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feat: add delete audio landing page (AUDIO-4664)

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---
import FeaturePageLayout from "../../layouts/FeaturePageLayout.astro";
import DownloadButton from "../../components/button/DownloadButton";
import DownloadMuseHubButton from "../../components/button/DownloadMuseHubButton";
import { Image } from "astro:assets";
import AudacityMockUp from "../../assets/img/HeroBannerImage.webp";
---
<FeaturePageLayout
title="Free Audio Delete Tool – Remove Sections Fast | Audacity"
description="Delete unwanted sections from audio without touching your clipboard. Remove mistakes, strip intros, and clean recordings. Free for Windows, Mac & Linux."
canonical="https://www.audacityteam.org/features/delete/"
>
<Fragment slot="hero">
<section id="main" class="bg-gradient-to-r from-indigo-900 to-blue-700">
<div class="mx-auto px-4 md:px-8 py-4 md:py-8 lg:py-12 max-w-screen-lg">
<div
class="flex flex-col md:flex-row md:items-center md:justify-between gap-8 md:gap-12"
>
<div class="flex flex-col text-center md:text-left md:w-1/2 gap-6">
<h1
class="text-xl sm:text-2xl md:text-3xl lg:text-4xl font-semibold text-white leading-tight"
>
Free Audio Delete Tool &ndash; Remove Unwanted Sections in
Audacity
</h1>
<p class="text-white text-lg opacity-90">
Delete unwanted sections without touching your clipboard. Remove
mistakes, strip intros, and clean recordings.
</p>
<div
class="flex flex-col w-full md:w-fit gap-4 items-center md:items-start pb-2"
>
<DownloadMuseHubButton client:load />
<noscript><DownloadMuseHubButton client:load /></noscript>
<DownloadButton client:load />
<noscript><DownloadButton client:load /></noscript>
</div>
</div>
<div class="hidden md:block md:w-1/2">
<Image
src={AudacityMockUp}
alt="A laptop showing the Audacity application"
width={668}
quality={80}
loading="eager"
class="w-full h-auto"
/>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</section>
</Fragment>
<div class="not-prose my-6 rounded-lg border border-blue-200 bg-blue-50 p-6">
<h3 class="mb-3 text-lg font-semibold text-blue-900">
Delete audio in 4 steps:
</h3>
<ol class="list-decimal space-y-2 pl-5 text-blue-800">
<li>
Click and drag across the waveform to select the part you want to remove
</li>
<li>
Press <code class="rounded bg-blue-100 px-1">Ctrl+K</code> (Windows/Linux)
or <code class="rounded bg-blue-100 px-1">Cmd+K</code> (Mac), or tap the <code
class="rounded bg-blue-100 px-1">Delete</code
> key
</li>
<li>
The selection is removed and the remaining audio shifts left to close
the gap
</li>
<li>
Save your project or keep editing &mdash; nothing is sent to the
clipboard
</li>
</ol>
</div>
<h2>What Is the Delete Command?</h2>
<p>
Delete removes the currently selected audio from your track without copying
it to the Audacity clipboard. The audio to the right of the selection
automatically shifts left to close the gap, just like Cut, but the removed
content is discarded rather than stored. Use Delete when you want to throw
away a mistake, a long pause, or an entire section you will never need again
&mdash; it keeps your clipboard free for the content you actually want to
paste.
</p>
<h2>How to Delete Audio in Audacity</h2>
<h3>Step 1: Select the Audio You Want Gone</h3>
<p>
Click and drag across the waveform to highlight the section to remove. Zoom
in with <code>Ctrl+1</code> / <code>Cmd+1</code> for sample-level precision, or
type exact start and end times into the Selection Toolbar.
</p>
<h3>Step 2: Press Ctrl+K or Tap the Delete Key</h3>
<p>
Press <code>Ctrl+K</code> (Windows/Linux) or <code>Cmd+K</code> (Mac), or simply
press the <code>Delete</code> key on your keyboard. The command acts immediately
with no dialog box. You can also use <strong>Edit &rarr; Delete</strong> from
the menu bar.
</p>
<h3>Step 3: Watch Remaining Audio Shift Left</h3>
<p>
After deleting, the audio to the right of the removed section slides left to
fill the gap. Your track length shrinks by exactly the length of the deleted
selection. Play back from around the edit point to confirm the transition
sounds clean.
</p>
<h3>Step 4: Save or Keep Editing</h3>
<p>
The deleted audio is gone from the timeline (but can still be restored with
<code>Ctrl+Z</code> / <code>Cmd+Z</code> during the session). Save your project
with <code>Ctrl+S</code> / <code>Cmd+S</code> or continue editing.
</p>
<h2>Delete Command Behavior Explained</h2>
<h3>Keyboard Shortcut (Ctrl+K / Cmd+K)</h3>
<p>
The primary shortcut for Delete is <code>Ctrl+K</code> on Windows and Linux, or
<code>Cmd+K</code> on Mac. You can also access it through
<strong>Edit &rarr; Delete</strong>. The command has no dialog window and
acts immediately on whatever is currently selected.
</p>
<h3>The Delete Key (Simple Removal)</h3>
<p>
Pressing the <code>Delete</code> key on your keyboard after selecting audio also
removes the selection. It works exactly like <strong
>Edit &rarr; Delete</strong
>: the content disappears and following audio slides left to close the gap.
</p>
<h3>No Clipboard Copy</h3>
<p>
Unlike Cut, Delete does not place removed audio on the Audacity clipboard.
Whatever you copied or cut previously stays available on the clipboard, so
you can delete sections while keeping another selection ready to paste
elsewhere.
