Enable the Device Toolbar in Audacity

All demos from “Audacity Step by Step Tutorial for Beginners - 2026”

1. 2:422:00Select and configure a microphone in AudacityThe narrator demonstrates how to use the 'Audio Setup' button to select a recording device, including how to rescan for newly connected hardware like the Scarlet 2i2 interface.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
2. 4:500:33Enable the Device Toolbar in AudacityCurrentThe user navigates to the View menu and Toolbars to enable the Device Toolbar for easier monitoring of active audio inputs.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
3. 9:482:00Monitor and adjust input levelsThe demonstration shows how to enable 'Silent Monitoring' on the recording meter to check for clipping and adjust the gain slider to stay below -6 dB.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
4. 12:400:48Save an Audacity projectThe user demonstrates going to File > Save Project to create a local .aup3 file to preserve the recording session.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
5. 13:580:15Playback recorded audioThe narrator demonstrates clicking a specific spot on the timeline and using the space bar to play back the recorded clip.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
6. Watch “Audacity Step by Step Tutorial for Beginners - 2026” →

AI Audio Editor

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1. 22:520:11Moving audio clips with handles in Audacity 3.1The narrator demonstrates how the addition of visual handles allows users to drag and move audio clips horizontally without switching to a dedicated 'Time Shift' mode.Tantacrul
2. 24:490:17Applying real-time effects stacksThe narrator demonstrates opening the effects panel on a track to stack VST or Audio Unit plugins non-destructively.Tantacrul
3. 43:120:38Using the redesigned Graphic EqualizerThe demo shows the improved legibility of the equalizer, including decibel popups when dragging sliders and the ability to draw curves across multiple sliders.Tantacrul
4. 0:560:14Accessing the Master Effects Channel in AudacityThe narrator demonstrates how to open the effects panel by clicking the effects button on a track and locating the new Master Channel to apply a real-time compressor to the overall mix.Audacity
5. 0:270:44Apply EQ filters in AudacityThe narrator demonstrates how to select audio and apply Bass Boost, Treble Boost, and Low Roll-off for Speech using the Filter Curve EQ effect in Audacity.GuideRealm
6. 1:110:20Configure audio compressor in AudacityThe user shows how to navigate to the Compressor effect in Audacity and input specific values for threshold, noise floor, and ratio to normalize the audio.GuideRealm
7. 0:510:15Prepare audio track in AudacityThe user demonstrates how to trim, zoom, and duplicate an audio waveform in Audacity using keyboard shortcuts and UI handles to prepare for processing.Mike Russell
8. 1:081:41Apply Filter Curve EQ in AudacityThe demonstrator walks through opening the Filter Curve EQ, setting a flat default, and manually adjusting handles to boost high-end crispness, roll off low-end rumble, and reduce nasality.Mike Russell
9. 3:060:12Normalize audio in AudacityThe user shows how to navigate to the Volume and Compression menu to apply a -1 dB normalization to the selected audio track.Mike Russell
10. 3:180:32Apply Compressor settings in AudacityThe demonstrator configures the Audacity compressor by adjusting threshold, makeup gain, and ratio settings to flatten the vocal dynamics.Mike Russell
11. 3:500:09Second normalization pass in AudacityA second normalization step is demonstrated to bring the compressed audio back to the target -1 dB level.Mike Russell
12. 4:080:17Apply Limiter in AudacityThe user demonstrates applying a limiter effect with a -5 dB threshold to chop off high-end peaks and finalize the audio levels.Mike Russell