How to Reduce Background Noise in Your Recordings

Nothing undermines professional-sounding content quite like background noise. Whether it's the hum of an air conditioner, traffic from outside, or the whir of a computer fan, unwanted sounds distract your audience and make your content feel amateurish. The good news is that with the right techniques, you can dramatically reduce or eliminate most noise problems—often without spending any money at all.

Identifying Your Noise Sources

Before implementing solutions, you need to understand exactly what's causing your noise problems. Put on a quality pair of headphones, record a minute of "silence" in your recording space, and listen critically. Common noise sources include:

• HVAC systems: Air conditioning, heating, and ventilation create constant low-frequency rumble
• Computer equipment: Fans from desktops, laptops, and external drives produce consistent whirring
• Electrical interference: Fluorescent lights, dimmers, and unshielded electronics cause buzzing
• External sounds: Traffic, neighbours, birds, and weather penetrate through walls and windows
• Room reflections: Hard surfaces create echo and reverb that muddies your sound
• Microphone self-noise: Internal electronic noise from the microphone itself

Environmental Solutions: Stop Noise at the Source

The most effective noise reduction happens before sound ever reaches your microphone. Eliminating or reducing noise sources costs nothing and provides permanent improvements.

Controlling HVAC Noise

Air conditioning is one of the most common noise problems for Australian creators, especially during our hot summers. Options include:

• Turn off air conditioning during recording sessions (pre-cool the room beforehand)
• Record during cooler parts of the day when AC isn't running
• If possible, close vents in your recording room and cool adjacent spaces instead
• Consider a split system with the outdoor unit located away from your recording space

Managing Computer Noise

• Position your computer as far from the microphone as possible
• Use a cardioid microphone pointed away from your computer
• Place your computer in a separate room or closet (with adequate ventilation)
• Invest in quieter cooling solutions or an SSD to eliminate hard drive noise
• Use a laptop in quiet mode during recording

Reducing External Noise

• Record during quieter times (early morning or late evening)
• Heavy curtains reduce noise transmission through windows
• Draught excluders under doors help seal gaps where sound enters
• Consider recording in an interior room away from external walls

Microphone Technique and Selection

How you use your microphone matters as much as which microphone you choose. Proper technique can reduce noise pickup by 10-20dB—a massive improvement.

Work the Proximity Effect

Cardioid microphones exhibit the proximity effect: they boost bass frequencies when you speak very close to them. By positioning yourself 5-10cm from the mic (closer than typical), your voice becomes much louder relative to room noise. This improved signal-to-noise ratio means less noise is audible in your final recording.

Choose the Right Polar Pattern

Cardioid and supercardioid patterns reject sound from behind and the sides. Position your microphone so that noise sources are in the rejection zones. For example, place a cardioid mic between you and your computer, with the back of the mic facing the computer.

Consider a Dynamic Microphone

Dynamic microphones are less sensitive than condensers, which can be an advantage in noisy environments. They pick up less room ambience and background noise naturally. The Shure SM7B and Rode PodMic are popular choices for creators dealing with noise issues.

Acoustic Treatment Basics

While acoustic treatment primarily addresses room reflections rather than external noise, reducing reverb makes your voice clearer and any remaining background noise less noticeable.

Quick Wins

• Soft furnishings: Add rugs, curtains, cushions, and upholstered furniture
• Bookshelf diffusion: Irregularly filled bookshelves break up sound reflections
• Closet recording: Record inside a closet full of hanging clothes for natural absorption
• Blanket fort: Drape heavy blankets around your recording position

Strategic Panel Placement

If investing in acoustic panels, prioritise these positions:

1. Behind your microphone (the wall you face while recording)
2. On either side of your recording position at reflection points
3. Behind you (where sound from your voice bounces back to the mic)
4. Ceiling, if you have hard surfaces above

Hardware Solutions

Some equipment can help reduce noise before or during recording:

Shock Mounts

Shock mounts isolate your microphone from vibrations transmitted through stands and surfaces. They reduce low-frequency rumble from footsteps, desk bumps, and building vibrations. Most studio microphones include or offer optional shock mounts.

Pop Filters and Windscreens

While primarily used for reducing plosives, foam windscreens can also reduce sensitivity to air movement and some high-frequency noise. They're inexpensive and worth using.

Noise Gates

Hardware or software noise gates mute your audio when you're not speaking, eliminating background noise during pauses. Many modern USB microphones include built-in noise gates. While useful, gates don't reduce noise while you're speaking—they only cut noise during silence.

Software Noise Reduction

When you can't eliminate noise at the source, software can help—but use it carefully. Aggressive noise reduction creates unnatural artefacts that can sound worse than the original noise.

Real-Time Processing

NVIDIA RTX Voice / Broadcast: Uses AI to remove background noise in real-time. Remarkably effective and free for RTX graphics card owners. Works with any microphone.

Krisp: Similar AI-powered noise reduction that works on any computer. Subscription-based but offers a free tier.

Post-Production Tools

Adobe Podcast (free): Online tool that cleans up speech recordings with AI. Simply upload your audio and download the enhanced version.

Audacity Noise Reduction: Built-in tool that samples background noise and removes it. Effective for consistent noise like air conditioning hum.

iZotope RX: Professional-grade noise reduction suite used in film and broadcast. Expensive but extremely capable for problem recordings.

Creating a Recording Workflow

Combine these techniques into a consistent pre-recording routine:

1. Prepare the environment: Turn off AC, close windows, silence phones
2. Check for new noise sources: Listen for anything unusual before recording
3. Position correctly: Set up your microphone with noise sources in rejection zones
4. Set levels appropriately: Get close to the mic, use lower gain
5. Record a test: Capture 10 seconds and listen back with headphones
6. Address any issues: Fix problems before committing to a full recording session

With these techniques, most Australian creators can achieve professional-quality recordings in their homes without expensive soundproofing or studio construction. Start with the free solutions, implement them consistently, and add equipment or treatment only where specific problems persist.

For more on creating your ideal recording environment, read our guide on room acoustics or explore our microphone recommendations for options that excel in challenging environments.