Windows 7
Audacity 2.3.0
HI all, Ive been getting a lot of static background noise when recording into audacity. I assumed it was the microphone i was using until i tried recording without any mic plugged in… The static noise was still there on the recording, despite there being no input from me. Anyone know how i can stop Audacity from seemingly automatically adding this static noise to the background of my recordings? Thanks.
Anyone know how i can stop Audacity from seemingly automatically adding this static noise to the background of my recordings?
What’s the microphone? Microphone sound is really quiet and has to be boosted to be useful. It’s usually the boosting that causes noise. So even if you have the microphone unplugged, the booster (Microphone Preamp) inside the computer is still in there hissing at you.
That’s why the first thing most people do to get higher quality sound is stop using the computer soundcard.
What do your blue waves look like when you record? The goal for best sound is blue wave tips at about the 50% mark up and down.

If you can do that, then your voice or performance is loud enough so the hiss doesn’t matter. If you voice is really quiet, then it could be the same loudness as the hiss and when you boost your voice, the hiss will get louder right along with it.
There’s other places to pick up hiss, but you’re using the computer soundcard, that’s probably the most likely.
Koz
A “lot” of static is unusual but all analog electronics generate some noise. Preamps are the “worst” because you have a low signal and lots of amplification . (There is a microphone preamp in the soundcard for the microphone.) And, the preamps built-into consumer soundcards and laptops are often low-quality, and they often pick-up switching noises from the computer’s electronics.
So… What are you recording and what kind of quality do you need?