How to Improve Audio Quality in Audacity

In this Audacity video tutorial, you will learn How to Improve Audio Quality. In a previous tutorial, I showed you How to Record a Voice-Over in Audacity. After I record a voice-over, in most cases, I enhance the audio quality by using several audio effects available in Audacity. One of the first things I do is remove any background noise using the NOISE REDUCTION effect.

I’ve created a separate tutorial that goes more in-depth on how to remove background noise like a hum or a hiss. But essentially, you create a noise profile and then use the noise profile to remove the background noise from the whole audio track. Next, I use the COMPRESSOR effect that evens out the volume of the audio.

For most of these audio effects, I generally use the default settings, but in some case, you may need to adjust the settings depending on your audio. Next, I apply the NORMALIZE effect which sets the peak amplitude. In other words, it increases or decreases audio, so the loudest point is at a certain level.

Next, I apply a BASS BOOST and TREBLE BOOST (using the EQUALIZATION effect). This effect allows you to manipulate sounds by frequency. Next, I apply the BASS & TREBLE which allows you to independently increase or decrease the lower and higher frequencies of your audio.

Next, I use the LIMITER effect which allows you to pass signals below a specified input level unaffected, while preventing the peaks of stronger signals from exceeding this threshold. After applying these Audacity audio effects, I notice that the audio volume decreases significantly. So I then apply the AMPLIFY effect which increases the overall volume of the audio.

Bear in mind that the above audio effects and settings may not necessarily work for you because it really depends on your audio. However, take the time to understand the different audio effects available in this audio editor. It is definitely the best one I’ve used so far and I use it in all my videos, especially that have a voice-over.

Audacity is a free open source audio editor and recorder that comes with a variety of effects (some of which I’ve showcased here) as well as various filters. I would definitely recommend Audacity to anyone who records audio and creates videos. I create and publish a lot of video content including tutorials like these on for my YouTube channel and I use Audacity to enhance the audio on almost all of my videos.

Hope this Audacity Help video will help you improve the quality of your audio. You can download Audacity from the link below. You can check the link below for more Audacity Tutorials on my YouTube channel.

CREDITS: Audacity® is a registered trademark of Dominic Mazzoni | Audacity Logo & Screenshots Used Under Creative Commons CC Attribution 3.0 Unported License | Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Logos and screenshots used with permission from Microsoft | Other company names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

MUSIC CREDITS:
Song: By the Pool by Jingle Punks
Source: YouTube Music Library (Permission to use for commercial purposes on YouTube monetized videos)

[darleneschneck]

Anthony, I want to thank you for making this video. The information you shared allowed me to greatly improve the digitized audio from two reel-to-reel tapes from 1961 of my uncle playing the organ at his college recital. His music is a priceless family treasure, and we will be using it at his memorial service. I learned so much from you that I couldn't find anywhere else. Thank you for being my angel today.

[Stigggs]

Great clear instructions. Thank you. It’s 6 years old now. It needs an update because many of the settings have changed. Hope one will be coming soon. Please.

[donaldklopper]

Perfect video for my questions. It explained A LOT without going into too much detail. You answered whether I should do noise reduction first (yes), and when to apply amplification, and several questions that I didn't even know I had. Thank you.

[SwoleBenji]

Bruh I tried 10 different videos routes and yours sounds the best.

[abdulrahmanyousef]

Thank you Anthony for the video. I appreciate your time. I am trying to work with old recordings that have a pretty terrible quality, so it is a bit of a challenge. I will try to watch more of your videos hoping to be able to at least maximize the quality of the recordings as much as possible.

[ragamuffinuk]

Anthony first class video: big compliments. Any chance you can update it as the current version of Audacity has changes to its control headings and additional features.

[DaveLitten]

Excellent fast-paced explanation 6 Stars from me!

[edkriegepiano]

great tutorial - thank you, Anthony! quick question - should "Normalize" be closer to the end of the process, after other FX have been applied, to prevent clipping, etc.?

[oAgoraphobic]

Very thorough and clear explanation, congrats, you saved my day!

[hoferp]

Very Helpful as I work on enhancing a video made 2 years ago. Thank you.

[BurnoPlays]

Thank you so much Anthony. Your video is super easy to understand and my mic quality is now much MUCH better. Thanks again

[BigIdeasGrowingMinds]

Thanks for this video - it was really helpful :-)

[BMcoNZ]

Thanks. This is clear and helpful. I do use some of the enhancements you show, but not all of them. I will do some tests so that I can listen to the difference each enhancement makes.

[Semy_]

Thank You! Can this work on Songs too?

[amyt]

Thanks so much for doing this. Really helpful!

[storiesmotivate]

Dear Anthony I want to remove violin sound from an instrumental to make it perfect karaoke.. Can you please help.

[umairs]

@Anthony Godinho Superb! which software you use to make this video please?

[hamedsaffari]

thanks Anthony. If there are mass of mp3 files (like and audio book folder) i need to repeat all of those steps untile I get old ? is there any way?

[intuitionlibrary]

very helpful, thankyou
ill upload the video today, ill let you know

[SunIsLost]

Heres steps needed for improwing audio quality (copy and paste to your notepad):
Audio improval steps in audacity:
-Reduce noise (get noise profile of noise where you are not talking, then click ok press ctrl a on your keyboard both keys at once, then click menu repeat reduce noise)
-Compressor
-Normalize
-Equalization (first bass boost then treble boost)
-Bass and treble (adjust depending on your audio)
-Limiter (check hard limit, Limit to -4.00 dB)
-Aplify (check alow clipping, amplification 2.0 dB)
You can thank me later. :-) I recommend watching the video tutorial at least once though. :-)