Project Homepage: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Open source Audacity is not really a full highly complex multi-track music making machine like Cubase or Cakewalk or SoundForge etc. It is, however, a straightforward, stable, and extremely precise audio waveform editor. Very easy to use yet powerful. It will do multi-track and mixdowns, it's just doesn't have all the sound-mixer-board ins and outs of those complicated packages, which to many people is a blessing. Audacity is a precise audio scalpel, allowing you do exacting bit-level edits and splices, volume envelopes, effects, noise reduction, volume leveling, cut and paste editing, stereo mixes, etc. It will do high resolution recording, limited only by your sound card or other equipment. Great for simpler home recording projects and for the audio tracks of video projects. It's light and a quick download and has version for almost every OS, so give it a try. Highly recommended.