Audacity: normalize - how it works
In Audacity you can normalize individual audio tracks or channels. You should always do this before you start mixing in the mixer. We show you how to normalize and what you need to consider.
Normalize tracks and channels in Audacity
You should normalize audio tracks in Audacity always before mixing, exporting and especially if you have digitized audio tapes or records according to our instructions. How normalization of audio tracks works in Audacity:
- Mark the area you want to normalize. You can edit one or more audio tracks.
- Select the normalization function via »Effects«> »Normalize ...«. It is faster using the key combination [Alt] + [E]> [N]> [Enter].
- We will show you the best shortcuts in Audacity in a special practical tip. You can also create your own shortcuts using our instructions.
- Enter the value you want to normalize to. Depending on the bit depth, you can enter values between 0 and -90, 309 for 16 bits and between 0 and -138, 474 for 24 bits. Enter 0 for maximum modulation. A headroom is not required in digital formats.
- Attention: If you normalize only a short section of a track, remove the check mark at "Remove DC voltage". Otherwise low frequencies could be lost.
- Now the selected area of each track is normalized. If you want to normalize both channels independently of each other in a stereo track, check the corresponding box.
- Always normalize each track first and then adjust the final volume for the mix in the mixer. This is the only way the volume controls of all channels show you the actual amplitude relationships.
- You can continue working with the normalized tracks, for example with the help of our audio editing tutorial and our tip on separating clips in Audacity.
