Processing Sounds with Effects

Effects are tools which can change sounds subtly or dramatically depending on how they are used. That usage can improve or degrade the quality of the sound, so experiment and always step back and listen to what is happening with the processed version in comparison with the unprocessed versions. Don't forget that you can also mix the two, even in variable amounts over time!

Below is a collection of text and video that will give you some idea of the possibilities (or abuses) that effects provide.

an introduction to various kinds of effects: https://www.avid.com/resource-center/audio-effects-guide

another introduction to various effects: https://blog.landr.com/audio-effects-plugins-guide/

some advice on using reverb (particularly for music, but might be applied generally): https://www.tunecore.com/blog/2019/04/7-reverb-mistakes-that-will-destroy-your-mix.html

the index of all effects, generators, analyzers, and tools in Audacity: https://manual.audacityteam.org/man/index_of_effects_generators_and_analyzers.html

a brief introduction to effects processing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJ2WzLg5rDc

a quick preview of many kinds of effects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxr4HwAR8Xo

a fun video on changing your voice in Audacity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPhWyoC2KHQ