Audacity: Configure Compressor settings for balanced vocals

All demos from “How to make your voice sound good in Audacity - Ultimate Guide”

1. 0:480:37Apply a one-click audio macro in AudacityThe creator demonstrates how to select an audio track and use the 'Apply Macro' tool to instantly improve volume, EQ, and balance using a custom 'Clear Vocal' macro.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
2. 2:222:30Normalize audio to ACX standards in AudacityThe narrator walks through selecting the Normalize effect and adjusting the peak amplitude to -3 dB to meet professional audiobook requirements.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
3. 6:152:29Reduce background noise in AudacityA two-step demonstration showing how to capture a noise profile from a silent section and then apply the Noise Reduction effect with specific sensitivity and smoothing settings.Audacity· AI Audio Enhancer & Noise Reduction
4. 9:352:19Apply Filter Curve EQ for voice clarityThe user demonstrates drawing an EQ curve in Audacity, starting with a 'low roll-off for speech' preset and manually adjusting frequency dots to filter out noise below 80 Hz.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
5. 12:302:17Configure Compressor settings for balanced vocalsCurrentThe creator shows how to use the Compressor effect, selecting a lead vocal preset and manually tuning the threshold and ratio to reduce dynamic range.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
6. 15:230:37Final normalization and ACX checkThe final step shows re-normalizing the audio to -3 dB and using the ACX Check tool to verify that the peak, RMS, and noise floor levels are within professional limits.Audacity· AI Mastering
7. Watch “How to make your voice sound good in Audacity - Ultimate Guide” →

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