Macros

Peter 22Jan13: Quality note: wouldn't it be more consistent if the Edit Chains command became Edit Chain? After all you are only editing one chain at a time surely and it would then look more consistent with Apply Chain.

• Gale 23Jan13: You can though edit more than one chain while in the Edit Chains dialogue, even if not simultaneously. I am OK with it as now.
  • Peter 23Jan13: Fair enough.
• Peter 23Jan13 Nomenclature: I created this page with the title "Chains - for batch processing" - in an email Gale suggested ths similar "Chains (for batch processing). My original choice was the simpler "Chains" - Gale commented that "Chains of effects are advanced terminology ... this I think is the very reason the page was called Batch Processing in the first place" and "Is it not also true that many of the Forum questions about our Chains feature are expressed using "batch" terminology?"
• Peter 23Jan13 ToDo-2 Ready for editorial review and merciless editing. Do we need to document the button usage - or are they sufficiently self-evident?

Batch processing in Audacity is effected by processing a Chain of effects in preset order, either on tracks in the active Audacity project window or on a number of imported audio files. This can save time and repetitive effort. Chains are often used to batch process a group of audio files with the same sequence of effects or functions. Examples of typical usage:

• Compressing the dynamic range of a number of WAV files, then converting them to MP3
• Noise removing, bass boosting then normalizing a track or tracks in a project

How to use Chains

In order to use batch processing it is necessary first to set up a Chain of effects using the Edit Chains command. A "Chain" is a sequence of automated commands similar to a "macro". Once the Chain has been set up you can then use the Apply Chain command to implement it.

Edit Chains

Enables you to either edit, remove or rename existing Chains, or add a new Chain. The Chain can include a number of common Audacity functions and effects to be executed in any order you specify. In many cases, the parameters for each command in the Chain can be specified within the Edit Chains window. Any built-in or Nyquist effect shown in the Effect Menu can be added to a chain, along with an Export command to save an audio file.

Accessed by: File > Edit Chains...

Apply Chain

Enables you to select a Chain and apply it to either the entirety of the current project, to single audio file or to a group of specially selected audio files.

Accessed by: File > Apply Chain...