Learn how to use special effects in Adobe Audition, such as Distortion, Doppler, Vocal Enhancer, and more, to transform your audio.
Use the Special > Distortion effect to simulate blown car speakers, muffled microphones, or overdriven amplifiers.
- Positive and Negative graphs: Specify separate distortion curves for positive and negative sample values. The horizontal ruler (x‑axis) indicates input level in decibels; the vertical ruler (y‑axis) indicates output level. The default diagonal line depicts an undistorted signal, with a one‑to‑one relationship between input and output values. Click and drag to create and adjust points on the graphs. Drag points off a graph to remove them.
To copy one graph to another, select the arrow buttons between them.
- Reset: Returns a graph to its default, undistorted state.
- Curve Smoothing: Creates curved transitions between control points, sometimes producing a more natural distortion than the default linear transitions.
- Time Smoothing: Determines how quickly distortion reacts to changes in input levels. Level measurements are based on low-frequency content, creating softer, more musical distortion.
- dB Range: Changes the amplitude range of the graphs, limiting distortion to that range.
- Linear Scale: Changes the amplitude scales of the graphs from logarithmic decibels to normalized values.
- Post-filter DC Offset: Compensates for any sample offset introduced by distortion processing. Such offsets can cause audible pops and clicks when the audio is edited.
The Special > Doppler Shifter (process) effect creates the increase and decrease in pitch we notice when an object approaches and then passes us, such as when a police car passes with its siren on. When the car comes toward you, the sound reaches your ears as a higher frequency because each sound wave is compressed by the car moving forward. The opposite happens as the car passes by; the waves are stretched out, resulting in a lower‑pitched sound.
Unlike many graphs in Adobe Audition effects, the Doppler Shifter graph is noninteractive: You can’t directly manipulate the graph. Instead, the graph changes as you adjust the effect’s parameters.
- Path Type: Defines which path the sound source appears to take. Depending on the path type, a different set of options is available.
- Straight Line options:
- Starting Distance Away sets the virtual starting point (in meters) of the effect.
- Velocity defines the virtual speed (in meters per second) at which the effect moves.
- Coming From sets the virtual direction (in degrees) from where the effect appears to come.
- Passes In Front By specifies how far (in meters) the effect seems to pass in front of the listener.
- Passes On Right By specifies how far (in meters) the effect seems to pass to the right of the listener.
- Circular options:
- Radius sets the circular dimensions (in meters) of the effect.
- Velocity defines the virtual speed (in meters per second) at which the effect moves.
- Starting Angle sets the beginning virtual angle (in degrees) of the effect.
- Center In Front By specifies how far (in meters) the sound source is from the front of the listener.
- Center On Right By specifies how far (in meters) the sound source is from the right of the listener.
- Adjust Volume Based on Distance or Direction: Automatically adjusts the effect’s volume based on the values specified.
- Quality: Provides six different levels of processing quality. Lower-quality levels require less processing time, but higher-quality levels generally produce better-sounding results.
The Special > Guitar Suite effect applies a series of processors that optimize and alter the sound of guitar tracks. The Compressor stage reduces dynamic range, producing a tighter sound with greater impact. Filter, Distortion, and Box Modeler stages simulate common effects that guitarists use to create expressive, artistic performances.
Apply the Guitar Suite to vocals, drums, or other audio to create textured effects.
- Compressor: Reduces dynamic range to maintain consistent amplitude and help guitar tracks stand out in a mix.
- Filter: Simulates guitar filters ranging from resonators to talk boxes. Choose an option from this menu, and then set options below:
- Type: Determines which frequencies are filtered. Specify Lowpass to filter high frequencies, Highpass to filter low frequencies, or Bandpass to filter frequencies above and below a center frequency.
- Frequency: Determines the cutoff frequency for Lowpass and Highpass filtering, or the center frequency for Bandpass filtering.
- Resonance: Feeds back frequencies near the cutoff frequency, adding crispness with low settings and whistling harmonics with high settings.
- Distortion: Adds a sonic edge often heard in guitar solos. To change the distortion character, choose an option from the Type menu.
- Amplifier: Simulates various amplifier and speaker combinations that guitarists use to create unique tones.
- Mix: Controls the ratio of original to processed audio.
Mastering describes the complete process of optimizing audio files for a particular medium, such as radio, video, CD, or the web. In Adobe Audition, you can quickly mix audio with the Special > Mixing effect.
Before mixing audio, consider the requirements of the destination medium. If the destination is the web, for example, the file will likely be played over computer speakers that poorly reproduce bass sounds. To compensate, you can boost bass frequencies during the equalization stage of the mixing process.
- Equalizer: Adjusts the overall tonal balance.
