How to Remove Background Noise in Audacity | Audacity Noise Reduction

Crystal Chen updated on Feb 14, 2022 to EaseUS RecExperts | How-to Articles

If you think the audio file contains too much noise which makes you sound annoying. Then, find an audio noise reducer to help with that. Here, in this post, you learn the Audacity noise reduction method with detailed steps.

Background noise can be a negative effect on the audio files. You may be reluctant to hear an audio track with hum or other noises. So a nice crisp audio track is more likely to be accepted by the audience. Then how to get an audio track without noise? Actually, you can use an effective audio editing software like Audacity. 

Here, this post describes the methods of Audacity noise reduction in detail. Keep on reading!

Bonus Tips: How to Record Audio with Audacity on Windows

What is Audacity & its Features

As an open-source video and audio editor, Audacity is used by a great number of people to edit media files like the recording voiceover file. You can use it to improve audio file with various features like noise reducer, audio compressor, limiter filter, equalizer, and normalizer. Today, you learn the details on removing audio noise with it. 

Audacity Noise Reduction - How-to Guide

Its "Noise Reduction" feature can reduce constant background audio such as hum, buzz, or other hiss noises, which are hard to be eliminated before recording. To have an audio file with no background noise, follow the below part! You can edit only part of the audio and then apply the settings to the whole audio file. 

How to remove background noise in Audacity:

Look at the below guide to get an audio file without background noise. 

Step 1. Choose the Wanted Audio Part in Audacity

After downloading Audacity from the official website, open it and import the audio file into it (File > Import > Audio). Then, from the timeline, click and select the audio track you want to remove the background noise. You can use the Selection tool to choose the area. 

Step 2. Best Settings for Audacity Noise Reduction & Apply

From the top toolbar, find and click "Effect" > "Noise Reduction". Under the noise reduction window, you can see two steps. Hit "Get Noise Profile" to select a few seconds of just noise.

(Mac version image. Can also be used on Windows)

Then, look at step 2 in the window. Here are the best settings to remove the noise:

  • Noise reduction (dB): Move the slider to 12
  • Sensitivity: Leave it at 6
  • Frequency: Leave it from 0-3
  • Enable the Reduce in Noise

Step 3. Reduce Background Noise in the whole File

Go back to the "Effect" button on the upside. Find and choose the "Repeat Noise Reduction". Apply the noise reduction settings in the whole track. Then, you can get a nice crisp audio track in this software. 

Bonus Tips: How to Record Audio with Audacity on Windows

From the above part, you learn how to get rid of background noise in Audacity. Here, you also know how to record sound like microphone sound with Audacity. Before referring to the recording option, make sure the microphone is working. Then, follow the below guide to capturing the external sound. 

Step 1. Launch it and hit the recording device option on the upside. Find and click the microphone icon. Choose the microphone icon from several options. You can then capture the sound from the microphone. 

Step 2. Hit "Tracksat" > "Add new". Select the desired type of audio as you like. Choose from "Mono" and "Stereo". 

Step 3. Finally, hit the "Record" button to start the recording mission. 

After recording your voice, you can edit the audio file with the noise reduction feature. 

If you think recording with it is difficult, choose the alternative to Audacity, EaseUS RecExperts. With a simple and clear interface, you can use it to record computer audio and microphone sound at the same time or separately. 

EaseUS RecExperts

  • Streaming audio recorder on Windows & Mac
  • Record computer and microphone sound without extension
  • Capable of capturing the gameplay or online conference audio
  • Record the screen, audio, and webcam with ease
  • Able to record the screen with audio (system/external)

FAQs About Noise Reduction for Audacity

Some relevant questions were gathered from the public. Follow them and find useful information. 

1. What is the best setting for noise reduction?

You can adjust settings for Audacity noise reduction for factors like Noise reduction, Sensitivity, Frequency, etc. Usually, the suitable dB for Noise reduction setting is 12. Why not can be 0? You will hear a strange voice when you leave this setting to 0. Then, change the sensitivity level to 6. Also, the frequency can be adjusted to 6. 

2. Where is the noise floor in Audacity?

It is the continuous noise in audio background recording. There are some possible ways to create noise floor such as Room Tone, noise from the microphone devices, etc. You can check the noise floor in Audacity. Import the audio file into this software and then reduce the noise with this supported feature. 

3. How to get rid of wind noise in Audacity?

You should use the "Noise Reduction" feature in Audacity. See more detail in Part 1