Macros
- There are extra buttons in the edit chains/macros dialog, so you can for example apply a chain/macro from there.
- Clicking on the list of steps now goes direct to editing the parameters.
- Some commands in the select command dialog now have the scripting id in brackets after the name, e.g. "Cut (CutLabels)".
- The rule is a little involved. It is basically "Where needed to disambiguate".
- The actual rule is based on whether the scripting id typically could or could not be easily deduced from the name, and is done by looking at the lengths. If scripting id is a lot longer, it's needed!
- The select command dialog has a new 'Details' Textbox that shows the ScriptingID of the command, and its type. (maybe in time for 2.3.0 we will have some help information there too)
A Macro is a sequence of preconfigured commands in a set order (mainly effects) that can be applied automatically to projects or audio files. Any built-in, LADSPA, LV2, Nyquist, VST or Audio Unit (Mac) effect shown in the Effect Menu can be added to a Macro. You can also add plug-ins in any format that are shown in the Generate or Analyze Menus (including Vamp analysis effects), the built-in Find Clipping analyzer and a number of export commands.
How to use Macros
The two uses of Macros are for:
Batch processing: where many audio files are processed unattended with one or more effects then exported to a new file
Effects automation: where the selected audio in the track or tracks in the current project is subjected to the same prescribed sequence of effects, and optionally, a file exported from the entire audio. Note that Macros can contain Select commands to make their own selections as the Macro runs.
Look first at Manage Macros to determine if an existing Macro will suit your needs (Audacity only ships with a couple) or to create a new Macro. Next, use one of the Apply buttons to perform the action on your audio.
See the examples below.
Manage Macros
Use if you need to create a new Macro or to edit an existing Macro.
- The Macro can include a number of common Audacity functions and effects to be executed in any order you specify.
- To create an audio file as part of the Macro process you must include an "Export" command (such as ExportWAV).
- In many cases the parameters for each command in the Macro can be specified within the manage Macros dialog.
The left hand box in the dialog (labeled Select Macros) contains a list of already defined Macros. Until you add a new Macro, it only has a single built-in "MP3 Conversion" Macro. You can:
- Use the button to create a new Macro
- Use left-click (or use the Up or Down arrow on the keyboard) to select the Macro you want to work on
- Delete any user-added Macro with the button
- Rename any user-added Macro with the button
The right-hand box (labeled Macro) lists the ordered sequence of commands for the Macro selected in the "Select Macros" box on the left. You can:
- Add or remove commands for the selected Macro
- Change the order in which the commands execute in the Macro
- Edit the parameters for some effects in the Macro
For further details on creating, editing and sharing Macros, see the Manage Macros page.
Apply Macro
Use the button to show a reduced dialog with a simple list ofthe existing Macros. Select the Macro you require by using left-click (or using the Up or Down arrow on the keyboard) to select the Macro you want to work on, then either:
- choose to run the Macro on the entire project in the current window or
- choose to run the Macro on selected external audio files in a single directory
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If you already have audio in the current project window, you must save and close that project using before applying a Macro to files. |
For more details see the Apply Macro page.
Macro Examples
In this section we look at a couple of examples of how a Macro might be used. In the image below we have added two additional Macros.
Example 1: Loud MP3
A batch processing Macro to compress and normalize WAV files then convert them to MP3:
- Insert Compressor to reduce the dynamic range of each WAV, also normalizing them to maximum amplitude of 0 dB
- Insert Export as MP3 to convert them to MP3 format
- Click to close the "Manage Macros" window
- Finally, choose , select the "Loud MP3" Macro then click where you can select the files on which to run the Macro.
Example 2: NR&EQ
An effects automation Macro for the current project that applies noise reduction and equalization:
- Insert Normalize with settings of:
- Remove any DC offset
- -10 dB (to allow for boosting frequencies later in the Macro without clipping)
- Insert Noise Reduction
- Insert Equalization (to perform the frequency adjustment)
- Insert another Normalize at different settings (without offset removal, setting a final amplitude of -1 dB)
- Click to close the "Edit Chains" window
- Finally, choose , select the "NR&EQ" Macro then click to apply the Macro to the selected track(s) in the current project window.
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