- Graph: Shows frequency along the horizontal ruler (x‑axis) and amplitude along the vertical ruler (y‑axis), with the curve representing the amplitude change at specific frequencies. Frequencies in the graph range from lowest to highest in a logarithmic fashion (evenly spaced by octaves).
Drag control points in the graph to visually adjust the settings below.
- Low Shelf and High Shelf Enable: Activate shelving filters at either end of the frequency spectrum.
- Peaking Enable: Activates a peaking filter in the center of the frequency spectrum.
- Hz: Indicates the center frequency of each frequency band.
- dB: Indicates the level of each frequency band.
- Q: Controls the width of the affected frequency band. Low Q values (up to 3) affect a larger range of frequencies and are best for overall audio enhancement. High Q values (6–12) affect a very narrow band and are ideal for removing a specific, problematic frequency, such as 60-Hz hum.
- Reverb: Adds ambience. Drag the Amount slider to change the ratio of original to reverberant sound.
- Exciter: Exaggerates high-frequency harmonics, adding crispness and clarity. Mode options include Retro for light distortion, Tape for bright tone, and Tube for quick, dynamic response. Drag the Amount slider to adjust the level of processing.
- Widener: Adjusts the stereo image (disabled for mono audio). Drag the Width slider to the left to narrow the image and increase central focus. Drag the slider to the right to expand the image and enhance the spatial placement of individual sounds.
- Loudness Maximizer: Applies a limiter that reduces dynamic range, boosting perceived levels. A setting of 0% reflects original levels; 100% applies maximum limiting.
- Output Gain: Determines output levels after processing. For example, to compensate for EQ adjustments that reduce the overall level, boost the output gain.
The Loudness Meter in Audition measures audio loudness using industry-standard LUFS and True Peak values, helping ensure content meets broadcast and streaming loudness requirements without altering the audio.
Settings
- Target Loudness: Defines the target loudness value
- Low Level Below: Sets the shift between the green and blue colors on the momentary loudness ring. This indicates that the level may be below the noise floor level.
- Minimum True Peak: Sets the maximum True Peak level. If this value is exceeded, the peak indicator is activated.
- Scale: Sets how the loudness range is visually displayed on the meter according to EBU standards.
- EBU +9: Shows audio levels within a narrow range around the target loudness.
- EBU +18: Shows audio levels within a wider range around the target loudness.
- Unit: Sets the Loudness unit to display on the radar.
- LUFS: Loudness unit specified by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
- LKFS: Loudness unit specified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- LU/LUFS: Displays Loudness Units (LU) for relative changes and LUFS for absolute loudness.
- LU/LKFS: Displays Loudness Units (LU) for relative changes and LKFS for absolute loudness.
LU is a unit for loudness relative to the target according to EBU and ITU.
Loudness Radar Meter effect plug-in provides you with information about peak, average, and range levels. Loudness History, Momentary Loudness, True-peak Level, and flexible descriptors are combined to give you a single view of the loudness overview. The Radar sweep view, which provides an excellent view of loudness changes over time, is also available. Select Effects > Special > Loudness Radar Meter.
Monitor and correct broadcast audio loudness in Adobe Audition using the TC Electronic ITU Loudness Radar panel.
- Target Loudness: Defines the target loudness value
- Radar Speed: Controls the time of each radar sweep
- Radar Resolution: Sets the difference in loudness between each concentric circle in the radar view.
- Momentary Range: Sets the range for the momentary range. EBU +9 indicates the narrow loudness range, used for normal broadcast. EBU +18 is the wide loudness range used for drama and music.
- Low Level Below: Sets the shift between the green and blue colors on the momentary loudness ring. This indicates that the level may be below the noise floor level.
- Loudness Unit: Sets the Loudness unit to display on the radar.
- LKFS: Loudness unit specified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
- LUFS: Loudness unit specified by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
- LU: A unit for loudness relative to the target according to EBU and ITU.
- Loudness Standard: Specify the Loudness standard.
- BS.1770-3: This ITU standard concerns Broadcast loudness and True-peak Level measurement. This standard uses Leq(K) to measure loudness.
- Leq(K): The loudness is based on a Leq measurement employing K-weighting, which is a specific frequency weighting developed by the Communications Research Center (a federal research institute in Ottawa, Canada).
- Peak Indicator: Sets the maximum True-Peak level. If this value is exceeded, the peak indicator is activated.
The Special > Vocal Enhancer effect quickly improves the quality of voice-over recordings. The available modes automatically reduce sibilance and plosives, as well as microphone handling noise such as low rumbles. Those modes also apply microphone modeling and compression to give vocals a characteristic radio sound. The Music mode optimizes soundtracks so they better complement a voice-over.
- Male: Optimizes audio for a man’s voice.
- Female: Optimizes audio for a woman’s voice.
- Music: Applies compression and equalization to music or background audio.
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