Topic: reducing loud audience sections using either audacity or izotope (newb)?

[goodcooker]

I do this manually by selecting the sections of loud applause and reducing the level.

Then use De-Click to soften up the loudest claps and a compressor (typically Waves L3 and/or SSL channel strip plugins) on the master buss.

This method is more involved and takes more manual editing time but (for me) the end result is more listenable.