Audacity Keyboard Shortcuts
60+ Audacity shortcuts for audio recording, editing, and effects. Free audio editor reference for all platforms.
Transport
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Play / Stop | |
| Record | |
| Append Record | |
| Pause / Resume | |
| Skip to start | |
| Skip to end | |
| Loop play |
Edit
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Undo | |
| Redo | |
| Cut | |
| Copy | |
| Paste | |
| Duplicate | |
| Delete selection | |
| Silence selection | |
| Trim audio outside selection | |
| Split clip at cursor | |
| Join clips |
Selection
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Select all | |
| Select none | |
| Select cursor to start | |
| Select cursor to end | |
| Zoom to selection |
View
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Zoom normal | |
| Zoom in | |
| Zoom out | |
| Zoom to fit | |
| Zoom to fit selection | |
| Fit project in window |
Tracks
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New audio track | |
| Close track | |
| Navigate between tracks | |
| Mute/Unmute track | |
| Solo/Unsolo track |
Tools
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Selection tool | |
| Selection tool | |
| Envelope tool | |
| Draw tool | |
| Zoom tool | |
| Time Shift tool | |
| Multi-tool mode |
Effects
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Export audio | |
| Repeat last effect | |
| Compressor | |
| Normalize |
Labels
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Add label at selection | |
| Add label at playback position |
File
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New project | |
| Open | |
| Save project | |
| Export audio | |
| Import audio |
Pro tips
Noise Reduction Workflow
Select a noise-only section → Effect → Noise Reduction → Get Noise Profile. Then select entire audio → Noise Reduction → apply. This learns the noise pattern for precise removal.
Macro Chains
Create macro chains (Tools → Macros) to batch-process multiple files. Record a sequence of effects and apply them to hundreds of files automatically - perfect for podcast processing.
Punch and Roll Recording
Use Transport → Recording → Punch and Roll to seamlessly re-record mistakes. Place cursor before the error, and Audacity plays back then starts recording at the punch point.
Use Labels for Editing
Add labels (Ctrl+B) to mark sections before editing. Use Edit → Labels → Split Clip to divide long recordings into segments. Labels export as text files for reference.
Spectral Selection
Switch to Spectrogram view and use spectral selection to isolate specific frequencies. Great for removing hums, buzzes, or other frequency-specific noise.
Non-destructive Workflow
Always work on a copy. Use File → Save As to create project backups before destructive edits. Audacity's undo history is lost when you close - save frequently.
Frequently asked questions
Is Audacity free?
Yes, Audacity is free and open-source software available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It's one of the most popular audio editors in the world with no paid features or subscriptions.
Can Audacity record system audio?
On Windows, enable 'Windows WASAPI' as the host and select a loopback device. On macOS, you'll need a virtual audio driver like BlackHole or Soundflower. Linux supports PulseAudio monitor devices.
What audio formats does Audacity support?
Audacity natively supports WAV, AIFF, MP3, OGG, FLAC, and more. For MP3 export, it uses the built-in LAME encoder. Additional formats are available through the FFmpeg library.
Can Audacity do multi-track recording?
Yes, Audacity supports multi-track recording and mixing. Add new tracks, record on separate channels, and mix them down. However, it lacks real-time effects processing that DAWs like Reaper or FL Studio offer.
Is Audacity good for podcasting?
Yes, Audacity is excellent for podcast editing. It handles recording, noise reduction, compression, EQ, and export well. Many professional podcasters started with Audacity before moving to DAWs for more complex workflows.
Does Audacity support VST plugins?
Yes, Audacity supports VST2 and LADSPA plugins on Windows and Linux, and Audio Unit plugins on macOS. VST3 support is limited. Place plugins in the appropriate folder and enable them in Effects → Plugin Manager.
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