Toolbars Overview

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Toolbars provide quick access to many functions in Audacity. In some cases the functions provided by a toolbar are available only through that toolbar. Other than the Spectral Selection Toolbar and the Scrub Toolbar, all toolbars are enabled by default. If your desired toolbar is not visible, choose View > Toolbars and click to put a checkmark by the toolbar you wish to enable.
  • The Meter toolbars are a special case. You may have one or both of the separate Recording and Playback Meter toolbars visible (both are visible by default). Alternatively you can have only the Combined Meter Toolbar visible (which displays recording and playback levels in a single meter).
  • The tooltips for the toolbars and tools (visible when hovering over the toobar or tool) will display the shortcut for that tool/toolbar if one is set.


The Toolbars

The individual toolbars are described briefly below. Click on any toolbar title to go the details page for that toolbar, or on the image to go to details for that button.



Transport Toolbar

Grabber for positioning the toolbarFor positioning the toolbarPause for pausing play or recordFor pausing play or recordPlay for starting playbackFor starting playbackStop for stopping play or recordFor stopping play or recordSkip to Start to send play head to startTo send play head to startSkip to End to send play head to endTo send play head to endRecord for starting recordingFor starting recordingToggle loopingToggle loopingTransportToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more


 

  • Controls playback and recording and skips to start or end of project when neither playing or recording.



Tools Toolbar

Alert The Zoom tool has been removed as part of the Toolbar re-arrangement in 3.2.0 and later.
Grabber for positioning the toolbarFor positioning the toolbarZoom for seeing more or less detail of the wavesFor seeing more or less detail of the wavesSelection for selecting audio before applying an effectFor selecting audio before applying an effectMulti Tool combines all other tools in oneEnvelope for modifying the volume amplitudeFor modifying the volume amplitudeCombines all other tools in oneDraw for adjusting individual samplesFor adjusting individual samplesToolsToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more


 

  • Chooses various tools for selection, volume adjustment and zooming.



Edit Toolbar

Grabber for positioning toolbarFor positioning toolbarCut for removing audio, that can then be pasted elsewhereFor removing audioCopy for copying selected audioFor copying selected audioPaste for pasting cut or copied audioFor pastingTrim for silencing audio before and after a selectionFor silencing audio before and after a selectionSilence for silencing selected audioFor silencing audioUndo for undoing the last edit you madeFor undoing the last edit you madeRedo to undo an undoTo undo an undoZoom In for more detailFor more detailZoom Out for an overview of the audioFor an overview of the audioZoom so that selection fits width of displayZoom so that selection fits width of displayZoom so that project fits width of displayZoom so that project fits width of displayZoom Toggle to switch back and forth between two zoom levelsTo switch back and forth between two zoom levelsEditToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more

 

  • Trim audio, silence audio, undo, redo, five zoom tools.
Advice The above image is not accurate for version 3.2 0 and later, the layout and content of this toolbar has changed:
  • It is now a double-height toolbar
  • zoom tools are on the top
  • editing tools are on the bottom
  • The Cut, Copy and Paste tools have been removed - instead Use shortcuts:
    • Ctrl+X is cut (⌘+X on macOS)
    • Ctrl+C is copy (⌘+C on macOS)
    • Ctrl+V is paste (⌘+V on macOS)



Audio Setup Toolbar

The Audio Setup Toolbar. Click to learn more.Audio Setup.png


  • Gives a menu that enables you to manage the setup of your audio input and output devices and adjust the latency of your computer.



Share Audio Toolbar

The Share Audio Toolbar. Click to learn more.Share Audio Toolbar.png
  • Enables you to share your audio on-line with others.




