Hey there! Below, you will find two solutions to automate your technical mastering inside Audacity — ranging from a free basic fix to a custom-built setup.
Option 1: The Free Standard ACX Macro (Download)
This is your baseline “1-click button” to fix the two most critical technical reasons for ACX rejection: RMS Volume and Peak Levels.
What’s inside the chain:
- RMS Normalize: Safely brings your average signal volume to the perfect ACX sweet spot.
- Limiter: Softly tames high peaks at -3.5 dB, leaving a safe headroom buffer so your audio never clips or distorts.
How to install it:
- Open Audacity and go to Tools -> Macro manager
- Click Import… and select the downloaded file.
- Select your track, click on the macro, and hit Apply Macro. Done!
— IMPORTANT NOTE —
If your environment is rather noisy and ACX doesn’t like it (for example, a simple computer fan can be that culprit), you better figure out the noise reduction module (or even better — address the source of noise as much as possible).
However, if your raw file isn’t noisy and after normalization it passes the check (use this plugin to monitor parameters), you’re good to proceed.
Option 2: The Custom Voice Macro (US$30)
While the free macro fixes the numbers, it has one major flaw: it addresses the very basic things. It doesn’t know what microphone you use, how harsh your sibilants are, or how much background noise you have. If you use the free version on a noisy track, it will simply make your background hiss louder. Period.
If you want a customized macro, I will build it specifically for your voice.
What you get in the Custom Macro:
- Noise Reduction Module: Tuned to your specific noise floor to eliminate computer fans or distant traffic.
- Custom Filter Curve EQ: Shaped for your specific voice to remove mud, enhance clarity, and boost presence.
- Optimized Gain Staging: Custom target settings for the final Limiter and RMS stages.
How it works:
- You send me a 2-minute raw test clip of your recording.
- I analyze your audio environment, EQ requirements, and noise floor.
- I build your bespoke macro text file and send it to you.
- Thirty bucks — and you’re armed!
Why Even a Perfect Macro Can’t Save a Bad Room
As an audio engineer, I must give you the heads up: software cannot fix bad recording hygiene. If your room has a nasty echo (room reflections) or your input gain was too high and already distorted the audio, no macro on earth will fix it. Always test your gain staging first (aim for peaks between -12 and -6 dB while recording) and treat your space (at least, fill it with some hung clothes and|or pillows and close that damn wndow).
If you are struggling with a difficult audio file that a macro just can’t fix, don’t hesitate to reach out for professional audio restoration and mastering services.