<p>Audacity has a compressor effect, however I found the "Compress dynamics" VST plugin generating better results, see more <a href="http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/plugins" rel="nofollow">here</a>. If you want better control over the compression parameters you should try <a href="http://sox.sourceforge.net/" rel="nofollow">SoX</a>.</p>

<p>Another approach is to try the Vocal Remover VST plugin for Audacity (it is in the same package as Compress dynamics), and if it succeeds in <strong>removing the vocals</strong> then you can run the result through an inverter (in the VST pack too) and apply it to the original track.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-06T14:56:17.617Z
Interesting idea to do the vocal remover and invert.  Not sure how well it would work, but would be interesting to try.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-06T09:57:39.443Z
2015-01-06T09:57:39.443Z
avnr
<p>I'm not sure if Audacity has this, but what you need is a compressor (actually an expander, but they're opposite things built into a tool referred to as a compressor). The compressor allows you to limit sound that is above a certain dB level, the expander limits sound under that level, called a gate.  You can set a gate with the compressor at a sound level, cutting out faint background noise but keeping your voice.  This will also cut out breathing noises you make at the beginning and end of syllables particularly Hs and Ss. This technique will not work if your voice is not considerably above the level of the background noise.</p>

<p>Another tool which can help refine your voice, but not entirely solve the noise problem is an eq (equalizer).  Look specifically for a parametric eq; these are the most intuitive. Essentially the equalizer loudens or softens sound based on its frequency.  You can use this to raise the level of your voice, but also soften background noise.  This works particularly well if there's a hissing sound that fills up only a small area on the frequency spectrum.</p>

<p>In terms of the recording environment, ideally you could build a sound proof room, but these are incredibly expensive.  Another slightly cheaper idea is to give your recording room an acoustic treatment, essentially coating the walls in acoustic foam.  This won't solve existing noise problems, but it will limit reverb.  Acoustic treatment is fairly cheap.  Generally you can coat a fairly large room at 50-75% coverage for under $100.</p>

<p>UPDATE: Audacity does have a compressor, but the GUI looks really ugly and unintuitive.  A parametric eq also requires an external plugin.  That said, it's still probably the best free program available.  Something paid and marketed as a DAW (digital audio workstation), would do the job much better.  Something like Adobe Audition, Apple Logic Pro, or Avid Pro Tools.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-04T18:10:50.363Z
A noise supressor will actually work better than an expander in this case, but they effectively do the same thing by monitoring the quiet parts for noise and then attempting to limit it in the signal parts.  The problem is that most noise is random and an expander is still going to gain up the noise when someone is talking, even if it is less noisy while it is quiet.  Expanders work on total signal level, not level of some particular part of the total sound.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-05T20:24:13.107Z
I'm not familiar with a noise suppressor because when I work with audio it's generally from a clean studio track, but it sounds useful. The expander does limit all sound, but generally the quieter sounds in vocals aren't particularly necessary anyway. I did mention that for the expander to be effective, it requires that there be a noticeable difference in level between the vocal and noise.
KC McLaughlin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-05T20:26:24.963Z
Yeah, suppressors still often end up with a robotic sounding digital quality to them.  Clean is still way, way preferable.
AJ Henderson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-06T01:16:42.283Z
You can generally push them a surprising amount before audio becomes distorted, but yes, all post methods have limitations
KC McLaughlin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-04T00:20:29.080Z
2015-01-04T01:37:55.180Z
2015-01-04T01:37:55.180Z
KC McLaughlin
<p>You may find <a href="https://sound.stackexchange.com/questions/22695/how-do-you-remove-white-noise-from-recordings">this answer</a> from our sister site Sound Design to be useful.  Basically, it depends on the kind of noise you are getting though.  If it is random background noise, then it may be fairly difficult to remove unless it is pretty regular frequencies.  Either way, most noise removal tools will listen to the noise and try to identify what they can remove.</p>

<p>Your best bet is to prevent noise from occurring in the first place.  There are two main ways to do this, decreasing the noise itself and increasing the signal (and using less gain if needed).</p>

<p>For reducing the noise, your options are limited if the mic itself is noisy, however if there is any background noise in the room you are recording in (such as fans, power supplies, air conditioning or heating, etc) turning them off or recording in a quieter location will help considerably.</p>

<p>For increasing signal, get closer to the mic.  Make sure the mic has its gain set such that it is getting the strongest possible signal without cliping (maxing out the volume it can record).  This will result in a signal that is as strong as possible and keep the noise floor as low as possible.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-06T01:21:06.210Z
One note is that if you get too close to a mic, like within a few inches, you'll start to get the bass-heavy distortion you generally hear from radio announcers. It's a cool effect, but not always desirable.
KC McLaughlin
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-04T18:17:28.430Z
2015-01-04T18:17:28.430Z
2017-04-13T12:59:01.503Z
AJ Henderson
<p>I just recently purchased a Blue Snowball USB microphone and a Dragonpad Studio Mic Filter pad because I am interested in creating videos and podcasts. However, I am still experiencing excess background noise. Is there any way to reduce this using Audacity or any other freely available program?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-01-04T08:51:49.320Z
Once it's in post-production, it's extremely difficult... When recording next time, try things like sitting closer to the mic, closing all doors and windows, and even putting towels or mattresses against noisy walls. One of the best places to record in a home is a walk-in wardrobe.
nchpmn
<audio-quality>
Programs to improve audio quality?
user8063
# Programs to improve audio quality?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-01-03)

I just recently purchased a Blue Snowball USB microphone and a Dragonpad Studio Mic Filter pad because I am interested in creating videos and podcasts. However, I am still experiencing excess background noise. Is there any way to reduce this using Audacity or any other freely available program?

