Understanding Audacity's Workflow
Audacity operates destructively, meaning once an effect is applied to a track, it permanently alters the audio unless you undo it [1:1]. This means there isn't a built-in effects manager to modify effects after they've been applied. If you want to change an effect, you'll need to undo the previous application and reapply it with new settings
[1:3]. For comparing different effect settings, duplicating tracks and applying different effects can be useful
[1:4].
Applying Effects Properly
When working with effects, it's crucial to apply noise reduction and other cleanup effects first before any additive or artistic effects. This ensures that unwanted noise isn't amplified by subsequent effects [2:1]. Starting with clean audio allows for better results when applying additional effects like compression or amplification.
Using Plugins and Effects Chains
To apply effects using plugins, you can access the effects box by clicking the FX button on the left of the track [3:1]. Within this box, you can find various plugins and preset effects chains. For vocals, using a compressor is often recommended to enhance clarity
[3:1]. Exploring forums and educational resources such as Mixcraft University can provide further guidance on using plugins effectively
[3:2],
[3:3].
Recording with Effects
While recording, you might hear your voice with effects applied, but the recorded track will only contain the raw audio [4:1]. To apply effects to recorded audio, ensure the audio clip is routed to the correct mixing channel
[4:2]. Side-chaining can allow you to record with effects while keeping the original input channel clean for later modifications
[4:2].
Monitoring and Recording Setup
For instruments like guitar, you may prefer recording direct signals to tweak effects during mixing, or commit all effects during recording [5:1]. To enable effects while recording, ensure monitoring is turned on for the mixer channel your instrument is routed through, and disable direct monitoring on your interface
[5:2]. This setup allows you to hear effects live while recording.
That's the question basically. I'm new to Audacity (clearly) and experimenting with adding effects to tracks. Is there some kind of effects manager where I could see exactly which effects have been added, and then modify them from there? If not, how do I modify effects after they've been applied? Right now it feels like I'm just adding the same one over and over again. (I'm using Audacity 3.1.3 if that matters.) Thanks for any advice!
Other than the volume and envelope sliders you can't alter effects once they're applied except for hitting ctl-z to undo.
Got it, thanks! So if I add distortion but want to modify it, I need to undo it before trying again with different settings, or else I'm adding the distortion twice - is that right? Sorry, just want to be sure I'm using it right.
Yes.
If you want to A/B different sounds you can duplicate the track and apply different distortion settings to each track to compare them in more depth.
With some effects you can do a wet/dry mix in a similar way. When I use reverb, for example, I copy the track and apply 'wet only' reverb to the dupe. Then I can fine tune the mix between the two afterwards. Or automate it with the envelope tool.
Awesome advice, thanks again!
Audacity works destructively with audio, which means you apply the effect and there's no going back to modifying it unless you use ctrl + z. If you want control with racks or stack effects and change them at will, it would be using a DAW.
I'm starting to get that now! Thanks
Hi,
after watching few videos and one or two from VoiceOverMaster, here are my effect list:
-Amplifyer 10db
-Compressor -10 -40- 2.1:1 0.1 1.0
-Kurve (VoiceOverMaster)
-Noise Red 25, 5 ,0
My mic is quite, can't increase, because I get even more noise. Do you apply noise red. at the beginning or after applying all effects?
When you have noise-reduction and other cleanup-type things to do, always get that done first before applying any additive or artistic effects. Otherwise your effects will amplify, echo, etc. the "bad" noise along with the "good," and then taking all the "bad" noise out later will be more difficult and the results will sound worse. Leaving the junk in will junkify every stage down the line.
Develop the habit of cleaning your audio up first. You'll be working with clean audio for additional effects, and additionally you'll have what the product actually sounds like in front of you; you won't have to keep things like "okay, it'll sound like this but less noisy" in your head while working.
So can anyone tell me how I can use plugins to get effects on my music and which plugins could make vocals sound more clear, or make the vocals sound differently?
Even if someone gives you a good response, the best best help you'll get is at the acoustica forums.
You're going to want to take a look at the mixcraft YouTube channel. They have a mixcraft university series that will teach you plenty.
Click the FX button on the left of the track to bring up the Effects box for that track. You can use the dropdowns inside to find your plugins. There are also some preset effects chains in the top dropdown.
The first recommended thing for vocals would be using a compressor. The Acoustica Compressor has a couple of vocal presets, try one of those.
When I am recording my vocals, I can hear my voice with the effects applied, and even while I’m recording I can hear the effects. But once it is recorded only the raw vocal is in the playlist. How do I get the effects applied? I have never had this issue before
You have all your effects on the channel you have assigned to the armed channel, and then when it’s placed in the playlist, it’s not assigned to a mixer channel, so it’s clean. I always record on channel 30 (only because it’s usually out of the way, and routine establishes work flow). What you can do, is side chain your input channel to the targeted effects channel so you can record with the effects, then assign the recorded clean file to your effects channel. That leaves your dedicated input channel clean. That allows you to go back and modify something on the effects channel if you need to (almost always need to at some point). Not doing so bakes in your effects, so if you need to reduce reverb, or you change your BPM slightly and your delay is now way off… you’re screwed. I usually record bass, then guitar of some sort, then a trumpet or some live drums or something, then vocals… and do so all through the same input channel, switching targeted effects channels through side chain. Gives you best of both worlds.
