Advanced Audacity: Sync-Lock and Labels in Multitrack Editing

In this video, learn how to use the audio editing software Audacity for large projects with multiple tracks. It covers lots of ways to edit without accidentally moving around things you've already timed perfectly: silencing, using sync-lock, and using label tracks.
For the basics, see my video "Audacity Basics: Recording, Editing, Mixing" at • Audacity Basics (OLD/O... .
The video was recorded using Audacity 2.1.0 on Windows 7 in August 2017. Besides my own voice, you briefly hear two other tracks: cdk's song "Sunday" (ccmixter.org/fi...) and Analog Bleep Ten's "Tape Rewind.wav" (freesound.org/p....
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[@craigburghardt8604]

The label tracks trick allowing only certain tracks in tandem trick will be super helpful thanks!

[@RDaneelOlivaw2]

I just started recording myself with backing tracks and this tutorial was perfect for my needs. It was very clear and full of useful information. Thanks!

[@EbaleyTheRogue]

This is a very interesting use of Label Tracks and Sync-Lock, the ultimate Sync-Lock combo pack. Thanks!

[@leeny777]

Dude...You just saved the day!!! You’re my Audacity hero!!! Thank you so much! Amazing tutorial!

[@blackwomenhealshow9740]

Pure gold for us multi host pods

[@stevenmorris5562]

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! I'm a Final Cut editor going crazy with the way Audacity works. Have taken on a podcast project and trying to figure out how to easily insert the interview between the open and close all on separate tracks. New to Audacity multi track editing. This might be over kill, but it gets me thinking. This is a new team of producers and most will need to easily get started with editing for our program. Gave you the 👍🏼

[@marzybarx]

I have wasted soooooo much time. Wow. This is incredibly helpful. Thank you so much!!!

[@JohnZweighaft]

Liked the way you showed what you were doing while explaining this.

[@lisakirton8442]

Super helpful 2+ years later! Thanks

[@treasuringeducation]

EXACTLY what I need! Many thanks for sharing!

[@mrkim2911]

You get a gold star today!!!

[@eranmagen]

So incredibly helpful, informative, and clear. Thank you so much, Kyle. 🙏

[@matteatane]

so informative and well-explained!! THANK YOU!!

[@NicholasVince]

Many thanks for this Kyle. I've returned to Audacity after a year's break and your tips have really helped me in creating an audio play.

[@tkucey8689]

suuuper helpful - although the 2022 version has syn-lock hidden [no stopwatch button] in the 'tracks' menu

[@oliversimmons988]

yo u rock!! ive been looking for this exact feature for an hour ur the only guy who's explained it.

[@TheCathyvideos]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much.

[@DayaSoans]

Superb, real stuff, no crap at all!

[@tyrondavey2566]

Thank you very much Kyle .... your video has been very useful to me

[@MikeScofieldComposer]

Just found this today. Really helpful. Thanks

[@TheAwkwardCorporate]

Amazing tips! Thank you!

[@grandadgator]

Thank you! this was very helpful.

[@3lH4ck3rC0mf0r7]

Edit menu -> Remove Special -> Split Delete (Ctrl + Alt + K) is the solution for the last problem, forget about silencing out the unwanted parts of the track, this is the option that deletes sections of audio without shifting anything to the left.

[@SavithaBhallamudiPathri]

This is very helpful, didn’t know audacity could do all that. Thank you!

[@difenderu]

Just what I needed. Thanks! )

[@lovemash]

Thanks for this video! Pretty useful!

[@BHARATSINGH-ui2po]

Amazing video. It helped me a lot.

[@maulcs]

Not too slow, not too fast, not a lot of bullshit - nice

[@matthew12343211]

Thank for making this vid. Helped out a ton!

[@NathanMaharaj]

Came for the syncing, stayed for the labelling (which I also didn't understand). Fantastic!

[@kylestedman]

It's weird, right? Glad you liked it!

[@TheDavidfallon]

This is excellent...

[@TheBinaryWolf]

Thanks for the useful info to facilitate workflow. Unfortunately, Audacity does not have good warping tools. The Time Stretch tool is excellent but laborious. Have you any insight about how to quickly sync tracks, like syncing a bass track to a drum track?

[@EdgeOfCasualGaming]

Useful, thanks. I had been wondering if there were some way to label audio sections for when I want to come back and re-record certain sections, or even where I might want to add something at a specific timestamp. Lots of uses I can imagine.

[@fabihaazim7663]

wow thank you so much!

[@sistasuga]

This tutorial is so on point! Thank you, thank you!!

[@motomarmot6544]

thanks a ton man!!

