15 Audacity Best Settings for Your Audio Needs

Ever wondered why some podcasts or recordings sound crystal clear while others fall flat? 🤔 Here’s the unique truth: you don’t need expensive gear to sound like a pro — you just need the best settings in Audacity! 🚀

echoes, background noise, and inconsistent volume made the recordings unbearable. After countless hours of trial and error, I cracked the secret formula to studio-quality sound! 💡 Whether you’re a youtuber, podcaster, content creator, or musician, these proven Audacity best settings will transform your recordings from amateur to professional — and the best part? They’re free to use!

Don’t waste time searching for answers. This top guide will walk you step-by-step through the best techniques and unique settings to achieve clean, professional audio. 🎯 Stop letting poor sound hold you back. Start using these secret settings today and give your audience the quality they deserve!

Initial Setup Configuration for Audacity Best Settings 

Here’s my tried-and-tested configuration:

• Sample Rate or Project Rate: 48,000 Hz (provides the best balance between quality and file size)
• Format: 32-bit float (gives you more headroom for editing)
• Recording Level: 90% (always use this, my secret sweet spot for capturing clean audio)

MONO Recording Settings (Recommended for Single Voice)

1. Go to Audio Settings → Channels
2. Select 1 (mono)
3. Confirm MONO track is selected by default

Creating the Perfect Recording Environment

Before we dive into Audacity settings, let’s create the ideal recording space:

• 🏠 Close windows and doors to minimize external noise
• 🔇 Turn off fans, air conditioners, and other background noise sources
• 🛋️ Use soft materials (pillows, blankets) to absorb sound
• 🎧 Always wear headphones while recording and editing

Professional Audio Enhancement Process

Method A: Deep Voice Setting-1 (Recommended Order)

1. Noise Reduction
2. Equalization
3. Compression
4. Normalization

Method B: Deep Voice Setting-2 (Alternative Order)

1. Compression
2. Equalization
3. Noise Reduction
4. Normalization

Now Learn How to do Above 4 Settings in Audacity One by One

1. Best Noise Reduction Settings in Audacity

Follow these steps

1. Select 3-4 seconds of background noise
2. Effects → Noise Removal & Repair → Noise Reduction
3. Click “Get Noise Profile”
4. Select entire audio (Ctrl + A)
5. Return to Noise Reduction and set:
   • Noise Reduction: 12 dB
   • Sensitivity: 12.5
   • Frequency Smoothing: 7 bands
6. Click OK

2. Best Equalization Settings in Audacity

Follow these steps

1. Select All Recordings
2. Effect → EQ & Filters → Filter Curve EQ
3. Preset & Settings → Factory Preset
4. Apply Treble Boost + Bass Boost
5. Click Apply

3. Best Compression Settings in Audacity

Follow these steps

1. Select All Recordings
2. Effect → Volume & Compression → Compressor
3. Set parameters:
   • Threshold: -18 dB
   • Noise Floor: -40 dB
   • Ratio: 2.5:1
   • Attack Time: 1.80 seconds
   • Release Time: 11.1 seconds
4. Click Apply

4. Best Normalization Settings in Audacity

Follow these steps

1. Select All Recordings
2. Effect → Volume & Compression → Normalize
3. Apply

Volume Control Methods in Audacity

We have Two methods to adjust volume:

Method 1: Using Amplify

1. Select All Recordings
2. Effect → Volume & Compression → Amplify
3. Set dB = 0.5
4. Apply

Method 2: Using EQ

1. Select All Recordings
2. Effect → EQ & Filters → Base & treble
3. Adjust Volume
4. Apply

Background Music Integration in Audacity (Auto Ducking Setup)

To automatically lower background music during voice sections:

1. Place background music track on TOP of all tracks
2. Effect → Volume & Compression → Auto Ducking
3. Apply
4. Background music will automatically lower during voice sections

Pro Tips:

Special Voice Effects (Papa & Son and Ghost Voices)

1. Select first MONO Track and rename it as “PAPA”
2. Select another MONO Track and rename it as “SON”
3. Select another MONO Track and rename it as “GHOST”
4. Record dialogues separately
5. Adjust pitch as needed:
   • -20 for thick/PAPA type voice
   • 0 for normal voice
   • +30 for thin/SON/woman voice

Ghost Voice Settings

1. Go to Effect → Delay & Reverb
2. Select Echo with:
   • Delay time = 0.3
   • Decay Factor = 0.3
3. Use Reverb for humming Voice (Gunjan Type)

Best Settings for Podcasting

• Use MONO recording
• Apply noise reduction first
• Focus on voice clarity through EQ
• Maintain consistent volume through compression

Best Settings for Voice-over

• Higher compression ratio for more consistent sound
• Careful EQ to enhance voice characteristics
• Multiple noise reduction passes if needed

Best Settings for Singing

• Less compression to maintain dynamics
• Gentle EQ to enhance natural voice
• Light noise reduction to preserve quality

Free Resources to Level Up Your Audio Game

Want to dive deeper? Check out these amazing resources:

• Official Audacity Manual – Comprehensive guide for all features
• Audacity Forum – Connect with other audio enthusiasts

Final Thoughts

Remember, these settings are starting points – feel free to adjust them based on your specific needs and equipment. The key is to experiment while keeping these foundational principles in mind. With practice and these settings, you’ll be creating professional-quality audio in no time! 🎯