Recording Meter Toolbar

Grabber for positioning the toolbarFor positioning the toolbarRecord Options for setting display optionsFor setting display optionsRecord Meter for showing recording levelsFor  showing recording levelsResizer for lengthening or shortening the toolbarFor lengthening or shortening the toolbarRecordingMeterToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more


 




Playback Meter Toolbar

Grabber for positioning the toolbarFor positioning the toolbarPlayback Options for setting display optionsFor setting display optionsPlay Meter for displaying playback levelsFor displaying playback levelsResizer for lengthening or shortening the toolbarFor lengthening or shortening the toolbarPlaybackMeterToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more


 

  • Displays playback levels.



Scrub Toolbar

Scrub Toolbar
  • Starts, stops or switches to Scrub play or Seek play, and hides or displays the Scrub Ruler.
  • This toolbar is not shown by default. Select View > Toolbars > Scrub Toolbar to show the toolbar, which by default docks in the upper dock.



Device Toolbar

Grabber for positioning the toolbarFor positioning the toolbarAudio Host for selecting which system will manage audioFor selecting which system will manage audioRecording Device for selecting the recording deviceFor selecting the recording deviceRecording Channels for setting mono or stereoFor setting mono or stereoPlayback Device for selecting the playback deviceFor selecting the playback deviceResizer for lengthening or shortening the toolbarFor lengthening or shortening the toolbarDeviceToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more

 

  • Selects audio host, recording device, number of recording channels and playback device.
Tip The Device Toolbar is no longer displayed by default in Audacity. To enable it, click on View > Toolbars and check on Device Toolbar.



Selection Toolbar

Grabber for moving this toolbarFor moving this toolbarProject Rate for setting number of samples per secondFor setting number of samples per secondSnap-To for making selections only at certain intervalsFor making selections only at certain intervalsStart for start of selectionFor start of selectionEnd for end of selectionFor end of selectionSelection Type Chooser for selecting by start/end middle/length etcFor selecting by start/end middle/length etcSelection Toolbar - click on the image to see this toolbar displayed in the default context of the lower tooldock layoutSelectionToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more


 

  • Controls the sample rate of the project, snapping to the selection format

    and adjusts cursor and region position by keyboard input.

    The default position of Selection Toolbar is at the bottom of the main Audacity window, thus it is not visible in the Toolbars image at the top of this page.



Time Toolbar

Grabber for moving this toolbarFor moving this toolbarAudio Position for showing what time play or record head is atFor showing what time play or record head is atResizer for lengthening or shortening the toolbarFor lengthening or shortening the toolbarTime Toolbar - click on the image to see this toolbar displayed in the default context of the lower tooldock layoutTimeToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more


 

  • A read-only toolbar which displays the current audio position. When Audacity is not Playing or Recording this will be either the current cursor position or the beginning of the current selection if present. When Playing or recording it dynamically shows the current Play head or Record head position




Play-at-Speed Toolbar

Grabber for positioning the toolbarFor positioning the toolbarPlay-at-Speed for starting play-at-speedFor starting play-at-speedPlayback Speed for setting playback speedFor setting playback speedResizer for lengthening or shortening the toolbarFor lengthening or shortening the toolbarPlay-at-SpeedToolbarAnnotated.png
Click for details
Click on the image to learn more

 

  • Plays audio at a slower or faster speed than normal, affecting pitch.




Spectral Selection Toolbar

SpectralSelection Toolbar (FrequencyWidth variant)SpectralSelection Toolbar (LowHigh variant)
  • Displays and lets you adjust the current spectral (frequency) selection without having to be in Spectrogram view.
  • This toolbar is not shown by default. Select View > Toolbars > Spectral Selection Toolbar to show the toolbar, which by default docks in the lower dock, beside or under Selection Toolbar.
  • Choose your preferred format option from the dropdown menu above the boxes: Center frequency and Width  menu dropdown or Low and High Frequencies  menu dropdown.
In Center frequency and Width view, to clear the spectral selection entirely just use the Delete key after having clicked on any of the digits (note carefully that this is not the Delete key on the numerical keypad). When in Low and High Frequencies view you can clear either input box individually with the Delete key.




Customizing Toolbar Layout

Tip The size and position of toolbars can be customized. See Customizing Toolbar Layout for details.