# Using master effects & realtime effects

## Adding effects to a track

You can add realtime effects using the following steps:

<div><figure><img src="https://2905281570-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEnNXGrLkN0pXlkzzS7cM%2Fuploads%2FIaoihysFqrJsTFRHrj7F%2Faudacity_U6xn9MIqiL.png?alt=media&#x26;token=77e0e89d-62d2-4475-9e9b-a0b7e0253784" alt="Click the Effects button or press the E key to activate the realtime effects panel"><figcaption><p>1 Click the <strong>Effects</strong> button or press the <strong>E</strong> key to activate the realtime effects panel</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://2905281570-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEnNXGrLkN0pXlkzzS7cM%2Fuploads%2FXI8nv2FpVavaRMWf3ibE%2Faudacity_7WW2IhXa52.png?alt=media&#x26;token=651ff7e9-7c55-4b10-887d-2ecde219341d" alt="Clck Add effect to display the list of available effects"><figcaption><p>2 Click <strong>Add effect</strong> to display the list of available effects</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<div><figure><img src="https://2905281570-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEnNXGrLkN0pXlkzzS7cM%2Fuploads%2FT9E52OocLVTc8qmle8wh%2Faudacity_W9Aub4dujC.png?alt=media&#x26;token=e85c82bd-6bb2-457f-b51d-4563f9914637" alt="Select the effect to add to your track"><figcaption><p>3 Select the effect to add to your track</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="https://2905281570-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FEnNXGrLkN0pXlkzzS7cM%2Fuploads%2FdCZcP6N3tIq8XA5CVmET%2Faudacity_8pVejTGdEX.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c3949aa4-ed6a-4cd9-bb49-5ad8c27875b1" alt="Example image of Audacity&#x27;s compressor"><figcaption><p>4 Change the effect to your liking.</p></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}

### Notes

* Realtime effects always apply to an entire track.&#x20;
* Since these effects are calculated realtime, they won't change the source waveform.
* Realtime effects are automatically applied to the track. You can safely close the effect window once you're done tweaking the effect.&#x20;
  {% endhint %}

## Adding effects to all tracks (Master effects)

To add master effects, first **open the realtime effects panel** (Shortcut: `E`). At the bottom of the panel, you'll find a **Master Effects** section.

Master effects are effects which are applied to the master mix (that is, after all the individual tracks in the project are mixed together, with any per-track realtime effects as well as gain and pan faders applied).

{% hint style="success" %}
Tips & Tricks:

* For music, use a little reverb on the master to make the project sound a little less "dry".
* You can put a limiter on the master to prevent clipping. Limiters do distort the audio a little, but not as badly as clipping would.
* You can adjust the loudness of your entire mix in this stage and do other tweaks to make the audio sound better - this is called "mastering".
  {% endhint %}

## Changing effect settings

<figure><img src="https://github.com/audacity/audacity-support/blob/au4/.gitbook/assets/effects%20panel%20effect%20focus.png" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You can change the effect settings by clicking on the effect's name. This will open a settings window, often with a graphical interface which looks nothing like Audacity itself. You still can interact with the main Audacity window while the effect settings are open.

## Bypassing an effect

<figure><img src="https://github.com/audacity/audacity-support/blob/au4/.gitbook/assets/effects%20bypasses.png" alt="the stack bypass is the first thing in focus when opening the effects panel. pressing down nagivates to any present effects. Pressing then tab first selects the power button"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

You can press the blue power button next to an effect (or the entire effects stack) to bypass it, causing it to be not applied to your audio.

{% hint style="info" %}
**Tip:** If you want to completely remove an effect from the stack, **press the triangle** next to the effect name and select "**No Effect**".
{% endhint %}

## Applying an effect stack to the waveform

It generally is not necessary to apply the effect stack. The stack is automatically applied when [**exporting the audio**](https://support.audacityteam.org/au4/basics/saving-and-exporting-projects#exporting-audio).

That said, you can apply the effect stack to the waveform by first selecting the track and then going to **Tracks > Mix > Mix and Render**.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Caution:** When selecting several tracks at once, the Mix and Render option will mix all tracks together.

Master effects are only rendered when exporting the file.
{% endhint %}

## Getting more effects

While Audacity doesn't yet ship with many realtime effects, you can download plugins for it. Currently supported plugin formats are **Audio Units** (macOS only), **VST3**, **VST**, **LV2**, and **LADSPA**. You can get many of these effects via the Muse Hub, and we have collected some plugins at [plugins.audacityteam.org](https://app.gitbook.com/o/-MhmG2mhIIHTtQPuHV_k/s/klCVENFte0GRy5IqVz0W/). Once you install the plugins, they should be detected by Audacity once you restart it, if not, see the [installation instructions](https://support.audacityteam.org/au4/audio-editing/broken-reference).