{
  "id": 5373585,
  "title": "Audacity audio-editing app no longer looks like it's from the early 2000s",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/audacity-audio-editing-app-no-longer-looks-like-its-from-the-early-5373585",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-09-03T16:26:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Register",
    "slug": "the-register",
    "url": "https://www.theregister.com/personal-tech/2026/09/03/audacity-audio-editing-app-no-longer-looks-like-its-from-the-early-2000s/5294270"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Audacity, a long-standing open-source audio editing software, has undergone a significant transformation with the release of version 4.0.0. This update has completely revamped the user interface, giving it a fresh look that suits modern software standards. The new UI features a Home screen for recent projects and customizable Workspaces, providing a more contemporary experience for users.\n\nSome of the under-the-hood changes include a redesigned interface on the Qt framework. This change has resulted in a more streamlined editing workflow, reminiscent of modern software rather than outdated tools from the Winamp era. Notable additions to the interface include the ability to move overlapping clips, select multiple clips at once, and group clips for moving as a single object.\n\nOther new features in Audacity 4 include the ability to move clips over one another, replacing the underlying portion where they overlap, and the option to create groups for moving as a single object. Audacity 4 also preserves non-destructive trimming, allowing users to recover trimmed portions of a clip by extending it back into the trimmed-out section.\n\nA dedicated splitting tool has been added, as users have long requested it. Additionally, clip envelopes have been introduced, enabling users to adjust volume and add fades to tracks without altering the original recordings. The built-in effects have also been redesigned, enhancing the overall user experience.\n\nThe team behind Audacity, Muse Group, has been mindful of retaining the software's traditional feel for long-time users. They have ensured that existing keyboard shortcuts remain functional, projects created in Audacity 3 open normally, and the familiar layout of tracks and timeline has been preserved.\n\nMuse Group has expressed gratitude to the open-source community for their contributions, and they have also acknowledged Martin Keary, the former head of product for Muse Group, who played a crucial role in developing Audacity 4. Keary recently defended the early alpha build of Audacity 4 against criticism, clarifying that it is not a full-fledged digital audio workstation (DAW) but rather retains its focus on efficient audio editing.\n\nAudacity 4 can be downloaded from GitHub and MuseHub, catering to those who use Muse's other tools.",
  "summary": "The FOSS tool for audio editing has a fresh coat of paint, and new features to boot",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Register Science",
        "title": "Audacity audio-editing app no longer looks like it's from the early 2000s",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/audacity-audio-editing-app-no-longer-looks-like-its-from-the-early",
        "published": "2026-09-03T16:26:32.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}