Reduce background noise in Audacity

Audacity Try it →Watch full video →Master Editor · Jan 2026

Demo summary

A two-step demonstration of noise reduction: first capturing a noise profile from a silent section, then applying the effect to the entire track with specific sensitivity and smoothing settings.

Step-by-step

Select a section of the track that contains only background noise with no speech
Go to Effect, then Noise Removal and Repair, and select Noise Reduction
Click Get Noise Profile
Select the entire audio track
Open the Noise Reduction effect again
Adjust the Noise Reduction (dB), Sensitivity, and Frequency smoothing sliders
Click OK to apply the effect

Options

Increase Noise Reduction (dB) based on the difference between your current noise floor and target floor

Watch out for

Never exceed 12 dB of noise reduction as it causes noticeable audio damage
Higher sensitivity can make audio sound harsh and thin
Audacity's noise reduction is limited compared to third-party plugins for advanced cleanup

Tips

Use a sensitivity setting of 6 for voice-over work
Set frequency smoothing to 6 to help fill gaps left by noise removal
Try a value of 6 for all three settings as a reliable starting point
If you require more than 12 dB of reduction, focus on improving your physical recording setup instead
Apply Noise Reduction before EQ, as effect order matters

Highlights

“Audacity is a two-step process”

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8:321:19Reduce background noise in AudacityCurrentA two-step demonstration of noise reduction: first capturing a noise profile from a silent section, then applying the effect to the entire track with specific sensitivity and smoothing settings.Audacity· AI Audio Enhancer & Noise Reduction
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Watch “How to make your audio sound good in Audacity - 2026” →

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5:581:03Apply one-click audio macros in AudacityThe user shows how to use the 'Apply Macro' tool in Audacity to instantly improve raw vocal recordings using pre-configured processing chains.Master Editor
8:321:19Reduce background noise in AudacityCurrentA two-step demonstration of noise reduction: first capturing a noise profile from a silent section, then applying the effect to the entire track with specific sensitivity and smoothing settings.Master Editor
9:560:36Apply Filter Curve EQ in AudacityThe narrator demonstrates applying a 'low roll-off for speech' using the Filter Curve EQ to remove unnecessary low-frequency noise from a voice recording.Master Editor
6:152:29Reduce background noise in AudacityA two-step demonstration showing how to capture a noise profile from a silent section and then apply the Noise Reduction effect with specific sensitivity and smoothing settings.Master Editor
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