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Dealing with Noisy Video Audio: Comprehensive Guide to Noise Reduction

By Debra Amato, California Business Journal

Have you ever been excited to watch a video, only to be disappointed by the poor audio quality, filled with unwanted noise or distortion? It’s a common frustration, but the good news is that there are ways to tackle this issue. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the reasons behind audio noise in videos and provide you with an in-depth overview of how to remove noise using various free software tools.

Understanding the Causes of Audio Noise

Before we delve into the solutions for removing the loud wind noise, let’s understand why it occurs in the first place. Here are some of the primary reasons for audio noise in videos:

Compression: Video files are often compressed to reduce their size for easier streaming or storage. While this compression is essential, it can sometimes lead to a reduction in audio quality, causing noise or distortion.
Download Issues: When you download videos from the internet, various factors can introduce noise during the download process. Data corruption or errors can result in noisy audio.
Playback Device Problems: Occasionally, the issue may not be with the video file itself but with the playback device. If your speakers or headphones are faulty, they can cause distorted audio.

Now that we have a better understanding of why audio noise occurs, let’s explore the recommended free software options for effectively reducing or eliminating this unwanted noise.

Recommended Free Software for Noise Reduction in Audio

When you encounter noisy audio in your videos, you don’t have to feel helpless. There are several free software options available that can help you restore audio clarity. Let’s take a closer look at these tools:

UniFab

UniFab is a versatile software that goes beyond noise reduction. It can convert videos to over 1000 formats and offers a wide range of video editing features.
Platform: Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7 (32/64 bit).
Produced by DVDFab

How to Remove Noise with UniFab

Begin by downloading and installing UniFab from the official website.
Launch UniFab and choose “Convert” from the left menu. Add your video file.
Select the “Effects” tab, click on “Audio,” and check the option for “Remove Background Noise.”
Adjust the noise reduction settings to your preference and click “OK.”
Set the output destination and click “Start” to initiate the noise reduction process.

2. Audacity

Audacity is a renowned free audio editing software that includes noise reduction features.

How to Remove Noise with Audacity

Start by downloading and installing Audacity.
Load the audio file that contains noise.
Select the noisy portion of the audio, go to the “Effects” menu, and choose “Noise Reduction.”
Fine-tune the noise reduction settings as per your requirements and click “OK” to apply the noise reduction.

3. AviUtl

AviUtl is a free video editing software known for its versatility in removing noise from both video and audio.

Steps for Noise Reduction in AviUtl

Begin by installing the “ReaPlugs” VST plugin, which is necessary for noise reduction.
Open AviUtl, right-click on the timeline, and select “Add Filter Object” > “VST Hosting#1.”
In the VST plugin selection, choose “ReaFir” (reafir_standalone.dll).
Configure the noise reduction settings and create a noise profile to effectively reduce noise from your audio.

4. PowerDirector

PowerDirector is a feature-rich video editing software that includes noise reduction capabilities.

How to Remove Noise with PowerDirector

Start by downloading and installing PowerDirector.
Select the video you wish to edit, click on “Audio Editor” in the top menu, and choose “WaveEditor.”
In WaveEditor, navigate to the “Special” menu and select “Noise Reduction.”
Adjust the noise reduction settings to your liking and click “OK” to apply the noise reduction effect to your audio.

5. DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is a professional-grade video editing software that offers advanced audio editing capabilities, including noise reduction.

How to Remove Noise with DaVinci Resolve

Download and install DaVinci Resolve from the official website.

Import your video with noisy audio into the software.
Access the audio editing panel, select the noisy section, and navigate to the noise reduction feature.
Adjust the settings and apply noise reduction to enhance your audio quality.

6. HitFilm Express

HitFilm Express is a free video editing and visual effects software that includes audio editing tools, making it suitable for noise reduction.

How to Remove Noise with HitFilm Express

Download and install HitFilm Express.
Import your video with noisy audio.
Access the audio editing features, select the noisy portion, and apply noise reduction settings.
Fine-tune the settings for the best results and save your improved audio.

7. Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is a user-friendly video editing software that provides noise removal capabilities.

How to Remove Noise with Wondershare Filmora

Download and install Wondershare Filmora.
Import your video containing noisy audio.
Access the audio editing tools, select the noisy part, and apply noise reduction effects.
Adjust the settings as needed to achieve optimal audio clarity.

8. Free Audio Editor

Free Audio Editor is a dedicated audio editing software that specializes in tasks like noise reduction.

How to Remove Noise with Free Audio Editor

Download and install Free Audio Editor
Open your audio file, select the noisy section, and access the noise reduction feature
Customize the noise reduction settings to meet your requirements and save the cleaned audio.

9. WavePad

WavePad is another free audio editing software known for its comprehensive set of features, including noise reduction.

How to Remove Noise with WavePad

Download and install WavePad
Import your audio file with noise issues
Select the noisy portion, navigate to the noise reduction options, and fine-tune the settings
Apply the noise reduction effect to achieve improved audio quality.

10. Cubase LE

Cubase LE is a free digital audio workstation (DAW) that offers noise reduction tools as part of its audio processing capabilities.

How to Remove Noise with Cubase LE

Download and install Cubase LE
Import your audio file into the software
Access the audio editing features, select the noisy section, and apply noise reduction effects
Adjust the settings to eliminate unwanted noise and enhance audio clarity.

Conclusion

These recommended free software options provide various ways to remove or significantly reduce noise and audio distortion from your videos. By choosing the tool that best suits your needs, you can enhance your video-watching experience and enjoy clearer and more enjoyable audio. Whether the noise in your videos is a result of compression issues or download problems, these tools empower you to take control of your audio quality.

As technology continues to advance, these software tools will likely become even more sophisticated, expanding their capabilities and making noise reduction more accessible to everyone. So, the next time you encounter noisy video audio, remember that you have the means to fix it and enjoy your videos to the fullest.