Spectral Freq does not work, Noise reduction greyed out

[defaultackc2ibw1zlg]

Trying to do the Audition tutorials, specifically the noise reduction one. 

So it says to use Spectral Frequency Display, and points to the button to do so. But when I click the button nothing happens. 

So then I thought, ok...... I am just trying to reduce noise on a recording, so next step is "Open the Noise Reduction effect" but when I do so, Effects > Noise Reduction / Restoration > all the top options, such as "Noise Reduction (process)" are greyed out. 

What is going on?

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

I'd guess that you are trying to do this in Multitrack view, where it's not designed to work. NR as a process effect works on files, and you don't get to work on files in Multitrack view - it's essentially non-destructive, and NR is a file-destructive process - so you can only use it on individual files in Waveform view.

It may look like a file when it's displayed in Multitrack, but don't let that decieve you - that's just a placeholder. Multitrack view is nothing more than a glorified file player, and clips in it are nothing more than an instruction to play that bit of a file.

[defaultackc2ibw1zlg]

Yes, you got that right. Thank you

(Tutorial should mention this, but oh well...... they are pretty poorly done, I've watched a few more)

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Yes, there certainly are a few 'errors of omission' in the tutorials...