When equalizing a WAV file in Audacity 2.0.3, percussive spikes (i.e., “rim shots” and similar) often exceed the level of actual useful audio; attempting to equalize to 100% uses those spikes as it’s maximum, which means the useful audio is often considerably lower in level. These spikes are almost always of VERY short duration. Is there some sort of sub-routine within Audacity, or one of the MANY filters it contains, which would allow me to specify cutting the maximum level of those minimum-duration spikes, WITHOUT affecting to overall equalization level of the useful audio?
I downloaded the recommended Brick Wall limiter…but I’m so much of a neophyte at this that I don’t know what to do with it. Does it need to be placed in a particular Audacity folder so that I can utilize it from within Audacity? Also, can anybody suggest possible initial bench-mark settings which would be likely to work to do the task that I originally inquired about? Thanks for your patience!!!
Instructions for installing are here: http://wiki.audacityteam.org/wiki/Download_Nyquist_Plug-ins#Installing_Plug-ins
I’d suggest that you try the default settings first. Experiment on a few short sections to get a feel for how it works. Apply the “Amplify” effect first with default settings - that will bring the highest peaks to 0 dB so that the limiter can fully act on them.