Audacity 4 releases major update with rebuilt interface

Muse Group has released Audacity 4, marking the largest structural update to the open-source audio editor in years. The software has been rebuilt using the Qt framework, enabling a modular interface with dockable panels, high-DPI rendering, and customizable workspaces including Modern, Classic, and Musical layouts.

A major technical shift includes the introduction of the .aup4 project format. While Audacity 3 projects remain compatible for opening, the new format does not allow saving files back to older versions. The update also introduces non-destructive clip editing, allowing users to overlap, group, and trim audio without permanently deleting the original data.

New features include a Split tool, ripple editing, and official ASIO support for Windows builds. However, the architectural transition has resulted in the temporary removal of certain advanced features, such as MIDI track support, Macros, and LADSPA plugins. The software remains free and open-source under the GPL v3 license for macOS, Windows, and Linux.