A fresh update of the well-known open-source sound production software, Audacity, is accessible for users to grab.
Audacity version 3.5 presents crucial novel characteristics, progresses, deals with various issues with previous versions, and eradicates a numerous amount of outdated, seldom utilized functions.
Undoubtedly, the highlight is the introduction of the new cloud-storage feature. This enables users to save their Audacity projects on the audio.com portal (registration needed), allowing access to projects from various devices, and facilitating sharing as well as teamwork.
Moreover, crucially, it serves as a backup feature with multiple versions. In case of any setbacks with the project, a previous version can be restored – which is an excellent feature.
Audacity 3.5 also introduces automatic tempo detection for imported loops. However, if you don’t find it helpful or accurate, you can switch it off.
“The detection of tempo is performed through both audio analysis and metadata inspection. If you want your loop to be ready for automatic tempo detection, you can use acidizer tempo tags or even simply note “123 bpm” anywhere in the filename,” mention the developers.
The last significant feature in this release is non-destructive pitch shifting.
Activation seems straightforward: choose a clip, hold the alt key, press the upward arrow key to shift the pitch upwards or press the downward arrow key to shift the pitch downwards. Alternatively, you can adjust via the Pitch & Speed menu option in the newly added clip overflow menu.
Other changes in Audacity 3.5.0:
- Option to skip plugin scanning
- Overflow menu added to clips
- Speed and pitch indicators shown on clips
- “Share audio” item added to File menu
- Export to WebVTT and SubRip + import of SubRip files
- Improved plugin manager
- Zeroline stays centred when zooming in vertically
- Timeline options button changed to settings gear (with options)
- New app icon for macOS
- Improvements to BSD support
Finally, removals — nothing gold can stay, eh? The read-only mouse preferences page, printing options, in-app screenshot tool, and karaoke view have been jettisoned, as have a number of smaller preferences.
The “Vocal reduction and isolation” effect has also been removed from this version as the Intel OpenVINO plugin is said to work better and on a much wider array of content, including mono tracks. The old effect can still be downloaded and added manually, if you prefer/need/miss it.
Overall, Audacity 3.5 is a sizeable update adding further finesse to what remains the best free audio editor for Windows, macOS, Linux, and *BSD systems.
Get Audacity 3.5
See the latest features in action
You download the latest release from the Audacity website and learn more about the latest features on the official Audacity blog.
Linux users can also locate Audacity on Flathub, and there’s an available community-maintained on the Canonical Snap Store. Although neither has been updated to the most recent release at the moment of writing, an update is only a matter of time!