How to Install and Run Nyquist Plugins in Audacity

Nyquist is an audio programming language integrated into Audacity that allows users to create custom audio effects, synthesizers, and analysis tools. This guide covers how to install pre-built Nyquist plugin files (.ny), enable them through Audacity's Plugin Manager, apply them to your audio tracks, and directly execute custom Nyquist scripts using the software's built-in prompt.

Installing Nyquist Plugins (.ny Files)

To add downloaded Nyquist plugins to Audacity:

1. Open Audacity.
2. In the top menu, go to Tools and select Nyquist Plugin Installer.
3. In the dialog box that appears, click the Browse button.
4. Locate and select the .ny plugin file on your computer, then click Open.
5. Click OK in the installer dialog. Audacity will automatically copy the file to the correct user plugins directory.

Enabling Installed Plugins

Once installed, a plugin must be enabled before it becomes visible in your menus:

1. Navigate to Tools > Plugin Manager (or choose Add / Remove Plugins from the Effect, Analyze, or Generate menus).
2. Locate the installed plugin in the list. You can sort by name or use the search bar to find it quickly.
3. Select the plugin and click the Enable button on the right side.
4. Click OK to close the Plugin Manager.

Running a Nyquist Plugin

Nyquist plugins automatically sort into specific menus depending on their programmed function:

• Generate: Creates new audio from scratch (e.g., tone generators, click tracks).
• Effect: Modifies existing audio waveforms (e.g., distortion, filters, reverbs).
• Analyze: Extracts data or places labels based on audio properties (e.g., silence finders, beat detectors).
• Tools: Performs utility and maintenance tasks.

To run the plugin, highlight the audio region you wish to process (or press Ctrl + A on Windows/Linux or Cmd + A on macOS to select the entire track), click on the appropriate menu, choose the plugin from the list, configure any required parameters, and click Apply or OK.

Running Direct Code with the Nyquist Prompt

If you have raw Nyquist code instead of a .ny file, you can run it directly:

1. Select the audio you want to process in the Audacity timeline.
2. Go to Tools > Nyquist Prompt.
3. Paste or type your code into the Command text box.
4. Select the appropriate syntax language (LISP or SAL) if prompted.
5. Click Apply to execute the script on the selected audio, or click Debug to execute the code and display terminal output or error messages.