How to Make an Old Radio Voice Changer Filter in Audacity

In the walkthrough below, we’ll take you through several steps that will help you create an old radio voice changer in Audacity.

Beginning with some EQ, we will simulate two of the most common properties of old radio technology like this. The lack of low frequency sound output and the extra resonances associated with lower-quality or aged equipment. 

Audacity has a built in EQ, but if you’re looking for some third party options check out our guide to the best free, paid for, and automatic equalisers.

Next, we apply some compression to the sound in order to simulate a real radio broadcast signal more realistically. This is necessary on a raw voice recording but may not be necessary if you want to make a piece of music sound like it’s coming out of the radio. Music will be broadcast just like it sounds on the original recording, whereas the signal from a radio presenter’s microphone will be subject to some treatment before the signal is sent. This part of the tutorial will emulate that treatment for voice.

Finally, we will add some grungy distortion to our sound – in a tribute to the fact that an old radio’s circuitry will be worn out and of lower quality.