🎙️ How Do You Deal With Background Noise When Recording Courses?

Hey fellow instructors 👋,

Please tell me I’m not the only one fighting nature itself every time I try to record 😅

If I record during the day , birds start a full concert outside 🐦🎶
If I record at night , the crickets take over like a DJ set 🦗🎧

Honestly, my biggest limitation in creating courses is background noise!
I’ve seen some of your courses and the silence is just chef’s kiss 👌 , not a single bird, car, or ghost whisper. Just pure studio-quality audio!

So, I’m curious , how do you do it?
Do you use some magic video/audio editing software? Or is your room soundproof like a mini NASA lab? 🚀

I’ve tried Audacity; it helps a bit but also makes my voice sound like I’m speaking through a tin can 😂

Please share your little secrets , what tools, tricks, or setups help you get that clean, noise-free sound?
Because if I can finally conquer this noise battle, it will be a huge win for me 💪🎬

Thanks in advance, and may the silence be with you.

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Comments

RonErez

I changed microphones. I now use a Dynacaster SE, I used to use a blue yeti that picked up noises of dogs and birds. I also add noise removal on screenflow. Some of my students actually liked the sounds of the birds chirping.

I heard Da Vinci resolve is good for noise removal but I have no idea how to use it. There is a udemy instructor that created a youtube video on Da Vinci to clean up the sound but I lost the link. I believe he presented in one of the coffee chats.

macaulayfamous

I'm beginning to see where my issue is coming from. I currently use a Blue Yeti mic. I also have a Shure MV7, but it sounds very low even with the Cloudlifter and Focusrite Scarlett.

ThomasMitchell

My MV7 is awesome No volume issues.

AHardin

Condenser mics like your Blue Yeti can be noisy, meaning they tend to pick up a lot of background noise. Your Shure MV7's cardioid pattern should eliminate the issue of your mic picking up background noise. I always use cardioid pattern mics since their pickup is directional and doesn't require super quiet recording spaces.

Also - check out Auphonic for AI post-production. I used to use Audacity; now I use Auphonic.

DamianMcKinnon

Yes use a cartioid/hypercartioid mic as they are direction and range sensitive. The Rode Podcast mic is nice and my preferred tool.

I'm using Adobe Audition to record/clean up my audio and have a custom profile saved to clean up and boost my audio.

SivakamiS2017

Yes Cardioid and Hypercardioid microphones are awesome, especially the slightly more expensive ones.
You can also do some soundproofing in the room you record in. Add side seals to windows and doors, maybe install soundproof windows, add a rug/carpet or two, on floors and walls.
The rest you can edit out …

Tom1

I keep my setup VERY minimal. I have a macbook and use a Shure MVL clip-on mic. I put AC / fan on low. Minimally clean the audio in audacity, then use Descript's studio sound at around 80%. Recorded courses in hotel rooms and airbnbs all over the world with this setup. Finished a course last month in a hotel room in Jakarta. Just finished up a course in an airbnb in Milan. I do have a sound treated (not sound-proof) room at home though where I do most of my recording. But I live in a very noisy area so waking up super early to record in the early hours helps (I also do this if I'm recording while travelling). Based on that description it doesn't sound like my audio would be that great, but I've had a few reviews commenting on how good the audio sounds. I put that down to Descript's studio sound tho.

macaulayfamous

I guess I bought a fake one, or maybe mine is faulty.

CharlesCorn

As others have said, you need a dynamic mic, not a condenser mic. I use the Audio Technica ATR2100x. (Condenser mics are very sensitive and great for soundproofed studios, but they will pick up the sound of a dog barking half a mile away.)

I then use CapCut or Auphonic to remove any background noise. I used to use Audacity, but it's a pain to get right, as you've discovered!

Btkrausen

I had the same issue when I started, and like everybody else, I started with a Blue Yeti. I moved to a Shure SM7B, and the audio has been perfect ever since. Investing in audio/video pays dividends. I even get commnets during work meetings on how clear my audio is and how crisp my camera is on Zoom calls (I use a Sony a6400 w/ a Sigma lens).

Umar

Have you tried using Logitech's G Hub software? It features excellent noise cancellation features their mics. I've been using it for quite some time now with my 8 year old Blue Yeti. Also, if you have a machine with RTX series GPU, you can use nVidia Broadcast to enable noise cancellation.
Most modern laptops also have some built-in noise cancelling feature, although the voice quality may degrade a bit.

VijeshJain

The best is to record in a properly laid out recording room well insulated from background noise. Other strategies you can use is to look at the recording device for its quality and features.

Lastly certaain video audio editing software come with background noise control.

codewithmehdi

Davinci Resolve as an awesome Voice Isolation feature that perfectly removes most of the noise from your audio no matter the microphone.

Kdenlive also has an effect called Denoise (If I recall correctly) which is also very effective in filtering out most of the noise from the audio.

I have several years of course making experience and hope this helps.

PaulS

I live under a flight path - I use Auphonic to clean my sound tracks. It does a really good job of removing background noise.

Price is reasonable too, either monthly or 1 off time packages.

PhillipBurton

I use Auphonic.com. I can give it my mp4, and with the correct setup, it can remove background noise. You can use it for free for 2 hours of audio (for stereo videos, that works out at 1 hour).

For more details, see https://auphonic.com/blog/2023/11/29/eliminate-breathing-sounds-and-mouth-noises/

Phillip

PhillipBurton

I use Auphonic.com. I can give it my mp4, and with the correct setup, it can remove background noise. You can use it for free for 2 hours of audio (for stereo videos, that works out at 1 hour).

For more details, see https://auphonic.com/blog/2023/11/29/eliminate-breathing-sounds-and-mouth-noises/

Phillip