[@clemmcguinness1087]

Excellent tutorial. Very very useful. Thanks

[@nickoakley9016]

Thanks so much for this. Massively helpful! Does this mean Audacity doesn't give us the option of sync-locking a selection of tracks rather than the whole lot seperated by labels? That seems like a simple fix that would make things so much easier.

[@JoanPujolar]

That was awesome.

[@johnsundet3926]

Kyle - Any way to squeeze a 3 second clip into a 2 second opening - or - If I sing 2 separate lines and some phrases in one are slightly slower/faster than other line, can I squeeze/elongate sections of one to fit with the other, like marking a phrase beginning and end and hit "stretch" or "shrink"?

[@kylestedman]

I mean, the short answer is yes, but it depends a bit on what you're working with and how noticeable it will sound. You could highlight the clip you want to shrink and use one of the 2 time-based effects described in this video (change speed or tempo): kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4LClWetobJniKc. But the thing is, you'd probably be able to hear the difference. Maybe better is just to sync-lock the whole thing and change the size of your gap to make it fit what you want to put there....? Not sure if this would help, but I went into a deep dive of me fixing an audio mistake in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/maepqmN5bbaofdU

[@TheEmosesnepho]

How do I copy a subliminal CD from the CD tray on my laptop to audacity?? Also, would increasing the project rate ensure all the hidden subliminal messages were still reproduced by audacity???

[@kylestedman]

With any CD, you've got to use some other program to rip it from your CD to a digital file on your computer, first. Try googling "how to rip a CD" and you'll find lots of tips on that. Once you've got a digital file on the computer, you can import the content into Audacity easily! When it comes to subliminal messages, I have NO IDEA.

[@suzieqpotter]

what was the beat you used and thank you so much for this video I could not figure it out 🤣🤣

[@kylestedman]

Check the description! I gave links to both of them there.

[@magnusrasmussen7391]

So helpful thank you

[@confiscator]

Does Garage Band even have a feature like this?

[@ladydulaney]

What happens with sync-lock doesn't work? I have 7 tracks and can't get them to lock. Google is showing nothing.

[@kylestedman]

Yikes. I'm not sure. I've noticed that usually it works the way I describe here (everything between caption tracks syncs together), but I was in class showing sync-lock to students the other day and it was acting weird. The best I can say is to do what you've surely already done: try adding different caption tracks in different places and see what happens.

[@ladydulaney]

OK weird. Just found this video again and just saw that I already commented. Not sure what I was doing then but I got it to work now. Thanks!! Those online instructions are not helpful at all!

[@colinbutler]

​@@ladydulaney Thanks for the video Kyle. I use audacity once a year maybe and forget lots, I always use this video to refresh. lady dulayne I found you have to have sync lock turned on when you create the label track. Audacity doesn't seem to treat all label tracks the same. I created a load of groups with label track separators, turned on sync lock and they didn't do anything. I created a label track with sync lock already activated and it worked as in the video.

[@malling1963]

@@colinbutler It acts weirdly for me as well. Found your reply and thought that this was the reason - just tried to have the sync lock turned on all the time while creating the label tracks, but it doesn't move all the clips in the tracks with the group. Only if they overlap, it will move them. But sometimes I got them to work also when they're not overlapping - just can't find out when it is. Quite frustrating!

[@MattyWalpole07]

v. helpful - thanks

[@QuiccGotit1800]

How to get it off tho

[@kevinbrown6371]

im the 2200 subscriber!

[@zzzzimmers5046]

Over explaining at intro was frustrating.

[@jjj87484]

God I fucking hate audacity. Way to make it completely user unfriendly.

[@thesorrow96]

audacity is trash

[@tracekerr7097]

Mind Blown!!!! Thank you, Kyle. This is the best Audacity tutorial I've seen...and I've watched an awful lot of them.

[@kartoshi5398]

Very helpful and well explained, thanks

[@ndv123ndv]

Thank you for this! This makes multi track editing wayyy easier

[@sandiebeauty2067]

Life saver , thanks you very much

[@kieransheedy7349]

The Label Track tip is very useful - and pretty clever. Thanks!

[@georgelewicki877]

Nice tutorial. Have you thought about having a training tutorial for all those who make tutorials on Audacity. It is sorely needed. Aside from your tutorial being clearly articulated and simply explained, you set the tone right from the start by stating "Im assuming that you already know some basics." Oh, dear me, how many times that tutorials begin with "First open Audacity." Jeez Louise, give me a gun. Thank-you for your impeccable style.

[@russelhayes9580]

This really helpful Kyle, thanks a lot for posting it.

[@miguelsanchosanz6241]

You made my day with the comments syn option. Lot of time hitting a wall with not being able to syn only the tracks i wanted... :)

[@GaneshSVM]

Very Useful Tips, Thanks a lot!

