This article shows you how to improve the audio quality of a track or song using the Audacity program. To make sure you get the best results, it is best to start with a high quality audio recording, then reduce the background noise using Audacity and finally export the final file with the highest possible quality.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: General Tips
Step 1. Always start with a high quality recording
It may seem obvious, but to get the best result, you need to use audio tracks that have a very high sound quality, so that the changes to be made with Audacity are minimal. If you are working with music, be sure to create MP3 files by exporting them directly from CDs. If you're recording your own music instead, follow these guidelines:
- Use high quality equipment - Uses a quality pop filter and microphone to be able to record crisp and clean audio tracks.
- Record songs in a place that has good acoustics - try to record them in a small place that has the right soundproofing. For example, you can turn the inside of a closet into a great recording studio by emptying it and covering the walls with soundproofing material.
- Eliminate background noise - try to record when the air conditioners and all other appliances are not in operation. A quality microphone can pick up any sound, so keep background noise as low as possible for optimal recording.
Step 2. Save the recording in a high quality format
If you have chosen to use another program or device to record the audio track and will only use Audacity for editing, be sure to export the audio file in the best possible quality.
Step 3. Avoid converting the audio file until you have edited it with Audacity
By converting a WAV file to MP3 format, then importing it into Audacity, you will lose much of the audio quality. For best results, you should only convert the file after you have processed and saved it with Audacity.
Step 4. Use headphones when listening to an audio track
Even if you have good quality speakers available, you may not be able to detect or detect noise and distortion, so it is always good to use headphones to be able to highlight all the small defects and background noises.
Step 5. Change the Audacity audio settings by following these instructions:
- Start the program Audacity;
- Click on the menu Edit (in Windows) or Audacity (on Mac);
- Click on the item Preferences… placed inside the drop-down menu appeared;
- Click on the tab Quality;
- Click the "Default Sample Rate" drop-down menu, then click the option 48000 Hz;
- Click on the "Sample Rate Converter" drop-down menu and then on the option Better quality (slower);
- Click on the button OK (Windows system users only).
Part 2 of 4: Eliminating Background Noise
Step 1. Launch Audacity
It features an orange and red circular icon placed in the center of a pair of blue headphones.
Step 2. Import the audio track to be processed
Click on the menu File, then on the voice You open…, select the audio track and click on the button You open to load the audio file into the program.
The import process may take a few minutes to complete, depending on the size of the file
Step 3. Select a section of the audio track
Click on the starting point of the portion of audio to be processed, then drag the mouse pointer as far as necessary. If possible, you should only select the portions of the track that contain the background noise to be eliminated.
Step 4. Click on the Effects menu
It is located at the top of the Audacity window (on Windows) or the screen (on Mac). A list of options will be displayed.
Step 5. Click on the Noise Reduction… option
It is displayed in the center of the drop-down menu Effects.
Step 6. Click the Process Noise Profile button
It is located at the top of the "Noise Reduction" window, within the "Step 1" section. In this way, the program will be able to determine more precisely what background noise represents and what is part of the audio track.
Step 7. Select the section of the recording you want to clean up from background noise
To select the entire audio track, click on the corresponding box (where the waveform graph is visible) and press the key combination Ctrl + A (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + A (on Mac).
Step 8. Open the "Noise Reduction" dialog again
Click on the menu Effects, then on the option Noise reduction ….
Step 9. Click the OK button
It is located at the bottom of the window. Background noise will be eliminated from the selected portion of the recording.
Step 10. Repeat the process if you notice that there is still some background noise
If the graph or listening to the recording shows that there is still noise, repeat the steps described in this method. To get a good result, you may need to repeat the whole process several times.
You can increase the amount of noise that will be eliminated at each step by moving the "Noise Reduction (dB)" slider to the right
Part 3 of 4: Eliminating the Clipping Effect
Step 1. Listen to the track for clipping
This is a distortion of the sound generated by too high a signal intensity, which leads to annoying and unclear audio reproduction.
Step 2. Find the clipping point
Visually, clipping is characterized by an anomalous peak of the waveform graph shown inside the Audacity window. If the vertical width of a section of the trace is significantly higher than the other portions of the graph, it is most likely affected by clipping.
Step 3. Select the track section where the peak is visible
Drag the mouse cursor over the section to select.
Step 4. Click on the Effects menu
A list of options will be displayed.
Step 5. Click on the Amplify… option
It is one of the items at the top of the drop-down menu Effects.
Step 6. Move the "Amplification" slider to the left
It is displayed at the top of the "Amplify" window. Dragging it to the left will reduce the volume of the selected portion of the track, thereby also reducing clipping.
Do not reduce the amplification too much. You should only move the slider to the left by 1-2 decibels
Step 7. Click the Preview button
It is located in the lower left part of the "Amplify" window. This way, you will be able to hear the highlighted section of the track to which the new amplification settings will be applied.
Step 8. Listen carefully to see if the clipping has disappeared
If the listening was successful, you can move on to the next step. However, make sure that the volume of the portion of the track you have processed is not too low compared to that of the rest of the recording.
If clipping is still present, reduce the volume further by another couple of decibels
Step 9. Click the OK button
It is located at the bottom of the window. The new amplification settings will be saved and applied to the audio track.
You can repeat the process described in this method to eliminate clipping present in other sections of the track under consideration
Part 4 of 4: Saving a File in High Quality
Step 1. Click on the File menu
It is displayed in the upper left corner of the Audacity window (on Windows) or the screen (on Mac). A list of options will be displayed.
Step 2. Click on the Export audio… item
It is located approximately in the middle of the drop-down menu that appeared. A new dialog will appear. If a "LAME Encoder" error message appears, please follow these instructions to resolve the issue:
- Windows - access the website https://lame.buanzo.org/#lamewindl and click on the link Lame v3.99.3 for Windows.exe. When the download is complete, double-click the installation file, click the button Yup when prompted and follow the instructions that appear on the screen.
- Mac - access the website https://lame.buanzo.org/#lameosxdl and click on the link Lame Library v3.99.5 for Audacity on macOS.dmg. Once the download is complete, double-click the DMG file, then authorize the installation of the LAME codec.
Step 3. Name the file
Type the name you want to give the final file using the "Name" text field.
Step 4. Click on the "Save As" drop-down menu
It is displayed in the center of the appeared window. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 5. Click on the MP3 entry
Using the MP3 audio format, the recording can be played on any platform.
Step 6. Click on the "Quality" drop-down menu
It is displayed at the bottom of the "Export Audio" window. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 7. Choose the audio quality level you want
Click on the option Extreme or Insane of the menu. In this way, the audio quality used to export the audio track to file will be much higher than normal.
Step 8. Choose where to save the final file
Click on one of the folders displayed on the left side of the dialog box. If you are using a Mac, you will need to click on the "Located in" or "Where" drop-down menu to be able to select the folder to save to.
Step 9. Click the Save button
It is located in the lower right part of the dialog box. The audio track will be saved on disc as a normal MP3 file with the selected quality level.