**Tags:** audio-quality

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Once it's in post-production, it's extremely difficult... When recording next time, try things like sitting closer to the mic, closing all doors and windows, and even putting towels or mattresses against noisy walls. One of the best places to record in a home is a walk-in wardrobe.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2015-01-06. Score: 1

Audacity has a compressor effect, however I found the "Compress dynamics" VST plugin generating better results, see more [here](http://audacity.sourceforge.net/download/plugins). If you want better control over the compression parameters you should try [SoX](http://sox.sourceforge.net/).

Another approach is to try the Vocal Remover VST plugin for Audacity (it is in the same package as Compress dynamics), and if it succeeds in **removing the vocals** then you can run the result through an inverter (in the VST pack too) and apply it to the original track.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: Interesting idea to do the vocal remover and invert.  Not sure how well it would work, but would be interesting to try.  

---

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-01-04. Score: 1

I'm not sure if Audacity has this, but what you need is a compressor (actually an expander, but they're opposite things built into a tool referred to as a compressor). The compressor allows you to limit sound that is above a certain dB level, the expander limits sound under that level, called a gate. You can set a gate with the compressor at a sound level, cutting out faint background noise but keeping your voice. This will also cut out breathing noises you make at the beginning and end of syllables particularly Hs and Ss. This technique will not work if your voice is not considerably above the level of the background noise.

Another tool which can help refine your voice, but not entirely solve the noise problem is an eq (equalizer). Look specifically for a parametric eq; these are the most intuitive. Essentially the equalizer loudens or softens sound based on its frequency. You can use this to raise the level of your voice, but also soften background noise. This works particularly well if there's a hissing sound that fills up only a small area on the frequency spectrum.

In terms of the recording environment, ideally you could build a sound proof room, but these are incredibly expensive. Another slightly cheaper idea is to give your recording room an acoustic treatment, essentially coating the walls in acoustic foam. This won't solve existing noise problems, but it will limit reverb. Acoustic treatment is fairly cheap. Generally you can coat a fairly large room at 50-75% coverage for under $100.

UPDATE: Audacity does have a compressor, but the GUI looks really ugly and unintuitive. A parametric eq also requires an external plugin. That said, it's still probably the best free program available. Something paid and marketed as a DAW (digital audio workstation), would do the job much better. Something like Adobe Audition, Apple Logic Pro, or Avid Pro Tools.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: A noise supressor will actually work better than an expander in this case, but they effectively do the same thing by monitoring the quiet parts for noise and then attempting to limit it in the signal parts.  The problem is that most noise is random and an expander is still going to gain up the noise when someone is talking, even if it is less noisy while it is quiet.  Expanders work on total signal level, not level of some particular part of the total sound.  
> **username_4**: I'm not familiar with a noise suppressor because when I work with audio it's generally from a clean studio track, but it sounds useful. The expander does limit all sound, but generally the quieter sounds in vocals aren't particularly necessary anyway. I did mention that for the expander to be effective, it requires that there be a noticeable difference in level between the vocal and noise.  
> **username_3**: Yeah, suppressors still often end up with a robotic sounding digital quality to them.  Clean is still way, way preferable.  
> **username_4**: You can generally push them a surprising amount before audio becomes distorted, but yes, all post methods have limitations  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2015-01-04. Score: 0

You may find [this answer](https://sound.stackexchange.com/questions/22695/how-do-you-remove-white-noise-from-recordings) from our sister site Sound Design to be useful. Basically, it depends on the kind of noise you are getting though. If it is random background noise, then it may be fairly difficult to remove unless it is pretty regular frequencies. Either way, most noise removal tools will listen to the noise and try to identify what they can remove.

Your best bet is to prevent noise from occurring in the first place. There are two main ways to do this, decreasing the noise itself and increasing the signal (and using less gain if needed).

For reducing the noise, your options are limited if the mic itself is noisy, however if there is any background noise in the room you are recording in (such as fans, power supplies, air conditioning or heating, etc) turning them off or recording in a quieter location will help considerably.

For increasing signal, get closer to the mic. Make sure the mic has its gain set such that it is getting the strongest possible signal without cliping (maxing out the volume it can record). This will result in a signal that is as strong as possible and keep the noise floor as low as possible.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: One note is that if you get too close to a mic, like within a few inches, you'll start to get the bass-heavy distortion you generally hear from radio announcers. It's a cool effect, but not always desirable.  

---