[@PetertheTemp]

Nice work man

[@erickdelarosa8374]

I thought there was actually a solution for that last part, and then the video ends. Haha

[@speakerscoach]

GENIUS

[@malling1963]

Wow - that cleared up a few things! Thanks a lot for a to the point and humorous tutorial.

[@TheAngloItalianPod]

3 years into the future, thanks for this gem Kyle!

[@kylestedman]

Wait, it's been 3 years? Yikes!

[@ALK]

Thanks for the video, and thanks VERY much for this "hack" with Label Track - YESSSS!

[@audjberns]

Perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much!

[@EdMonks]

This is amazing, I have just started working on audacity for my podcast and this video I can say will save a hell lot of time

[@PhreshSB]

On a windows, press ctrl + ALT + K. It deletes without moving any other clips

[@kylestedman]

I really should have known about that already. Thanks!

[@PhreshSB]

@@kylestedman Np! Thank You.

[@surfthetsunami5596]

That is going to make my sampling process so much faster, thank you. Like that will probably cut the time it takes me to record and chop samples in half. That's huge!

[@jesusgavemeaids]

I'm just trying to figure out why the tracks are all out of sync automatically (if that's the right way to describe it) ...why would it be that way??? Even analog isn't that stupid. Do you have to figure out how to sync literally every other track? If so, why??? & how??? Why is digital so much more difficult & stupid like that when it should be way easier??? Even tape is more accurate with being in sync but my tape equipment is broke....so I have to figure out this nearly impossible BS

[@jlamjustin9812]

which version has the time shift tool ????

[@johnbaumgartner7731]

I would like to know this as well. I believe I have the most recent version but it's not there and looks as if it would be really helpful.

[@julekucera]

Kyle, thank you! I couldn’t figure out how to sync lock some but not all tracks, and that trick with the Label track is perfect.

[@phoqueme]

Bro this is... FUCKING GENIUS! haha i always wondered why i would need label tracks... now i know

[@f1amma]

brilliant - using the label track to separate between sync tracks and those i don't want synched solved my problem, thanks!

[@alexanderkamp3053]

Just started using this program. Thanks man, this was GREAT video!

[@BigSkyMysteries]

Thank you for the tips! Very helpful!

[@allahakbar9580]

Wow, you earned a subscriber my friend for that cool tutorial!

[@hailzooter]

how to use sync-lock if tracks don't overlap? (as in your last example where only few parts of the sync-locked group were moving? Is there an easy way to do this than creating a new silence track that overlaps everything? See forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic.php?p=188993&sid=0735514c170c9b51390772eb72aebec2#p188993

[@kylestedman]

Weird! Honestly, I've never experienced this; sync-lock has worked for me whether there's overlap or not. I don't know if it has to do with operating system or version of Audacity or something else, but I suspect that it's *supposed* to sync-lock whether tracks overlap or not. Sorry I can't help!

[@imindtravel2970]

hello sir! how did you made a volume of music from small to loud, I can do from small to loud but when I save and play it back they all the same volume, which is I don't want like that. Please help. Thank you so much.

[@geraldolson7364]

Excellent help! Thank you!

[@dfinma]

5:59 How do you drag the one track into the other? When I grab a track with Time Shift it just slides side to side.

[@kylestedman]

There has to be space for it to go, essentially. Like, if I try to drag a clip from one track to another track, but if the destination track is full of audio, it won't let me drag it up--it'll just move side to side and never make it to the new track. But if you make space for it, you can drag between tracks. You can make space in a couple ways: the easiest is just to make a new, clean, empty track (insert new track from the menu) and drag anywhere on there, or you can drag audio onto the empty ending of an existing track. Or if you really want to drag audio into the middle of existing audio, you can split the existing clip: click the split spot with the select tool, hit ctrl-I (cmd-I on a Mac), then drag the clips left and right with the time-shift tool to make room. (This sounds more complicated than it is!)

[@menace2738]

Confusing as fuck bro

[@Lucy-wd4bm]

i have a problem that nobody has ever addressed online and its the worst thing ever :( whenever i record more than one track the second one is in sync while its recording but then suddenly the actual layer jumps forward like a couple of centimeters after i hit stop. ive reinstalled it and everything and nothing is helping

[@kylestedman]

Sounds like you have latency correction turned on for some reason. On my system, I know that when I record through my USB mic, the new recording will always be off by a predictable, small amount. Audacity knows lots of systems do this, so it lets me turn on a thing to auto-fix it, and it acts just the way you describe: I could, say, make a new vocal track on which I sing over existing instrumental tracks, and the second I hit stop, my new vocal track (which WOULD have been off a bit, even though I sang it in time) auto-shifts backward the exact amount I told Audacity to correct it by. Maybe I'm making this too confusing: just read the Audacity Manual's page on the Latency Test for info on where to find this setting and see if it's turned on: manual.audacityteam.org/man/latency_test.html

[@Lucy-wd4bm]

thank you!

