Are you looking for a guide on “How to reduce background noise on the mic on Windows 10“? If yes, you are on the right page.
In this article, I will highlight the most effective methods to perform this task. I have explained these methods in terms of tips. So just read on.
Tip 1: Reducing Background Noise Before Recording
In this guide on “How to reduce background noise on mic on Windows 10”, the first tip I would like to give you is to update the settings for the microphone on your Windows PC to minimize the chances of background noise in your recorded Audio.
That’s because, by default, these settings are not optimized on Windows to reduce background noise. You have to make these changes before you start recording.
All the Steps That You Should Follow Are Explained Below:
Step 1: Open Control Panel
First, go to the “Control Panel” of your Windows PC.
Step 2: Go To The “Hardware and Sound”
Once you are in the “Control Panel,” the next step will be selecting “Hardware and Sound” from the menu on the left side of the panel.
Step 3: Open The “Sound” Dialogue Box
Now, please click on the “Sound” option. As soon as you select the “Sound” option, a new dialogue box of Sound will appear in front of you.
Once you are in the “Sound” dialogue box, you should navigate to the “Recording” tab and look for the options available under it.
Step 5: Select Your Microphone
Under the “Recording” tab, you find listed various microphones. Identify the microphone name for which you try to reduce the background noise and navigate it. Select this microphone from the list. Remember not to select the wrong mic.
Step 6: Open The “Microphone Properties”
After you have selected your microphone, just click on the “Properties” button provided in the bottom right area. It will open up a new dialogue box labeled “Microphone Properties.”
Step 7: Go To The “Levels” Tab
Once you are in the “Microphone Properties” dialogue box, you should navigate to the “Levels” tab.
Step 8: Update Settings Under The “Levels” Tab
Under the “Levels” tab, set the value for the “Microphone” as “100”. And you should set the value for the “Microphone Boost” as “10 dB” or even higher (depending upon your requirement) if the recording sound of the mic is low.
Step 9: Update Settings Under The “Enhancement” Tab
In the next step, please navigate to the “Enhancements” tab of the same dialogue box in which you are.
And under this tab, it is recommended to check the checkboxes of “Immediate Mode,” “Acoustic Echo Cancellation,” and the “Noise Suppression.” So you should check all of these three checkboxes.
Step 10: Finish The Process
Once you have checked the checkboxes mentioned in the above step, just hit the “OK” button. And it is finally done!
Now, if you record an audio clip with these new settings, you will notice that the sound quality is much better as compared to the default settings, and the background noise has disappeared to a large extent.
Tip 2: Removing Background Noise or Cleaning Up Audio After Recording
My second tip in this guide on “How to reduce background noise on mic (Windows 10)” is to clean up Audio by removing the background noise after recording. You can perform this task with the use of software like Audacity.
Audacity is free to use, and you will have to follow the steps mentioned below to remove the background noise from your audio with the use of this software:
Steps to Remove Background Noise on Mic with Audacity (Windows 10)
Step 1: Download & Install Audacity
First, go to https://www.audacityteam.org/ and download Audacity software for free. Once downloaded, install it on your PC/computer.
Step 2: Go To the “File” Menu
Now open Audacity to start editing the recorded Audio. Once inside the home screen of the application or software, navigate to the “File” menu and open it.
Step 3: Import The Audio Clip
From the “File” menu, go to the “Import” sub-menu and select the “Audio” option. As soon as you select this option, it will ask you to select the Audio you want to import for editing. Select the file and then open it.
Step 4: Select Empty Area
Once you have successfully imported or opened the Audio file in Audacity, you can start the process of reducing the background noise. You should first select an empty area in the audio timeline. You will have to click & drag to select this area.
And, by empty area, I mean the area with only background noise. Hence, recording audio without speaking for a few seconds at the beginning of the recording is recommended so that an empty area (having only background noise) may be captured.
Step 5: Select the “Noise Reduction”
Once the desired empty area is selected, you should go to the “Effect” menu available in the menu bar and select the “Noise Reduction” option.
