Buzz
This article provides a step-by-step guide on how to use pitch correction effects in Audacity. You'll need the free "GSnap" extension to accomplish this. Contrary to popular belief, GSnap is compatible with both Windows and Mac computers, though the installation process can be somewhat intricate.
Steps
Installing GSnap on Windows
Download the GSnap extension. Visit http://www.gvst.co.uk/gsnap.htm using your web browser, then click on the Download GSnap (for 32-bit VST hosts) link near the bottom of the page. The GSnap extension will be downloaded as a ZIP folder.
- The 64-bit version has a software bug that prevents GSnap from appearing in the Effects menu.
Extract the GSnap folder. Access the downloaded ZIP folder and follow these steps:
- Double-click the ZIP folder to open it.
- Click the Extract tab at the top of the window.
- Select Extract all.
- Click Extract at the bottom of the window.
the contents of the GSnap folder. In the extracted folder, press Ctrl+A to select all files, then press Ctrl+C to copy everything.
Click on This PC. This folder is located on the left side of the File Explorer window. The This PC folder will open immediately.
- You may need to scroll through the left pane of File Explorer to locate this folder.
Double-click on your computer's hard drive. This option is listed under the "Devices and drives" section in the middle of the page, typically labeled as OS (C:).
- If no drives are visible, click the Devices and drives heading to reveal the information.
Navigate to Audacity's "Plug-Ins" folder. Follow these steps:
- Double-click the "Program Files (x86)" folder.
- Double-click the "Audacity" folder.
- Double-click the "Plug-Ins" folder.
Transfer the GSnap file. Click anywhere within the "Plug-Ins" folder, then press Ctrl+V. You will see both GSnap files appear in the "Plug-Ins" folder. Now that you've added the GSnap extension to Audacity, proceed to enable GSnap.
- You may need to click Continue if prompted to paste the file into Audacity.
Installing GSnap on Mac
Download the GVST extension package. Visit http://www.gvst.co.uk/portpage.htm using your web browser, then click on the link Download GVST plug-ins for Mac (for 32- and 64-bit VST hosts) under the "Mac OSX - BETA" section.
- GSnap cannot be downloaded separately for Mac, which is why you need to download the entire VST extension here.
Open the downloaded ZIP folder. Double-click on the downloaded ZIP folder containing the GVST extension.
the GSnap file. Click on the "GSnap" file, then press ⌘ Command+C.
- Alternatively, you can click on File and select from the displayed menu.
Click on the Go menu. You'll find it at the top of your screen. A dropdown menu will appear here.
- If the Go option isn't visible on your Mac screen, click anywhere on the desktop or open a new Finder window.
Select Go to Folder…. This option is located under the Go menu. A new window will immediately pop up on your screen.
Navigate to the Audacity Application Support folder. Type ~/Library/Application Support/audacity into the field in the displayed window, then click Go.
Open the "Plug-Ins" folder. You'll find this option inside the "audacity" directory.
Paste the GSnap file. Click inside the "Plug-Ins" folder, then press ⌘ Command+V. This action will place the GSnap file into the "Plug-Ins" folder, adding it to Audacity. Now that you've integrated the GSnap extension into Audacity, proceed to enable GSnap.
- Alternatively, you can click on File, then select Paste Item from the dropdown menu.
Activate GSnap in Audacity
Launch Audacity. This program features an orange sound wave icon with a blue headphone symbol. The audio editing interface of Audacity will open in a new window.
Click on Effect. This tab is located at the top of the Audacity window. A dropdown menu will appear once clicked.
Select Add / Remove Plug-ins…. This option is found at the top of the Effect menu. A new window will pop up.
Scroll down and click on GSnap. This section is labeled under "G" in the window.
Click on Enable. This button is located below the list of available extensions. Clicking it will change GSnap's status from "New" to "Enabled."
Select OK at the bottom of the window. This action confirms the changes and closes the window.
Ensure GSnap is installed. Click on the Effect tab and scroll down until you find GSnap near the bottom of the menu. If GSnap is visible, you can proceed with pitch correction in Audacity.
Pitch Correction
Import the audio file. Click on File, choose Import, select Audio..., and double-click the audio file you wish to edit.
Select the vocal track. Click and drag over the section of the audio you wish to adjust.
Click on Effect. A dropdown menu will appear on the screen.
Choose GSnap…. This option is located near the bottom of the Effect menu. The GSnap window will open.
Select the key. Click the SELECT A SCALE... button at the top of the window, choose the song's key (e.g., A), select Major or Minor, and click OK.
Adjust the settings for pitch correction. While you can customize these settings to achieve a unique sound, try the following configurations for a classic pitch-corrected effect:
Review your settings.
Make necessary adjustments. The two main factors to control are the "AMOUNT" and "SPEED" values:
Click on Apply. This option is located at the bottom right corner of the window. Clicking it will apply your selected settings to the audio.
Fine-tune the audio. Continue adjusting the settings to achieve your desired sound, but keep the following in mind:
Save the project as an audio file. Export the audio by clicking File, selecting Export Audio..., entering a name and save location, and then clicking Save.
Advice
- To record using a USB microphone in Audacity, you need to select the microphone by clicking on the "Microphone" dropdown menu on the left side of the toolbar and choosing the connected microphone.
Warning
- Since GSnap is a free extension of a free program, it may not be perfect or produce results comparable to professional pitch correction software.
