Hi, I am using Audacity 2.1.0 and I have a DJ recording with several tracks mixed together as 1 Audacity track. I want to make the volume equal across the whole mix, as some tracks are louder than others, but I am not sure how to do this. Can you please advise?
The best (most accurate) way is to adjust the levels by ear before you mix the tracks.
- Import the tracks (they will appear one above the other in the Audacity project)
- Select all of the tracks (Command + A) and apply the Normalize effect. Normalize to 0 dB. This will make all tracks as loud as possible without distortion.
- Use the track “solo” buttons to listen to one track at a time and find the quietest track. (at this point I find it convenient to move this quietest track to the top - see http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/audio_track_dropdown_menu.html)
- Compare another track with the quietest track and use the track Gain control (http://manual.audacityteam.org/man/audio_tracks.html#gain) to reduce the volume of the louder track so that it matches the quieter track.
- Repeat step 4 for all the other tracks.
For a semi-automated method, see this topic: https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/replaygain/22589/1
several tracks mixed together as 1 Audacity track.
The best (most accurate) way is to adjust the levels by ear before you mix the tracks.
It’s killer difficult to take a mixed performance apart and correct only pieces. This is the same problem that podcast people have when they need to correct only one Skype voice in their show. Best of luck with that.
You can drag-select the songs inside the mix and try to correct them manually that way. That’s going to fail if you love long crossfades and segues. Most people are looking for a one-button-push tool to automatically make everything OK.
There is one plugin that can do that. Chris’s Compressor is a look-ahead processor that “knows” how loud things are and automatically processes them to come out more or less equal. I use it on raw podcasts so the volume doesn’t overwhelm me when I’m listening in the car or hiking. I change the first value, Compression from 0.5 to 0.77.
It also bumps the volume up.
You don’t do this live to a dance floor, do you?
Koz
I assume by “tracks” you mean the individual songs comprising the mix. I’ll call them “songs” so as not to confuse them with Audacity “tracks”.
If that is the case you should first look at the envelope tool. You would be safer lowering the level of the songs that are too loud so as to avoid clipping. After you have made the envelope adjustments and are happy with the result, mix and render the Audacity track to “bake” the envelope changes into the audio.
Next, select the entire track and apply the Amplify effect.
Finally, select the entire track and apply the Limiter with the default settings. Listen to the result, and if you don’t like what you hear, Edit > Undo and try with different settings.
– Bill