Audacity releases major version 4.0 update

Audacity has released version 4.0, marking its most significant update in over two decades. The free, open-source audio editor has transitioned toward a workflow more closely resembling modern digital audio workstations (DAWs).

A primary feature of this update is the introduction of non-destructive editing. Users can now trim audio clips without permanently deleting the discarded segments; the original audio can be recovered simply by dragging the clip edge back. Additionally, clips can now overlap, be moved freely across the timeline, and be grouped or split using a dedicated tool.

The software also features a redesigned user interface with customizable themes, a new Home screen for project organization, and real-time effects that can be adjusted or removed prior to export. While the update introduces a new project format (*.aup4), it maintains compatibility with older *.aup3 files through conversion.

Some legacy features, including MIDI tracks, the Mixer, and the Macro Manager, are temporarily unavailable in this initial release but are expected to return in future updates.