How to Make Vocals Clear in Audacity

By Wesley DeBoy

Updated September 22, 2017

Equalize a recorded vocal in Audacity to increase its clarity.
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Audacity is an audio software program available for free download. You can make vocals clear in Audacity by using the graphic equalizer. This tool is a default processor available in Audacity that will let you adjust the volume level of different frequencies in the vocal. By adjusting these frequencies, you can drastically improve the clarity of a muddy-sounding vocal. The graphic equalizer in Audacity is simple to use.

Open Audacity and import the vocals you want to make clear by clicking “File,” selecting “Import” and selecting “Audio.”

Select the audio file on your computer that represents the vocal you want to make clear and click “Open.”

Click “Effect,” select “Equalization” and choose the “Graphic Equalizer.”

Decrease the frequencies in the graphic equalizer below 60 Hz to take away any low-frequency rumble that may be detracting from the vocals. This can be done by clicking the sliders marked 60 Hz and below and dragging them downward.

Continue to decrease the low-frequency bands on the graphic equalizer, moving as far up to the 200 Hz band if the vocal sounds too thick and needs to be thinned out.

Increase the frequency bands around 150 Hz to add body to a vocal that sounds too thin.

Increase the frequency bands about 3 Khz to add extra articulation and clarity to the vocal.

Increase the frequency bands about 5 Khz to add extra presence to the vocal, giving it the ability to cut through a mix.

Increase the frequency bands from 10 Khz and above to emphasize the airy or breathy sound of the vocals.

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