Audacity: create fade effects

With Audacity you can easily create fade effects - how exactly we show in this practical tip.

Fade-in effect with Audacity

Instead of an abrupt start of your audio files, you can slowly fade in the sound. With Audacity, you can easily create this fade-in effect.

1. Open the audio file in Audacity.
2. The selection tool is located in the toolbar. Click on it and use the mouse to mark the section of the audio file that you want to display. For a fade-in, for example, the beginning of the file is recommended.
3. Now go to the Envelope Tool. You will find it to the right of the selection tool.
4. Now pull the beginning of the marked track section together. Here you should try a little to get a nice effect.
5. Save now and your audio file will be professionally displayed.

Fade-out effect with Audacity

It is just as easy to smoothly end an audio file - the fade out effect.

1. Open the audio file in Audacity again.
2. Mark the location of the file to be hidden, for example the end.
3. Now go back to the Envelope Tool. This time pull the end of the marked track section together. Here, too, trying a little helps to find the right length.
4. Save it now and your audio file will be professionally hidden.

Cross fade with Audacity

With the cross fading effect you achieve professional transitions between two audio files.

1. Open the audio file in Audacity and use the selection tool to mark the section you want to edit.
2. In the "Effect" menu, click on the "Cross Fade Out" sub-item. Now the fade effect is applied to the marked part of your audio file. Do the same if you want to use "Cross Fade In".
3. Save your file and you have a professional cross fade effect.

Tips

A fade effect that is too short sounds choppy, a too long one looks unprofessional. So play around with the fade effects in Audacity until you are happy with the result. You can of course undo any changes.

In another practical tip, we will explain how to export audio excerpts with Audacity.