Remove background noise from audio

Background noise is annoying

Getting clean audio recordings can be really hard, especially in noisy environments. Sometimes there's nothing you can do to avoid it.

So, what can you do? The good news is that there's a free way to remove background noise from audio using Audacity. Using this noise-cancelling software, you can cut unwanted background sounds from your clip and improve the track quality in no time.

Audacity is a free audio editing program created by a community of audio experts. Audacity accepts almost any audio file type and has a noise-removal tool specifically designed to solve the problem you are trying to decode. It is a robust piece of software, but also very easy to use. You shouldn't have issues figuring out how to remove background noise from audio files, even without prior experience with similar apps.

Removing Background Noise Step-by-step

Step 1

Open Audacity, click "File" and "Open," and locate the file you want to fix.

Step 2

Select your "Room Tone" by dragging your mouse over a section where there is little or no audio sound.

Step 3

Select the "Effect" menu and then select "Noise Reduction."

Step 4

Click "Get Noise Profile" and wait for the modal to disappear.

Step 5

Click back to your timeline of the audio to clear your selection.

Step 6

Select the "Effect" menu again and select "Noise Reduction" again.

Step 7

Click "Preview" to hear the default noise removal settings. You can select one of these defaults to see if they work.

Step 8

If you still hear noise, then simply adjust the Sliders (see descriptions below) and then click "Preview" again.

Sliders in Audacity

When discovering how to extract a clear voice from a noisy audio file, note that any movement to the sliders in Audacity can create a big change to the sound of the audio. It is recommended that you 'go easy' as you adjust the sliders. Otherwise, you may remove background noise from the audio and lose vital data in your audio recording, which can become an issue.

1. Noise reduction slider:
   This controls the amount of volume reduction that is applied to the identified noise. Use the lowest amount of noise reduction that will keep the noise to an acceptable level. Don't go overboard with this.
2. Sensitivity slider:
   This slider controls how much of the audio is considered as noise. The higher the sensitivity, the larger the range of noise - be careful because more your audio will be affected.
3. Frequency smoothing slider:
   This controls how much the noise reduction spreads to other adjacent frequencies. The default setting is 3. Higher settings favor spoken word whereas lower settings are better for music background noise removal.

The importance of removing background noise

When creating high-quality audio content, removing background noise is essential. Background noise can significantly affect the overall quality of an audio recording, making it difficult for listeners to understand and follow the message.

By removing background noise, you can produce high-quality audio content that engages your audience and keeps them interested in your message.

There are several benefits when using an audio cleaner, including:

Crystal clear audio content

By removing background noise, the audio content becomes crystal clear, making it easier for listeners to understand and follow the information. This makes the audio more engaging and enjoyable for the listener.

Higher listener engagement

When background noise is removed, listeners are more likely to stay engaged with the content, as they will not have to strain to hear or understand the message. This leads to higher engagement and retention, crucial for keeping audiences interested in your content.

More professional recordings

Noise removal from audio recordings instantly implies a more professional sound, which is important for building credibility with listeners. High-quality audio content is more likely to be taken seriously and seen as valuable by audiences, which can increase your influence and reach.

Builds trust with listeners

Clear, high-quality audio content free from background noise helps build trust with listeners. When listeners can hear your message clearly and without distractions, they are more likely to feel confident about your brand. This trust can increase loyalty and advocacy, as listeners are more likely to recommend your content to others.

Increases shareability

Audio content that is crisp, engaging, and professional is more likely to be shared by listeners, which can increase your reach and influence. By removing background noise, you are increasing the likelihood that your content will be shared and recommended, which can lead to new listeners and opportunities for growth.

Various methods are available to cancel background noise and achieve perfect audio content. One effective method is the software described above, Audacity, which has an editor designed explicitly for removing noise from audio.

Another method to remove background noise from audio is an online background noise removal service. These tools offer an easy and convenient way to remove background noise from audio online without the need to download any software.

Additionally, background music remover tools are available for those who need to filter background music or other sounds from their audio recordings. These platforms use AI algorithms to identify and remove the background music or different sounds from the audio, leaving only the desired audio content. An app like this can be especially useful for podcasters or content creators who want to add background music or sound effects to their audio recordings.

Capturing great audio

Figuring out how to remove background noise from audio can be a pain, so it's always best to do everything you can to reduce the noise before you record. If you follow the steps in this How to Capture Great Audio article, it's very possible that you won't need to remove any noise afterward.

What about removing background noise in video?

Audacity is great if you need to remove background noise from audio associated with radio, podcasts, or music. For spoken-word videos, it's not as simple. You'll need to export the audio from the video and then once you are done removing the background noise in Audacity you'll need to re-sync the audio to the video.

Technically it's not impossible, but it's certainly not the most efficient way to remove noise especially if you've already edited your clips.

Audacity works best with audio. If you are working with video, then you should read our other article: How to remove background noise from video.