effect (LUFS) |
| Markers | Label tracks |
| Batch processing | Macros (Tools menu) |
Step by step
Install Audacity
Download it for free from audacityteam.org for Windows, macOS or Linux. MP3 export is already included.
Bring over your Audition sessions
Audacity doesn’t open .sesx files. In Audition, export each track (or the mix) as WAV and drag them into Audacity: each file goes onto its own track.
Clean up background noise
Select a few seconds containing only noise, open the Noise Reduction effect and get the noise profile. Then select the whole track, go back to the effect and apply it with moderate settings.
Edit and arrange
Cut silences and mistakes by selecting and deleting them. Move clips in time to line up voices, music and intros, and adjust each track’s volume with its gain control.
Even out the volume
Apply Loudness Normalisation to each track or to the mix; for podcasts, around -16 LUFS in stereo is a common target.
Add real-time effects
With each track’s Effects button you can add EQ or compression and hear them while playing back, without changing the audio until you export.
Export
Use File › Export Audio and choose MP3 for publishing or WAV for archiving. Save the project (.aup3) too so you can keep editing.
Files and formats
Audacity opens WAV, AIFF, MP3, FLAC and OGG and, with the free optional FFmpeg library, also M4A/AAC, WMA and the audio from many videos. It exports to MP3, WAV, FLAC, OGG and other formats. Projects are saved as a single .aup3 file. Audition sessions (.sesx) can’t be opened: export the tracks as WAV first.
What you won’t find
- It doesn’t show video, so syncing audio to picture is more awkward.
- There is no equivalent to the Essential Sound panel or to all of Audition’s restoration tools.
- Many effects are applied directly to the audio: save the project or a copy before processing.
Tips
- Always record a few seconds of silence at the start: you can use it as the noise profile.
- Create a macro with your usual chain (noise reduction, compressor and normalisation) and apply it to every episode.
- Export the master copy as WAV and the published version as MP3.
- If you want the same thing without telemetry, try Tenacity, an Audacity fork.
Comparison: Audacity vs ocenaudio, which one to pick?
Frequently asked questions
Is Audacity completely free?
Yes. It is free software: no cost, no ads, no subscription and no duration limits.
Can I open my Audition sessions?
No. Export each track from Audition as WAV and import them into Audacity, where each file goes onto its own track.
Is Audacity good for podcasts?
Yes: it records multiple tracks, removes noise, evens out loudness and exports to MP3, the format podcast platforms ask for.
Independent: we have no commercial relationship, sponsorship or affiliation with Adobe Audition or with these alternatives, and nobody pays us to recommend them. Links go to their official websites and are not affiliate links; the site is funded only by Google AdSense ads, which don't influence the selection. Learn more.
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