# Using realtime effects

## Downloading & installing realtime effects

While Audacity doesn't yet ship with realtime effects, you can download plugins for it. Currently supported plugin formats are **Audio Units** (macOS only), **VST3**, **VST**, **LV2**, and **LADSPA**. We have collected some plugins which we know to work on [plugins.audacityteam.org](https://plugins.audacityteam.org/) but you can find many more across the web. Once you install the plugins, they should be detected by Audacity once you restart it, if not, see the [installation instructions](/~/revisions/3SXRVNgNNXfugJQShK9n/basics/customizing-audacity/installing-plugins.md). 

## Adding effects to a track

You can add realtime effects using the following steps:

<div><figure><img src="/files/XAEF0r7JA6MxcCblrUHu" alt="Click the Effects button or press the E key to activate the realtime effects panel"><figcaption><p>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="/files/X88lVu1pFjnB90U0iSM5" alt="Clck Add effect to display the list of available effects"><figcaption><p>Clck <strong>Add effect</strong> to display the list of available effects</p></figcaption></figure></div>

<div><figure><img src="/files/RMRz4i3ViYwI4tJsn3mb" alt="Select the effect to add to your track"><figcaption><p>Select the effect to add to your track</p></figcaption></figure> <figure><img src="/files/FEUy70URJ3TgKhcQp03K" alt="Click the blue power button to toggle the state of the effect"><figcaption><p>You can toggle the state of the effect if necessary</p></figcaption></figure></div>

{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** Realtime effects always apply to an entire track. Since they're calculated realtime, they won't change the source waveform.&#x20;
{% endhint %}

## Changing effect settings

<figure><img src="/files/DCxa8WrX0O7r6IXCIS0s" 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="/files/EfHL5MiFvz3b6m0Ikhbh" 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.&#x20;

{% 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**".&#x20;
{% 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**](/~/revisions/3SXRVNgNNXfugJQShK9n/basics/saving-and-exporting-projects.md#exporting-audio).&#x20;

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**.&#x20;

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


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