Audacity: Use the Limiter effect

Audacity Try it →Watch full video →Dewi Jenkins · Apr 2026

Demo summary

A demonstration of applying the Limiter effect to smooth out loud spikes and increase the overall vibrancy of the audio.

Step-by-step

Record or import your audio track into Audacity.
Press Ctrl+A to select the entire track.
Navigate to the Effect menu.
Select Volume and Compression and then click Limiter.
Keep the default settings as shown on screen.
Click Apply.
Re-apply the Limiter effect a second time if additional punchiness is desired.

Tips

Use the Limiter to smooth out sudden loud spikes in your audio.
Apply the effect to make the voice sound closer to the microphone and more vibrant.
Keep the default settings initially to see the immediate effect on the audio track.

Highlights

“Definitely worth using to make your audio sound much more professional and cleaner.”

All demos from “Audacity 3.7.7: Beginner Tutorial | EVERYTHING You Need to Know!”

4:311:04Record audio in AudacityA walkthrough of recording a first track, including checking preferences, using the red record button, and managing multiple tracks with the pause and stop functions.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
10:064:58Remove background noise with Noise ReductionThe narrator demonstrates the multi-step process of capturing a noise profile and applying noise reduction to eliminate background sounds like a door slam.Audacity· AI Audio Enhancer & Noise Reduction
15:042:19Eliminate breathing sounds with Noise GateA demonstration of using the Noise Gate effect in Audacity to automatically silence inhale sounds between spoken words.Audacity· AI Audio Enhancer & Noise Reduction
17:272:36Apply Compressor effectThe user shows how to use the Compressor effect to even out volume and add punch to a vocal track.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
20:032:17Use the Limiter effectCurrentA demonstration of applying the Limiter effect to smooth out loud spikes and increase the overall vibrancy of the audio.Audacity· AI Mastering
22:202:41Normalize vs Amplify comparisonThe narrator compares the Amplify and Normalize effects side-by-side on the same track to show the difference in peak handling.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
25:013:43Boost low volume audio workflowA step-by-step demonstration of a four-part workflow (Noise Reduction, Compressor, Amplify, and Limiter) to fix quiet recordings.Audacity· AI Audio Enhancer & Noise Reduction
28:470:46Import audio filesShows three ways to bring external audio files onto the Audacity timeline using menus and keyboard shortcuts.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
29:330:32Split audio clipsDemonstrates how to use the right-click menu to create a split point in an audio track.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
30:260:46Zoom in and out of waveformsDemonstrates using Ctrl + Scroll and the magnifying glass tool to navigate the audio timeline.Audacity· AI Audio Editor
Watch “Audacity 3.7.7: Beginner Tutorial | EVERYTHING You Need to Know!” →

AI Mastering

11:220:24Final normalization and ACX checkThe user performs a final normalization to -3 dB and runs the ACX Check plugin to verify that the peak, RMS, and noise floor meet professional standards.Master Editor
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.Master Editor
11:550:53Using Master Effects and LimitersThe demonstration shows how to apply a limiter to the master bus in Audacity to prevent clipping across all tracks simultaneously.Joe at Claricast
20:032:17Use the Limiter effectCurrentA demonstration of applying the Limiter effect to smooth out loud spikes and increase the overall vibrancy of the audio.Dewi Jenkins
12:091:30Verify processed audio in AudacityThe processed file is dragged back into Audacity and re-analyzed with the ACX Check tool to confirm that all parameters (Peak, RMS, and Noise Floor) now pass.Mike Teaches Audacity