I’ve been using Audacity 4 on macOS and I really like the new interface. It feels much cleaner and more comfortable to work with, especially during long recording sessions. I have two UI/UX suggestions:
1. Dockable / pinnable recording input meter
The new microphone level flyout is very useful because it provides a clear numerical dB scale, but I would really like an option to keep it permanently visible while recording.
During long recordings, for example cassette or vinyl transfers, continuously monitoring the input level at a glance is one of the most important things on screen. The small per-track meter is useful, but it is too narrow and does not provide the same immediate numerical feedback as the microphone level flyout.
Since Audacity 4 already supports dockable panels and saveable Workspaces, it would be great if the microphone/input meter could also be:
- pinned open,
- docked horizontally in the top toolbar or vertically at the side,
- and saved as part of a custom Workspace.
There is plenty of available space in the interface, especially on larger displays, and this would be particularly useful for recording-focused Workspaces.
2. Cmd+V does not work in the macOS Save As filename field
When saving a project on macOS, Cmd+V does not paste text into the Save As filename field. Right-click → Paste works correctly, so clipboard access itself is fine.
For example, if I want to duplicate a project naming convention such as:
Cassette 07 - Side A
and paste it into the Save As field before changing A to B, the normal macOS Cmd+V shortcut does nothing. Using the context-menu Paste command works.
It would be great if the standard macOS copy/paste shortcuts worked normally in that dialog.
Apart from these points, I’m really enjoying the Audacity 4 redesign; the new interface and Workspaces are a huge improvement.