If the DC offset isn't on 0.0, it can distort your audio and not leave enough space for other effects. The first option it gives you is to Remove DC offset and center on 0.0 vertically (don't worry, this isn't as complicated as it sounds.) Moving the DC just means making sure your waveform is on the 0.0 line. In this menu, Audacity will give you a couple of options. You can also select multiple tracks and normalize them all at the same peak level.įrom there, go up to the Effect tab on the top of your screen and click Normalize. You'll notice the track's color change in the background, so you know you've selected the entire thing. You can press Cmd + A or Control + A to select the track. So here we have a track we imported into the workspace.

Now that you understand the situations in which you'd need to normalize your audio, let's look at the different normalization components and how to add the effect within Audacity.

If the volume is too low, you might not even see the waveforms or hear the content, making editing pretty close to impossible. Amplifying your audio quickly fixes all these problems! The other reason you would normalize audio is that your audio recording isn't loud enough. The last thing you want is to record a voiceover that's way louder than the clip that comes after it, or vice versa. You can use the Normalize tool to make sure one is not too loud or soft. Let's say you have an intro music segment, a narrated segment, and an interview section you want to all be at the same volume level. To match the volume levels across different clips

There are two main reasons you'd want to normalize your audio files, and both situations arise in nearly every podcast edit. Fortunately, applying this effect isn't complicated, but how do you know when it's necessary?ĭownload: Audacity (Mac, Linux, Windows) When do you need to normalize your audio? Normalizing your tracks is also one of the key elements to creating an episode that is enjoyable to listen to, and a quick way to make your podcast sound more professional. Audio normalization is the process of adjusting the level or volume of your audio files without affecting their dynamic range (the relationship between the louder and softer points of the track.)

How to move audio in audacity