Feedback within The Verge newsroom included comments like “it seems as though someone stepped on the Apple Music icon,” and “debating whether the new logo resembles a sperm, and largely concluding yes.” However, beyond the branding, Audacity 4 appears to be a much-needed upgrade.

Martin Keary, VP of product at Muse, uploaded an almost hour-long YouTube video explaining the challenges faced by Audacity, the reasoning behind the design changes, and updates on version 4, expected for release in early 2026. One major improvement addresses what Keary terms as “Audacity says ‘no’.” These are instances where Audacity restricts actions, often providing no explanation beyond a simple pop-up (if you’re fortunate). He provides several examples:

If you attempt to drag a clip past another, it is obstructed. No. If you copy a clip and lack enough space to paste it, no room. If you try selecting multiple clips… no.

Addressing these requires altering the UI’s behavior, like automatically trimming a clip if pasting over it, and eliminating multiple “modes” that restricted audio interaction. The team introduced meters for individual tracks, simplified trimming and time-stretching (just click and drag the clip’s edge), and added a split tool to enhance audio management.

Some users may dislike the removal of the Sync Lock feature, but as an Audacity veteran, I affirm it was a confusing feature. Managing and synchronizing multiple audio tracks is challenging, but the strategies outlined in version 4 are more logical (to me, at least). The addition of a more customizable, modern interface that’s clearer to read suggests Audacity 4 could indeed be a significant advancement for the longstanding audio editor. Hopefully, they will address the branding before its official launch in 2026.