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Its actually a good thing so you can change the fx of your vocals however you like. But to put the effects on your newly recorded Audio Clip must be in the right mixing channel. Go to the channel rack and look which channel they are routed to. Usually it would be already routed the right way.
Can someone help me? I am trying to record my guitar parts with effects in reason but the effects does not get enabled when I’m recording. Only after, this is becoming very annoying.
Does anyone have any advice for me or how to activate effects while you are recording?
Should be able to turn on record and monitoring (green speaker button in the sequencer track) for the mixer channel/rack channel your guitar is being routed through and make sure effects are not bypassed. Disable direct monitoring on your interface. Most likely sounds like monitoring in reason is turned off during recording.
Thank you!
Do you mean effects like reverb/delay, or effects like a guitar amp plugin? Many folks prefer to record the DIRECT guitar signal so they can tweak effects in the mix, others prefer to commit all FX when recording (as if you used a pedal board and mic’ed the amp). If you want to record effects to an audio track you’ll need a little more complex setup using a Mix Channel with the FX, click on REC SOURCE on that channel in the Rack, then create an Audio Track (the only type that can record audio) and assign the Mix Channel to it’s input.
My approach if recording FX is to ALSO record the dry/DI original signal on a separate track that I would keep muted and only use if I needed to re-visit the FX settings – make sense?
Effects often don’t work. Usually they work the first time I use them, but after that, it’s like they don’t do anything anymore.
As you can see in the video, I’m trying to add an effect. Normally, a yellow bar appears on the sample which you can then adjust. But as you can see, nothing happens now.
Sometimes it works (usually the first time after starting the program), but most of the time it doesn’t.
Am I doing something wrong?
I can’t find a way to activate the effects too .
It’s really frustrating, because I do know how I want to make something or how I want it to sound — the problem is the program isn’t cooperating.
You have to hit the record button in the middle beside the play button first to record automations
Thanks for your message.
The Effect block is added where the playhead is and then in the lane where a track or sample is that is selected in yellow.
I see in your video that the playhead is not visible in the studio window, it probably is somewhere else in your timeline. (scrolled out of the view)
I also don't see a track or sample with a yellow header to indicate that the sample is selected.
If you watch my video at the link below, you see both the playhead and the sample selected in yellow before I click in the xy path and then the effect block does appear.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kDzX801XWegqHeHXKbfnvC8z6McAei2k/view?usp=sharing
If you do that too, does it work for you?
Thank you so much! I was indeed doing it wrong myself! Thanks for the effort!
Great that that explains the “issue” you had. We will take a look how we can improve this and make sure that other people won’t get confused by this too.
Marking this one as solved!
Yes! Thnx!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=disGARukI4M&t what effects were used when making this audio and how do i recreate it
wrong sub ask on WeAreMusicMakers.
[deleted]
Check with ChatGPT. Has been a big help for me.
The recording volume in the Tool Bar, the microphone icon, if the slider is at zero, you are muted. Happened to me once.
Before people want to dump on Audacity/DarkAudacity, I have to remind people that there have been plenty of popular YTers over the years (I am talking like they have six-figure-sub channels) where they use Audacity to edit their audio. Audacity may be free (and there are definitely better, more advanced programs to use over it), but I am a lot more comfortable using Audacity than other stuff I have tried.
With that said, I am curious if people have found some good settings/effect combinations when editing with Audacity for YouTube? I have heard some great voiceover work from YTers who use Audacity, so I want to know if others have found a good mix of settings/effects to achieve great audio.
My system varies depending on the audio, but a basic work flow is
Compressor
GraphicEQ at suggested settings
Bass -4, treble +8
Normalize -3db
Amplify down to more acceptable levels
I then start tinkering from there
When I was using Audacity a while ago the most annoying thing was that it applied effects directly to the track, making it super difficult to try multiple things simultaneously.
If you're not yet familiar with Audacity and its effects/plugins you should really give Reaper a try. Much more professional and it free-ish like Winrar. Much better plugin support, miles ahead.
How to use effects in Audacity
Here’s a quick guide on how to use effects in Audacity:
Open Your Audio File:
File > Import > Audio
.Select the Audio:
Access the Effects Menu:
Effect
. This will open a dropdown list of available effects.Choose an Effect:
Adjust Effect Settings:
Preview the Effect:
Preview
button to listen to how the effect will sound before applying it. This helps you fine-tune the settings.Apply the Effect:
OK
to apply the effect to your selected audio.Undo if Necessary:
Ctrl + Z
(or Cmd + Z
on Mac).Tips:
By following these steps, you can effectively enhance your audio projects in Audacity!
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