Issues with Audacity (and the solution)

Audacity is excellent free software but has a significant downside for long-term use, especially for professional users.

By professional users, I mean those building a voice-over career or who make audio editing a major part of their work.

Here’s why: using Audacity can feel like being on a hamster wheel. New major versions are frequently released, often with big changes.

This is partly due to its acquisition by Muse Group, which aims to integrate its audio products seamlessly. Adapting to each new update can be challenging for non-technical users.

Many users avoid upgrading Audacity to maintain stability, but this isn’t ideal. Your operating system will continue to receive updates, making older Audacity versions prone to compatibility issues or bugs.

Another issue with Audacity is its lack of features for producing high-quality audio.

While it’s great for recording, it lacks advanced tools for enhancing sound quality. Let’s explore what’s missing and what to do about it.

The best solution may be to switch to more stable software.

Though several options exist, I recommend Adobe Audition or Reaper.

Adobe Audition is widely used by professionals, while Reaper offers strong features but has a steeper learning curve.

Why do people stick with Audacity?

Mostly, it’s because of its simplicity. The interface is user-friendly, making it easy to start. Moving to a program like Adobe Audition may seem complex by comparison.

However, if you already know your way around Audacity, transitioning to Adobe Audition can be smoother than you think. I plan to create a course to help with this switch.

For now, I offer one-on-one guidance via video calls for those enrolled in the course.

So, what challenges do Audacity users face when aiming for high-quality audio, and why is it costly over time?

For quick projects, Audacity is fine. But over time, the small issues add up.

Beyond the frequent updates, Audacity lacks specific tools for producing top-quality audio. Common issues in voice recordings include:

• Background noise

• Mouth clicks or lip smacks

• Equalization (EQ) adjustments

• Sibilance (harsh “s” sounds)

While good recordings help, some of these issues are unavoidable.

Audacity’s solutions are limited. For instance, its noise reduction can distort audio if used heavily.

Adobe Audition offers a better noise reduction effect, but even for top-quality audio, third-party plugins like Waves Clarity Vx or SuperTone Clear are essential.

Audacity’s EQ capabilities are basic. Its Filter Curve EQ lacks the flexibility of Adobe Audition’s parametric equalizer.

To achieve comparable results, you’d need third-party plugins.

For mouth clicks, Audacity has no built-in tool. Basic plugins exist but aren’t suitable for professional work.

Adobe Audition has better tools, though serious click issues might require tools like iZotope RX or Acon Digital De-Clicker.

Audacity users often ask: why not just use third-party plugins with it?

Unfortunately, Audacity isn’t fully supported by plugin vendors, and many plugins are incompatible.

For instance, iZotope plugins cause Audacity to crash on my computer.

Some users struggle to make Clarity Vx work in Audacity.

One workaround is to export audio from Audacity, process it in another program with compatible plugins, and then re-import it.

However, this back-and-forth workflow is inefficient and time-consuming, especially over long-term use.

If you’re committed to audio editing, I highly recommend switching to better software.

The initial learning curve may feel slow, but it’s worth it. If you’ve encountered issues with Audacity in your work, you likely know what I mean.

My suggestion?

Go with Adobe Audition or Reaper.

While many options exist, I’m limiting my recommendations to make the decision easier.

I currently offer tutorials for Adobe Audition, but not yet for Reaper.

If you move to Adobe Audition, I can support you with my Adobe Audition Bundle and migration tutorials.

To learn more, feel free to email me at [email protected].

If you saw a sponsored ad earlier, please note it’s from a newsletter sponsor and does not influence my opinions on audio editing.