Muse Group Audacity

It couldn't be easier to install: You can download it from multiple "official" sites, click on it and that's it!
The overall configuration is quite simple, although maybe a bit complicated for beginners ("what's a VSTi?," "you know Asio4all?"....)
No incompatibilities.
Under the Help tab there's a link to the manual.
Oh, I almost forgot its SIMPLICITY and its INTUITIVE interface!

PERFORMANCE

It's amazing how this software works even on an Atari!
I have no complaints. It's very stable.

OVERALL OPINION

I think I've been using it for 8 years and it was my first software, which is important because the first one will always remain the first one, especially considering that it will make you feel like Trent Reznor after one hour of use. It took me some time to master it 100% (90% actually, because the effects are awful), but now people can't believe their ears! Listen for yourself! --
EVERYTHING IS DONE WITH THIS FREE SOFTWARE! Not bad, huh? =)

After some time you'll obviously move on to the next model: I use music creator 5, which is much more comprehensive. However, I had a hard time in the beginning because Audacity is so intuitive that you can easily get lost with "bigger" software programs.

The pros: The price (oh yeah!), stability, some powerful editing tools (noise reduction, amp. the tool to view and correct distortion, the small crayon to modify curves, which is very handy when you messed up with the mic, and even the mono/stereo switch, etc.) and the easy-to-use interface!

The cons: Effects are pretty bad, it lacks MIDI support.

Hassle-free installation on all sorts of computers (even old junk supports the software), it's easy to set up for any mortal without being a computer expert!

It's really practical in standalone mode (on a usb key, for instance)!

PERFORMANCE

I've tested it on many setups and it works fine on all of them (maybe not on Atari ST...).

It recognizes almost all audio connections on your computer!

OVERALL OPINION

I've had it for over 10 years! It has helped me modify quite a few tracks on the fly during shows.

The quality depends on your recording soundcard.

It's a Swiss army knife you should ALWAYS have with you! And it's free! You should obviously not expect a Pro Tools or Cubase, it's basic but it does what it does fine!

If you want to record your riffs and make basic mixes without hassles, Audacity is a must have! Personally, I always keep with me a USB key with Audacity on it!

Audacity is a program that I have been using for years now. It is a software that is free and it seems to come with a lot of other programs that you purchase as just like a bonus add on software. Though I really don’t use Audacity that much anymore (I use to use it a lot). It still comes in handy when I want to drag a clip in it and export it in a different format. That is mainly what I use it for. It doesn’t take much computer space up so it doesn’t hurt just having it sit on my desktop until I feel the need to use it.


SUITABILITY/PERFORMANCE

I cant ever recall having any problems with Audacity, it has run perfect in windows xp, windows vista and I have even used it on an old windows 98 computer. It works great in each of them, I wish other softwares where as universal as Audacity has been over the last few years. It is very stable!


OVERALL OPINION

Overall, I wouldn’t feel the need in just going online and downloading this, unless you are really in need of a recording program and can afford to go out and pay a few bucks for a good one. That would be the only reason I would see someone downloading this. I wouldn’t even have this or been using it every if it didn’t come with another piece of software that I purchased many years ago. Though I don’t use it much at all anymore its still good to have just incase. Its quick, no long loading times. The menus are short and right to the point. No manual is needed either everything and I mean everything is self explanatory if you understand basic audio recording interfaces. You have nothing to lose with Audacity, download it and try it out.