Adobe Audition gives you two main ways to edit audio: the Waveform View and the Multitrack View. While they may look similar at first, each serves a different purpose — one for detailed single-file editing, the other for mixing multiple layers of sound. Knowing when to use which is the key to faster, cleaner, and more professional results.
Let’s break down how both views work and how to switch between them seamlessly.
1. The Waveform View: Focused, Detailed Editing
The Waveform View is your single-track workspace — perfect for cleaning up one audio file at a time.
Here’s what it’s best for:
- Removing background noise
- Cutting silences or mistakes
- Applying effects like EQ, compression, or normalization
- Repairing clicks, pops, and hums
- Mastering a final single track
You can access it by double-clicking an audio file in the Files Panel or pressing 9 on your keyboard.
đź’ˇ Pro Tip: The Waveform View is destructive editing, meaning changes directly alter your audio file (unless you save under a new name).
2. The Multitrack View: For Mixing and Layering
The Multitrack View is designed for bigger projects — podcasts, music, or sound for film — where you’re working with multiple audio clips together.
Use this mode for:
- Combining multiple voices, effects, and background tracks
- Adding intro/outro music to podcasts
- Mixing dialogue, sound design, and ambient layers
- Automating volume, pan, and effects over time
Each row in the multitrack timeline represents a track, and clips can be stacked, overlapped, and synchronized visually.
💬 Tip: The Multitrack View is non-destructive, so your original audio files stay untouched — perfect for flexible experimentation.
3. How to Switch Between Views
It’s simple to switch modes:
- Click the Waveform or Multitrack tabs at the top of the Editor Panel.
- Or use Keyboard Shortcuts:
- 9 = Waveform View
- 0 = Multitrack View
When you switch from Waveform to Multitrack, Audition automatically creates a session and places your clip on Track 1 — ready for mixing.
4. Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Waveform View | Multitrack View |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Edit one file | Mix multiple clips |
| Editing Type | Destructive | Non-destructive |
| Effects | Applied directly | Applied via Effects Rack |
| Performance | Fast for single clips | Great for complex sessions |
| Use Case | Cleanup, mastering | Podcast, music, video mix |
5. Using Both Views Together
Professional editors often use both modes in the same project.
Example workflow:
- Record and clean up audio in Waveform View.
- Save it as a new file.
- Import it into Multitrack View to mix with other tracks.
This approach keeps your files organized and ensures top quality at every step.
6. Bonus: Essential Sound Panel Works in Both
No matter which view you’re in, the Essential Sound Panel can speed up your process.
It lets you tag clips as Dialogue, Music, SFX, or Ambience, and instantly apply pre-tuned settings.
🎧 Example: Tag a voice clip as “Dialogue,” and choose Clean Up Noisy Dialogue to remove background hum automatically.
Conclusion
Waveform View gives you surgical precision. Multitrack View gives you full creative control. Together, they make Adobe Audition one of the most flexible and powerful tools for audio production — whether you’re editing a podcast, a voiceover, or a film soundtrack.
Next up: “How to Use the Essential Sound Panel for Quick Fixes.”
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