Background noise is a common problem in audio recordings, and Adobe Audition provides several tools to help you remove it. In this article, we will discuss two of the most effective methods for removing background noise in Audition: the Noise Reduction and DeNoise effects.

1. Using the Noise Reduction Effect

The Noise Reduction effect is a great way to remove consistent background noise, such as hum, hiss, and room tone. To use the Noise Reduction effect, follow these steps:

1. Select the audio track that contains the background noise you want to remove.
2. Go to Effects > Noise Reduction/Restoration > Noise Reduction.
3. In the Noise Reduction dialog box, click the Capture Noise Print button. This will analyze the audio and generate a noise profile that will be used to remove the noise.
4. Adjust the Threshold and Reduction sliders to control how aggressively the effect removes the noise. A higher threshold will leave more of the original audio intact, while a lower threshold will remove more of the noise. A higher reduction will remove more of the noise, but may also affect the quality of the audio.
5. Click OK to apply the Noise Reduction effect.

2. Using the DeNoise Effect

The DeNoise effect is a more advanced tool that can be used to remove a broader range of background noise, including more complex noises like traffic, wind, and footsteps. However, it can also be more CPU-intensive than the Noise Reduction effect. To use the DeNoise effect, follow these steps:

1. Select the audio track that contains the background noise you want to remove.
2. Go to Effects > Noise Reduction/Restoration > DeNoise.
3. In the DeNoise dialog box, adjust the Target, Range, and Sensitivity sliders to control how the effect removes the noise. A higher Target will remove more of the noise, but may also affect the quality of the audio. A lower Range will focus on removing noise within a narrower frequency range, while a higher Range will remove noise over a wider frequency range. A higher Sensitivity will make the effect more aggressive, while a lower Sensitivity will make the effect more conservative.
4. Click OK to apply the DeNoise effect.

Tips for Removing Background Noise

• Use the Spectrogram: The Spectrogram is a visual representation of the audio signal. It can be helpful for identifying the frequency range of the background noise.
• Use multiple passes: If the background noise is still noticeable, you can apply the Noise Reduction or DeNoise effect multiple times. However, be careful not to over-process the audio, as this can distort the signal.
• Use a noise gate: A noise gate can be used to automatically mute the audio when the noise level drops below a certain threshold. This can be helpful for removing quiet background noise.
• Use a normalizer: A normalizer can be used to increase the overall volume of the audio without affecting the dynamic range. This can help to make the audio sound louder without making the background noise more noticeable.
• Use a dither: A dither is a noise that is added to the audio signal at a very low level. This can help to reduce the quantization noise that is introduced when the audio is converted to a digital format.

By following these tips, you can effectively remove background noise from your audio recordings in Adobe Audition and create high-quality audio productions.

Try Audition with a 7-day free trial.