</p>
<h3>Ripple Edit (Auto-Shift)</h3>
<p>
Delete performs a ripple edit by default. Audio after the selection shifts
left to fill the gap, and the total track length shrinks by exactly the
length of the deleted segment.
</p>
<h3>Undo Support</h3>
<p>
Deleted audio is not gone forever inside the session. Press <code
>Ctrl+Z</code
>
/ <code>Cmd+Z</code> immediately to restore the selection. Audacity supports unlimited
undo throughout your editing session.
</p>
<h2>Delete vs Cut vs Split Delete vs Silence Audio</h2>
<div class="not-prose overflow-x-auto my-6">
<table class="w-full text-sm border-collapse">
<thead>
<tr class="bg-gray-100">
<th class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 text-left">Command</th>
<th class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 text-left">Shortcut</th>
<th class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 text-left">Clipboard</th>
<th class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 text-left"
>What Happens</th
>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2 font-medium">Delete</td
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"
><code>Ctrl+K</code> / <code>Cmd+K</code></td
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">No</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"
>Removes selection and shifts remaining audio left — discards
entirely</td
></tr
>
<tr class="bg-gray-50"
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">Cut</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"
><code>Ctrl+X</code> / <code>Cmd+X</code></td
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">Yes</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"
>Removes selection, shifts audio left, stores content for pasting</td
></tr
>
<tr
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">Split Delete</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"><code>Ctrl+Alt+K</code></td
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">No</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"
>Removes selection but leaves a gap — following audio stays in place</td
></tr
>
<tr class="bg-gray-50"
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">Silence Audio</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"><code>Ctrl+L</code></td
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">No</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"
>Replaces selection with silence — track length stays the same</td
></tr
>
<tr
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">Trim Audio</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"><code>Ctrl+T</code></td
><td class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2">No</td><td
class="border border-gray-300 px-3 py-2"
>Keeps only the selection and removes everything outside it</td
></tr
>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<h2>Common Use Cases</h2>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Throw away bad takes</strong> — Delete voiceover flubs and retakes you
will never revisit
</li>
<li>
<strong>Strip intros and outros</strong> — Remove opening jingles or end credits
from downloaded audio
</li>
<li>
<strong>Clean up podcasts</strong> — Delete long pauses, coughs, and side conversations
in one move
</li>
<li>
<strong>Shorten interviews</strong> — Drop tangents permanently to keep the
conversation tight
</li>
<li>
<strong>Remove dead air</strong> — Delete silence at the start or end of a recording
</li>
<li>
<strong>Trim sample libraries</strong> — Delete the empty space around a drum
hit or vocal phrase
</li>
<li>
<strong>Free your clipboard</strong> — Delete junk sections while keeping cut
audio ready to paste
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Tips for Best Results</h2>
<ul>
<li>
Zoom in with <code>Ctrl+1</code> / <code>Cmd+1</code> before deleting to choose
boundaries at sample-level precision
</li>
<li>
Enable <strong>View &rarr; Zero-Crossings</strong> (<code>Z</code>) to
snap the selection and avoid clicks at the edit point
</li>
<li>
Use Delete when you do not need the removed audio; keep Cut for content
you plan to paste
</li>
<li>
Press <code>Ctrl+Z</code> / <code>Cmd+Z</code> right away if you delete the
wrong section
</li>
<li>
Switch to Split Delete (<code>Ctrl+Alt+K</code>) when you want to remove
audio without shifting later clips
</li>
<li>
Apply a short fade-in or fade-out at the join to smooth any abrupt
transitions
</li>
</ul>
<h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2>
<p>
<strong>What is the keyboard shortcut for Delete in Audacity?</strong><br />
Press <code>Ctrl+K</code> on Windows and Linux, or <code>Cmd+K</code> on Mac.
The <code>Delete</code> key also works, and you can use <strong
>Edit &rarr; Delete</strong
> from the menu bar.
</p>
<p>
<strong>What is the difference between Delete and Cut in Audacity?</strong
><br />
Both remove the selected audio and shift the remaining audio left. The difference
is the clipboard: Cut stores the removed audio so you can paste it, while Delete
discards it entirely and leaves the clipboard untouched.
</p>
<p>
<strong
>How do I delete audio without shifting the rest of the track?</strong
><br />
Use Split Delete from <strong>Edit &rarr; Remove Special</strong>, or press
<code>Ctrl+Alt+K</code>. Split Delete removes the selection without moving
anything after it.
</p>
<p>
<strong>How is Delete different from Silence Audio?</strong><br />
Delete removes the selected audio and shortens the track. Silence Audio (<code
>Ctrl+L</code
>) replaces the selection with silence and keeps the track exactly the same
length. Use Silence when timing matters; use Delete when you want that
section gone.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Can I undo a delete in Audacity?</strong><br />
Yes. Press <code>Ctrl+Z</code> / <code>Cmd+Z</code> immediately to restore the
removed audio. Audacity supports unlimited undo during your editing session.
</p>
<p>
<strong>Does Delete affect the audio on my clipboard?</strong><br />
No. Delete discards the removed audio without touching the Audacity clipboard.
Whatever you cut or copied before is still there, ready to paste.
</p>
<h2>Download Audacity Free</h2>
<p>
Ready to clean up your recordings? Download Audacity for free on Windows,
macOS, or Linux.
</p>
<div
class="not-prose mt-8 flex flex-col w-full md:w-fit gap-4 items-center sm:items-start text-left"
>
<DownloadMuseHubButton client:load />
<noscript><DownloadMuseHubButton client:load /></noscript>
<DownloadButton client:load />
<noscript><DownloadButton client:load /></noscript>
</div>
</FeaturePageLayout>