Topics Map > Software Guides > Audacity
Audacity: Interface Overview & Tools
Audacity, Version: 3.1.3. Be aware that different versions of Audacity will vary in appearance and functionality.
![](/images/group278/shared/Audacity/Interface-2022.png)
1. Menu bar: access general program operations such as save, effects, and help.
2. Play Controls: controls from left to right: pause, play, stop, skip to start, skip to end, record.
3. Tools Toolbar: tools used to interact with the project.
4. Recording Meter: monitor the recording volume level.
5. Playback Meter: monitor the playback volume level.
6. Edit Toolbar: editing functions, from left to right: cut, copy, paste, trim, silence, auto, re-do, sync lock, zoom in/out, fit selection/project.
7. Device Toolbar: set the recording and playback volume, as well as the recording and playback devices (microphones and speakers).
8. Timeline: composed of audio tracks, where editing and recording take place.
9. Playhead: indicated the current time position of the playback audio. To move the playhead, use the Selection tool and click within the track.
Tools
![](/images/group278/shared/Audacity/tools-2022.png)
Selection Tool
![](/images/group278/shared/Audacity/selectiontool.png)
The Selection Tool moves the playhead and can be used to highlight sections of a track.
Envelope Tool
![](/images/group278/shared/Audacity/envelopetool.png)
The Envelope Tool enables keyframing, and is used to adjust keyframes.
Draw Tool
![](/images/group278/shared/Audacity/drawtool.png)
Manually redraw the waveform with the Draw Tool.
Zoom Tool
![](/images/group278/shared/Audacity/zoomtool.png)
Click with the Zoom tool to zoom in on the Timeline, shift+click to zoom out.
Multi-Tool
![](/images/group278/shared/Audacity/multitool.png)
The Multi-Tool combines all five tools into one. One tool is available at a time, according to the mouse position and modifier key being used.
- Audacity: Information
- Audacity: Downloading & Installing
- Audacity: Interface Overview & Tools
- Audacity: Recording Audio
- Audacity: The Timeline & Tracks
- Audacity: Importing Audio Files
- Audacity: Editing Audio
- Audacity: Increasing Clip Volume (Amplify)
- Audacity: Fixing Inconsistent Volume (Compressor)
- Audacity: Fading & Adjust Volume in Specific Sections (Keyframing)
- Audacity: Splitting & Panning Tracks
- Audacity: Removing Background Noise
- Audacity: Saving & Sharing Projects
- Audacity: Exporting an Audio File (MP3, WAV, etc)
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