[@alliswell44596]

Thank you for the tips! They are amazing!! Btw, what mic do u use?

[@KTHKUHNKK]

Hi there 👋 I love audacity. You certainly know it better than I do. My name is Keith Kuhn KK Motion Pictures Also on KZbin. I was experimenting with surround sound. I made a few motion pictures for the big screen, and I played in the theater. I thought if I ever do on again I would put it in surround sound. If you know anything about digital Cinema package (DCM) Making a surround sound for the big screen is very tough. have you ever done any surround sound in audacity ? It does have that capability.

[@kylestedman]

Sorry friend, no idea. I kinda doubt Audacity is good for that, but it's out of my league.

[@KTHKUHNKK]

@@kylestedman Hello Kyle I truly appreciate your reply. Audacity does do 5.1 surround sound. I didn't know if you messed with it at all or not. Keith Kuhn

[@KTHKUHNKK]

@@kylestedman I can tell you this if you like. When doing surround sound in audacity. You duplicate your audio tracks five or six times or seven. Then when you export it you mix it. To front left center you know what I'm saying rear. But as I mentioned before about DCP Digital Cinema package. That's a totally different ball game. Way over my head right now. Keith Kuhn

[@KTHKUHNKK]

@@kylestedman This video is awesome. I know exactly what you're talking about when things move out of sync or where you don't want them. Sometimes when I'm editing a video, I will mess things up like you say. But in my video editing software there are little locks Keep things in place in other words keep them in sync. But if you don't have one of them locked things can get wacky real quick. So I can definitely relate to your video here in audacity. KK Motion Pictures Last promo Have a look at it on KZbin. Thanks Keith

[@KTHKUHNKK]

@@kylestedman After reviewing your video again. I see you hit the sink lock button. Yes very important good tip my friend. Keith

[@djchillnthemix9412]

Thanks for the tips...

[@flawedtheologypodcast]

What an awesome tip! We use this for the podcast and are continually amazed how much you can do with Audacity! Thanks for the video!

[@WisdomSharedCaroleBlueweiss]

how to separate tracks with a mac computer?

[@kylestedman]

I don't have a Mac, so I hope someone else will answer--but I would think it would be the same. I've used Audacity on a friend's Mac before and found that most things worked about the same way. If you can't find it, try searching the online Audacity manual, which is really helpful!

[@Lisas_Chatroom]

Thank you, I don't have some of the menu options you have but I did find that Sync Lock in the Tracks menu... Can you tell me how to get all those menu options? Thanks

[@kylestedman]

Yikes! I'm not sure! Are you using a newer version of Audacity, or did you download it a long time ago?

[@GoInformed]

Thanks Kyle. This was super helpful for me!

[@e-r-d-l-i-n-g]

what a refreshing different way to present a tutorial 👍I'm immediately a fan

[@suzilafferty1240]

thank you for the advice, as it is much appreciated.

[@WitchStuff]

Super helpful, thanks! :)

[@sanjayamunindradasa5339]

Thank you so much for this awesome tip

[@meattenderiser6152]

A great tutorial - TY loads!!!

[@Elitepropainting1]

Great info and tips! thanks

[@coldforgedcowboy]

Nice job Kyle!

[@mrw3440]

hi, how do you edit a part of a clip without nudging the rest over?? Like if i want to change the tempo of one word for example..

[@kylestedman]

I'd have to know more about your project before I could answer for sure. (Just one track?) But it might mean some tricky copying and pasting between tracks. Like, if you want everything after the adjustment to be in exactly the same space, you could copy everything after the adjustment to a new track and make sure it stays exactly put (with sync lock off) while you make your adjustment to the original track. I'm not being super clear, am I? :)

[@mrw3440]

Kyle Stedman ah.. Yea I don't quite get that and it still sounds really quite extensive just for the simple thing I'm wanting to do. I have music on one track. Then vocals on another. I want to edit say one word on the audio without shifting all the rest of the audio over and and out of sync. I thought it was a pretty simple and common thing but it seems there's no simple solution available.

[@kylestedman]

Yeah, bummer. Someone else might have a better answer, but anything I can think of would be a little tricky, and it depends on what you want to do to the word (like if it will actually make the word take more time or not). Good luck!

[@mrw3440]

Kyle Stedman ok, thanks anyway.

[@WillCFarmer]

I know this is a little late, but selecting the word you want to remove and select the silence tool, it's near the undo and redo arrows, that will replace your selection (your word) with silence. which would keep everything in sync, while removing your word and still having the music playing in the background.

[@anuscookingclasses458]

It was just amazing