Step 6: Click On The “Get Noise Profile” Button
Selecting the “Noise Reduction” option, a new dialogue box or window will pop up immediately. You will see the “Get Noise Profile” button in this window.
Click on this button. When you hit this button, it will pick the background noise from the selected empty area.
Step 7: Select The Entire Audio Clip
Now is the time to remove from the entire audio clip the similar sound or background noise we recently captured or picked from the empty area. You should press the “Ctrl+A” keys on your keyboard to select the entire audio clip.
Step 8: Again Open The “Noise Reduction”
Once the whole clip is selected, you should go to the “Effect” menu again to open the “Noise Reduction” window.
Activate the “Reduce” mode for the Noise option in this window and just hit the “OK” button. Thus the background noise will be removed from the entire audio clip.
Step 9: Complete The Process
Once you have successfully removed the undesired background noise by following the steps mentioned above, the next step is to export the new filtered audio clip with a file format of your choice.
For this, navigate to the “File” menu and select the “Export” option available in that menu. After selecting “Export,” choose the desired format, like MP3, MAV, etc., and export it. And it is finally done!
Some Other Basic Tips
Below I have listed some other basic tips to complete this guide on “How to reduce background noise on mic (Windows 10)”. Just go through each one of them.
- While recording your Audio, keeping the windows and doors of the room closed is recommended. It will help you prevent the outside noise from coming in while recording.
- As far as possible, avoid using a cheap quality microphone. There are many good quality microphones available out there, which you can choose from.
- Arrange your hardware optimally so that the noise created by the mouse, keyboard, and other such things may not be picked up by your microphone while recording your audio clip.
- It is recommended to figure out the optimal distance you should have with the mic you are using. Once you have figured it out, always maintain it while having a recording session. Generally, it should be less than or equal to 1 foot.
- You should make use of the air filter also. That’s because they help in reducing air bursts.
- Another important thing you can do is switch off your AC or fan to reduce or minimize the background noise while recording.
- To prevent the microphone from picking up the sounds from the side and back, it is recommended to use things like reflection shields. These shields will help you minimize undesired disturbing sounds coming into the mic.
- You can also make use of noise gate software like NoiseGator or NoiseBlocker. It will also help you to record Audio clips with minimized unwanted background noise.
PS: Here, you will learn more about the Windows Update Error Code 0x80072efe.
FAQs
Q1. Will reducing microphone sensitivity affect the overall volume of my recordings?
A1. Reducing microphone sensitivity does not necessarily impact the overall volume of your recordings. It primarily adjusts the sensitivity of the microphone to your voice while minimizing background noise.
Q2. Can I reduce background noise without using any additional software or hardware?
A2. Yes, Windows 10 provides built-in features like noise suppression and microphone sensitivity adjustments that can help reduce background noise. However, for more advanced noise reduction capabilities, third-party software or hardware accessories may be necessary.
Q3. Is it necessary to use a pop filter or windscreen?
A3. While not mandatory, using a pop filter or windscreen can significantly reduce plosive sounds and wind noise, resulting in clearer audio recordings. It is especially beneficial if you frequently work with vocal recordings or voiceovers.
Q4. How do I know if my audio drivers need updating?
A4. Outdated audio drivers can cause compatibility issues and affect microphone performance. Check the manufacturer’s website for your microphone or sound card to see if any updated drivers are available. Alternatively, you can use the “Update driver” feature in the Device Manager on your Windows 10 device.
Q5. Can I use noise reduction software for real-time audio processing?
A5. Yes, some noise reduction software offers real-time audio processing, allowing you to reduce background noise during live audio or streaming sessions. Ensure that the software you choose supports real-time processing and is compatible with your microphone setup.
Final Words
Background noise is generally created by the people around you while recording your Audio. It is obvious that, in most cases, you cannot stop people from doing their activities, causing such background noise.
Hence, the above tips will help you create clean and good-quality audio recordings without unwanted background noise. Make a note of all of these tips for your future reference.
