Feature
Remove background noise from your screen recordings
Updated
In short
To remove background noise from a screen recording, use noise reduction that can tell your voice apart from everything else: keyboard clicks, fan noise, room hum. In Clarcut, it's a setting in the editor, processed on your computer and included in the free version. It works best when the starting audio is decent: a mic close to your mouth and a quiet room do half the job.
Where the noise in screen recordings comes from
Screen recordings almost always happen at a desk, using a laptop mic or a headset. The mic picks up everything around it: keystrokes right next to it, the fan spinning up when your computer works hard, the AC, traffic outside. These sounds are louder than you'd think, because a built-in laptop mic is often just inches from the keyboard.
Viewers don't get used to that background. It makes your voice harder to understand, especially on headphones, and makes even a beautifully polished demo sound amateur.
What Clarcut removes, and what it can't fix
| Type of noise | Removed by Clarcut | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Fan, AC, constant hiss | The easiest case: a steady noise is easy to separate from a voice. | |
| Keystrokes, mouse clicks | With “speed up when I type,” audio is also muted during long typing stretches. | |
| Room hum, distant traffic | Close the window: the less noise you start with, the more natural your voice stays. | |
| Echo in an empty room | Echo isn't background noise: add rugs or curtains, or move the mic closer. | |
| Other people talking, loud music | Those sounds are too close to a voice: record somewhere quiet. | |
| Clipping (audio too loud) | Lower your mic gain and do another test. |
How to remove background noise, step by step
- 1
Do a 10-second test
Before the real take, record a few sentences and listen on headphones. You'll immediately catch a mic that's too far away or gain that's too high.
- 2
Record your video
Pick the right mic in Clarcut. If you're also recording computer audio, keep it for sounds that matter (demo notifications, a video playing).
- 3
Turn on background noise removal in the editor
Processing happens on your computer. Listen to a section with it on and off to compare.
- 4
Then remove silences if needed
With a cleaner background, pause detection is more reliable.
- 5
Add background music last
Drag your file into the editor and keep it low: it shouldn't compete with your voice.
Better audio from the start
- Move the mic closer: 4 to 6 inches from your mouth, your voice dominates and the noise fades. A cheap headset often beats a laptop's built-in mic.
- Keep the mic away from the keyboard, or use an external keyboard if you're recording with a laptop mic.
- Turn off anything that hums: desk fan, AC, a tab playing a video.
- Avoid empty rooms and hard floors: echo is hard to fix. A couch, curtains or a bookshelf absorb sound.
- Speak at a steady volume and don't turn away from the mic to look at another screen.
Using an external mic with Clarcut
If you record your voice on another device (a field recorder, a USB mic with its own software, your phone), you can add that file as a track in Clarcut with drag and drop. With Clarcut Pro, the external mic is synced to the video automatically, down to the millisecond, so there's no need to clap at the start to line things up. In the free version, you can add the track and line it up yourself.
The same feature lets you add a voiceover recorded afterward, or background music.
Which mic to use for screen recordings
| Mic | Pros | Cons | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in laptop mic | Nothing to buy, always there | Far from your mouth, right next to the keyboard | Quick replies, internal videos |
| Headset or earbuds with a mic | Close to your mouth, consistent distance | Visible if you're on camera | Tutorials, customer support, training |
| USB desk mic | Fuller voice, adjustable gain | Picks up the keyboard if poorly placed; keep it close to your mouth | Online courses, regular demos |
| Lavalier mic | Discreet on camera, consistent distance | Cable or transmitter to deal with | Videos where you're on camera |
Other ways to remove background noise
| Tool | Free | Works on the video directly | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audacity (Noise Reduction effect) | Very effective but audio only: you export the audio, clean it, then put it back on the video. You also need to capture a “noise profile.” | ||
| OBS Studio (Noise Suppression filter) | Yes, while recording | The filter applies live: you can't undo it after the take. | |
| iMovie (Mac) | Offers background noise reduction in a clip's audio settings. | ||
| DaVinci Resolve | Yes, with a paid Studio version | Very complete audio tools (Fairlight), with a steeper learning curve. | |
| Clarcut | Yes, in the editor | One setting, processed on your computer, reversible anytime. |
For a podcast or a professional voiceover, dedicated audio software is more precise than Clarcut. For a demo, a tutorial or a reply to a customer, one simple setting is plenty.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove background noise from a video for free?
In Clarcut, turn on background noise removal in the editor: it's included in the free version. Audacity is free too, but it only processes audio, which you then have to put back on the video.
Is my audio uploaded to be cleaned?
No. Background noise removal is processed on your computer. Nothing is uploaded unless you create a share link.
Can it remove keyboard noise?
Yes, Clarcut removes keystrokes from the mic track. During long typing stretches, “speed up when I type” also mutes the audio of those sped-up sections.
Does noise reduction remove echo?
No, room echo isn't background noise. Move the mic closer to your mouth and record in a furnished room: that's the only real fix.
Will my voice sound robotic?
Not if the starting audio is decent. The louder the noise is compared to your voice, the harder the processing has to work. Always compare with and without before exporting.
Can I use an external mic recorded separately?
Yes. Drag the audio file into the editor. With Clarcut Pro, it's synced to the video automatically, down to the millisecond.