I just started using Audacity to apply some effects to tracks. Unfortunately I do not find a way to reliably export a track with the rendered effects. I have tried to put effects (turn them on/keep window opened) either on master or as real-time track effect. At this point I can definitely hear the effects. After, I want to export the track with effects. There I’m lost. I have tried mix and render in a new track, I always get the original. I have also try a direct mp3 export, same result, it produces the original. Am I doing something fundamentally wrong or is this a common problem?
There is an issue with some plug-ins: they apply the default settings, which can be null, rather than your settings, when mixed down / exported. So you can hear the effect, but a nulled effect is applied when mixed down.
I tried a couple of other plugins and there was also the problem. What is weird is that I managed to do one successful export a few days ago, after many many trials. I still have a copy of that project and that one can export a track with effects (mix and render does not work though).
In my newer projects, export unfortunately does not apply effects, and I can’t see why.
OK I see. I have tried the TDR nova EQ, which I have as a AA and as a VST. If employed as AA, then real-time effects work but are not exported nor rendered. If I try with the VST version, then the real-time is not working at all. So only AA works for real time in my case. Mix and render seems to consistently fail, and export sometime manages to apply effects but I can’t figure out why. At each export, it is indeed indicated that is is using standard presets, maybe there is a way to change this behavior?
thanks for the hints. I’ve tried but neither worked.
generated more trouble. I used 2 TDR novas. Saving presets from the second EQ with a different name from the 1st, somehow captured the settings of the first. Hence by loading the presets I’ve lost the settings of one EQ… For the LoudMax limiter any attempt to save presets leads to are complete reset of the limiter. So the information also got lost there…
Is there maybe an older version of Audacity that I could install, and that is known to work on M2 ?
Thanks. That’s a pity, these plugins appear to work well in other softwares. Are there recommended visual EQ, compressor and limiter that would operate well in Audacity?
As a follow up, I tried on a 13 y old macbook pro and export does work with effects there (mix and render not). So at least, that’s one possibility for me…
I can’t reproduce this problem. I do the following:
import a file
apply a real time effect (Audio Unit > Apple > AUMatrixReverb)
I can hear the effect on playback
select the track
File > Export Audio
settings: MP3, Current Selection
import the exported file
compare the two - they sound identical: the real time effect was applied to the exported file
I did it again this time applying the real time effect VST > Muse > Compress with the same result.
So I doubt this is a problem with Audacity, especially since no one else has the problem.
At this point all I can suggest is a complete reset of Audacity’s settings.
See Purging the Audacity setting folder. Note that this will take you back to a clean installation. You may need to find and activate some of your plugins.
From my side, everything works better since I dropped LoudMax from my chain. That one worked well with the old intel mac and Audacity 3.7.7 but it produce inconsistent results on the M2. Also updating from FreeClip to Free clip 2 was important. FreeClip lead to random Audacity crashes (on M2), much better with the newer version. So mostly plugin issues I would say.
One issue left is a problem with audio playback devices on M2 (switch from internal speakers to headphones and vice versa may lead to crash) but I think it’s better suited for another topic…
Thanks a lot to all of you for the kind advice !