Apply Macro

Peter 06Mar18:

N.B. This page has multiple anchors in places. This is to deal with the 2.3.0 functionality where Macros replaced Chains - but also to deal with older pre-existing links in the Forum which still will link to the chain anchors.

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Apply Macro automatically applies a series of preconfigured commands in a set order. The dialog allows you to select a Macro (which is a sequence of effect and/or export commands created using Tools > Macros then apply that Macro to either the entirety of the current project or to selected audio files in a single directory.

You cannot process multi-channel audio files (for example, 5.1 surround sound files) using Macros, even if Import / Export Preferences has been set to "Use custom mix". Any multi-channel files you import will be mixed down on export.

Accessed by: using the Shrink button in the Manage Macros dialog.

Apply Macro non-default image showing a user-added Macro as well as the as-shipped "MP3 Conversion" and "Fade Ends" Macros

Select Macro

In the "Macro" list, left-click on a Macro (or use Up or Down keyboard arrow) to select the Macro you want to apply.

Apply Macro to

Project

Use the Project to apply the selected Macro to the current project window.

The typical purpose of this option is effect automation - apply a sequence of effects to the project, using effect parameters and an order of applying the effects that you have found to work well for the type of audio you are processing. This saves time and provides consistency in your workflow.

The effects in the Macro are applied to the selected region of waveform in the selected audio tracks. Usually the selected Macro would not include an export command so as to use the greater flexibility of the Export Audio Dialog.

If an export command is included in the Macro, the entire project audio is exported irrespective of track or region selection. Therefore if the project contains multiple audio tracks, they will be mixed together, unless any of the tracks are muted on the Track Control Panel.

The exported files will be saved in a folder named "cleaned".

• If the audio in the project came from an imported file or files, the "cleaned" folder will be inside the directory from which the first file was imported. The original files are not altered.
• Otherwise, a message prompt will indicate the location of the "cleaned" folder that will contain the exported file. The "cleaned" folder will be in the last location that the Macro process exported to. If the Macro process has never been used for export before, the "cleaned" folder will be in the location at which the File Export Dialog currently opens.

This reduced version is useful for presets for effects. It stays open after applying a macro, so it is a palette of custom functions, and you can pick another and apply that.

Files...

Use the Files... button to apply the selected Macro to selected external audio files that are in a single directory. If you already have audio in the current project window, you must save and close that project using File > Close before applying a Macro to files.

The typical purpose of this option is batch processing - apply the Macro to multiple audio files so as to apply one or more effects to them, and/or convert them to another file format. You can convert from any file format supported by Audacity to WAV, MP3, OGG or FLAC. The selected Macro must include an "export" step, or the processed audio will not be saved.

It is recommended not to process more than 500 files at a time.

• A standard File Open dialog box will appear. Choose a directory then you can select one or any number of supported audio files in that directory, but not Audacity AUP project files. You cannot select files outside that directory, and files in folders inside that directory will not be processed. It is convenient therefore to first put all the audio files you want to process into one folder before applying the Macro.
• After selecting the audio files you want to process, choose "Open".
• Each file will be imported into Audacity and processed, exported to the format you chose in the Macro, then the processed audio will be removed so as to clear the temporary disk space that had been used.
• The exported files will be saved in a folder named "cleaned" in the same folder that the original files came from. The original files are not altered.

When a Macro is applied to files, the only option is to import and process the entire file. Thus the entire file will be exported unless an effect in the Macro (such as Truncate Silence or Repeat) performs audio removal or insertion. Some optional Nyquist plug-ins have parameters to trim or extend audio by a specific length and so could be used for this purpose in a Macro.

Expand

Use the Expand to return to the full-size, full-function Manage Macros dialog.

The apply Macro buttons are also available on the Manage Macros dialog - so all Macro operations can be made from that full dialog.

Presets for effects

Since it is quit possible to have just a single command in a Macro you can use Macros to store your regularly used effects along with your favored settings.

The Apply Macro dialog is thus a good way of having an open palette of favorite presets for the effects and settings you regularly use.

Cancel to exit the dialog

The dialog will remain open on the screen, but allowing you to perform other Audacity functions.

To dismiss the dialog simply click on the Cancel button

Macros Examples

See the Macros Examples page for examples of using Macros.

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