AUDIO AI

Audacity: free AI plugins for noise removal and transcription

By AiCoN | Published 9 October 2026 | Sources checked 9 October 2026

Audacity is a free audio editor, and its free OpenVINO AI plugins add noise removal, stem splitting and Whisper transcription that run on your own PC. Check version compatibility before you install.

Check your Audacity version firstThe official OpenVINO download page warns that these plugins are not yet compatible with the latest Audacity version. Read the plugin release instructions and use its supported Audacity version, not automatically the newest installer.

Official app preview

Intel OpenVINO noise suppression dialog showing inference device model and advanced controls — Official Intel project documentation illustration of the OpenVINO Noise Suppression controls. The NPU shown is one example, not a promise that every computer supports it. Older documented UI, not an AiCoN installation or accuracy test. Official source. Open original 779 × 618 image. Media checked 22 October 2026. Independent guide, not sponsored.

What it is

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editor. Intel makes a free set of AI plugins for it, called OpenVINO AI plugins. The Audacity site lists these effects: music separation into drums, bass, vocals and other instruments, noise suppression, music generation, Whisper speech-to-text transcription, and audio super resolution. The plugin page says the AI features run on your own PC with no internet needed.

Is it free

Yes. Audacity's transcription page says: "Audacity is free and open source, and the OpenVINO AI plugin that powers Whisper Transcription is also free." It also says there are no minute caps, no subscriptions and no watermarks.

How to try it

Check the OpenVINO plugin release instructions first, then install the supported Audacity version from the official site.
Download the OpenVINO AI plugin from the Audacity AI plugins page and install it.
Open a recording, select the part you want, and choose the effect. For transcription, go to Analyze, then OpenVINO Whisper Transcription.
Pick a Whisper model and language, then click Apply. The text appears as a label track you can export as subtitles or text.

Limits to know

This is for a computer, not a phone. Rechecked 22 October 2026: Audacity's official plugin page links Windows and macOS installers. Its macOS link points to v3.7.1-R4.2-beta-3, a beta package, not a claim of compatibility with the latest Audacity. Intel's project provides Windows release and Linux build instructions; we did not verify a ready-made Linux installer. The Mac repository's generic advice to use the latest Audacity conflicts with the download page warning, so follow the version-specific release instructions instead.
Audacity's own plugin page warns that the plugins are not yet compatible with the latest Audacity version. Check the version the plugin page asks for before you install.
Audacity says larger Whisper models are more accurate but slower. Noisy audio and overlapping speakers lower accuracy.
We did not test the plugins ourselves.

AiCoN checkRead Audacity's plugin download page, transcription page and AI plugin pages, plus Intel's GitHub project, on 9 October 2026. We quote no speed or accuracy numbers.

Frequently asked questions

Does it work offline?

Audacity says processing runs on your own computer. Downloading Audacity, the plugins and any required model files still needs an internet connection first.

Which Whisper model is used?

Audacity says it runs OpenAI's Whisper speech model through whisper.cpp.

Sources: Audacity AI plugins download, Audacity transcription page, Audacity plugins, AI, Intel OpenVINO plugins on GitHub. Checked 9 October 2026.

Official plugin download page and Windows/macOS release instructions rechecked 22 October 2026. A macOS beta package is now linked; the latest-Audacity compatibility warning still applies. Other statements retain their original source-check date. Original publication date is unchanged.