[SOLVED!] “Audacity FFmpeg Not Found”: A Summary

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Once it comes to recording, audio editing and so on, Audacity is by all accounts one of the top applications. As it costs nothing to install, Audacity usually earns a shower of praises from those who cannot spend big bucks to get high-end software. In most of the cases, setting up Audacity is a simple affair that requires minimal time and effort to complete. Nonetheless, reports regarding complications during the setup of Audacity still appear on occasions and many share the same topic: the “Audacity FFmpeg not found” error

How To Deal With The Error 

Installing FFmpeg for Windows - Audacity Manual

Have a hard time setting up Audacity on your computer due to the FFmpeg error? Then it’s suggested that you spare time to take a look at this article. Down below is an in-depth guide that covers the “Audacity FFmpeg not found” error.

  • Step 1: Open Audacity
  • Step 2: Select Edit and choose Preferences (shortcut: Ctrl+P)
  • Step 3: Pick Libraries then click Download next to FFmpeg Library to get redirected to an Audacity page
  • Step 4: Click “ Installing FFmpeg for XXX” of the operating system of your PC (Windows, Mac, Linux…)
  • Step 5: Choose  FFmpeg download page under Recommended Installer
  • Step 6: Click the link “FFmpeg v2.2.2 INSTALLER (.EXE)” to initiate the download
  • Step 7: As the download concludes, close Audacity and launch the installer
  • Step 8: Tick “I accept the agreement” and click Next
  • Step 9: Determine the location for FFmpeg and click Next
  • Step 10: Select Install then choose Finish when the installation wraps up

Note: After the installation of FFmpeg, you no longer have to put up with the FFmpeg error while using Audacity. That being said, if the “Audacity FFmpeg not found” error persists, it’s a good idea to go through these steps.

  • Step 1: Open Audacity
  • Step 2: Select Edit and choose Preferences (shortcut: Ctrl+P)
  • Step 3: Pick Libraries then click Locate next to FFmpeg Library
  • Step 4A: If the “Success” message pops up, choose No
  • Step 4B1: If the “Locate FFmpeg” message pops up, choose Browse to locate FFmpeg manually
  • Step 4B2: Look for  “avformat-55.dll“ then open it

Audacity: Tips And Tricks 

Using Audacity to improve writing | West Des Moines Community Schools Technology

All in all, with the FFmpeg error out of the way, you could use Audacity to its full potential. In the case that you need advice regarding the operation of Audacity, check out the following advice.

Apply Changes To Equalization 

Generally speaking, the quality of recordings depends on how well the mic captures the audio and that is not always controllable. Thus, when the audio is not up to standard, it’s common for people to adjust equalization to increase the quality.

Using Audacity, you would be able to apply changes to equalization to optimize the quality of your recording at a moment’s notice. To start adjusting equalization, go to Effects, select Equalization and tweak the curve to your preferences. In the beginning, it’s widely advised that you hit Flatter then make changes as you see fit. It’s worth pointing out that Audacity comes alongside presets so you don’t have to change the equalization manually.

Amplify 

So you notice that the volume of your recordings is kind of low and wish to increase it a bit? In that case, the amplify feature of Audacity could help you out.

First, you need to open the recording that you like to amplify in Audacity. Based on your demand, you may amplify either the entire recording or a portion of it. Second, pick Effects and choose Amplify to open the settings for amplifying. Third, enter the value into the box besides Amplification (dB) and select OK. Interestingly, it’s possible to enter a negative value to decrease the peak in times of need.

Get Rid Of Silent Portions 

While recording videos, it’s hard to avoid silent portions here and there which lead to an awkward atmosphere. To improve the “flow” of your recordings, it’s strongly recommended that you remove such portions in the final version. By taking advantage of Truncate Silence in Effect of Audacity, you would have an easy time eliminating silent portions. If you only want to target portions with a certain level of silence, you should find the Detected Silence section of Truncate Silence useful.

Noise Removal 

Various issues that implicate the recording process but ambient noise in the background is one of the most annoying ones. Not many things impair the quality of recordings more than ambient noise that competes with the main audio. Luckily, if you have Audacity on your computer, you could use it to remove ambient noise that plagues your recordings. The process is a no-brainer:

  • Step 1: Open Audacity
  • Step 2: Open the recording
  • Step 3: Choose a silent portion so it’s just noise
  • Step 4: Select Effect then pick Noise Removal
  • Step 5: Choose Get Noise Profile
  • Step 6: Highlight portions of your recording with ambient noise
  • Step 7: Select Effect then pick Noise Removal
  • Step 8: Adjust the settings to your liking
  • Step 9: Click OK
  • Step 10: Choose File and select Export if everything fits your preferences

Pitch Change 

With Audacity, it’s a breeze to give normal recordings a squeaky tone when a need arises. For starters, open the recording in Audacity, select portions that you like to change the pitch, click Effect and choose Change Pitch. Afterward, proceed to add the value to change the pitch of portions: positive to increase and negative to decrease. In addition, it’s noteworthy that the higher the Percent Change, the squeakier the audio becomes.

FAQs

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Would Audacity stay free in the future?

To put it plainly, Audacity is a free open-source application and it’s going to remain so. The developers of Audacity allow people to use their application for personal, commercial and educational purposes. You don’t have to pay anything to make use of features on Audacity so there is no need to bother with subscription fee. If you know your way around programming, you could even modify Audacity for your own requirements.

Is it safe to use Audacity?

If you get your version of Audacity from the Audacity website, you don’t have to worry about anything. Moreover, unlike some of its contemporaries, Audacity never comes in bundles so you only get it upon download. That is a big plus if you hate installing bundled applications that have nothing to do with what you seek. Still, on occasion, anti-virus software may classify Audacity as a potential threat but it’s just a false positive.

Could I change the language of Audacity?

By default, Audacity runs in the language that the operating system of your computer uses. Audacity supports a multitude of languages and it only takes a minute to change the language.

  • Step 1: Open Audacity
  • Step 2: Select Preferences and choose Interface
  • Step 3: Choose the language you like in the Language box

Usually, the interface of Audacity changes as soon as you finish changing the language. However, in a number of versions, Audacity would execute the language change the next time you launch it.