Removing background noise

Audacity 3 Help Forum Windows
1

So I used to be able to reduce background noise quite well, but now when I do I can still slightly here the clicking of my mouse and the keyboard keys when I tap them.

I record gameplay of CoD Zombies, Terraria, CS: GO, and what not so removing background noise is a must if you want to attract people and not make yourself sound like an unprofessional kid when it comes to audio quality.

So when I would remove the background noise I would usually start recording, go silent, then click my mouse a few times and tap a few keys on my keyboard, then when done recording a video I would go back to audacity and select those sections and use noise reduction.

I should mention I got a new headset, the Logitech G430 which has digital dolby surround sound so unless I’m just used to not hearing everything and am hearing more now than I used to which could be why my audio sounded fine, I’m not sure what could be causing my audio to sound sharp. Not crystal clear sharp, but more of a spike in sound when I click, faint as if it was slightly removed, but still there. My mic, like most that don’t have a filter attached has static so removing that is a must.

Now mine does come with a noise canceling feature, but I find that difficult to use considering when I talk the static picks up and I can hear it in the background but when silent I hear nothing so removing it in audacity was hard and would cause my voice to become altered. So i’ve got it plugged into the mic jack, the 3.5mm jack, if that’s the right name for it, and the static noise remains static, fluent so it’s easy to remove. When I’m making a video without removing sound I can do quite well removing the static as that’s all I have to isolate, but when doing a live com it’s hard as doing multiple nosie reductions causes me to sound like I’m using the built in my my laptop uses.

I’m using a project sample rate of 192000 hz and my mic, in windows recording devices properties for external mic is set to 192000 hz too. 2 channels at 24 bit. If I should change anything in my settings let me know.

And I know how to use the reduce noise by selecting the mouse clicks I made before I started recording the video going to getting a noise profile and then selecting the whole project and removing noise.

2

Yours is hard because you’re doing most of it exactly correct. I gotta read through that again.

I may cut your posting into chapters so it’s a little easier to read…

Is there any reason you’re using super high sample rate and bit depth? I don’t think they record Adele that high.

On first reading, I think you’re suffering from multiple devices all trying to “help you.” None of them know about the others. Getting rid of key clicks is rough…

Koz

3

I’m using that sample rate as it was default for windows recording properties for my device, so i figured I’d stay with it. If I should go lower, what is a good rate? bit depth, not sure what it means although like the rate it was default for that so i changed the settings in audacity to be the same so nothing could cause a problem.

When I edit out the clicks of my mouse I would simple click a few times, then after recording was done, like i’ve said, would go to it select that small section, get a profile and remove it. I can faintly hear it which calls for concern as if I can hear it so can others.

4

If I should go lower, what is a good rate?

See, that’s not easy, either. How do we tell you to reduce the quality of your work, particularly since the sound quality seems to be working for you. (I don’t think you’ll actually be able to hear the difference. Audacity default “lower” standards are the same as Audio CD.)

Still.

like i’ve said, would go to it select that small section, get a profile and remove it.

Which is exactly what you’re supposed to do, but. Key clicks are a special case. They change in volume and character depending on how hard, which key, etc. That can make the profile less effective.

Are you using the default Noise Reduction settings?

Did we ever establish which Windows and which Audacity?

Koz

5

yeah… That’s really hard to follow with so many random thoughts scrambled into one huge paragraph…

Noise reduction (with a noise profile, etc.) doesn’t work well on clicks. It works best if you have a constant low-level noise like hiss or hum and the lower the noise level (the less you need noise reduction) the better it works.

You’ll probably get the best results by using the Repair effect on the individual clicks one-at-a-time. You can also try Click Removal.

192kHz/24-bits is total overkill, but if it’s working for you there’s no harm other than large files. Obviously, your quality issues are related mostly to your recording environment (and there may be limitations due to your microphone and soundcard too). It’s also unlikely that you soundcard has a 24-bit ADC, so your drivers may be up-sampling to no benefit.

A couple of reference points - Pros record and mix at 96kHz/24-bits. CDs are 44.1kHz/16-bits and that’s better than human hearing.

Apparently you’re not having this issue, but some people have trouble recording game play because the game is using-up all of the computer’s resources. And, “high resolution” puts more stress on the computer simply because you are pushing-through more data… The game usually gets higher priority than the audio recording program and you can get glitches in your audio.

6

Hissy words over a quiet field is what happens with on-the-fly noise reduction. Cellphone territory. They sample your work in real time and try to decide what’s noise and what’s your voice. Generally, sounds that stay around for a long time are noise, so the system generates its own profile and slowly sucks the noise out of the performance. That’s why it hates music. Sustained musical notes get labeled as noise. Noise Reduction can’t delay the performance (your voice) too much, so they gate the correction on and off when you speak. Hissy Words.

So that’s where that effect is coming from.

Dolby has different products. The familiar one is Dolby 5.1 Surround; broadcast, DVDs, etc. The other one is Noise Reduction. That’s the one where Ray Dolby made his fortune. His was the first audio tape noise reduction system nobody could hear running. In one swoop, he made very high quality multi-track possible—with analog tape.

Logitech G430.

I have no idea how they manage 7.1 Dolby inside headphones, but I would not be shocked if the Dolby processor is boosting the clicks and taps you went to all that effort to suppress. Everybody knows what hiss and computer fan noise sounds like, but, as I said multiple times, key clicks are a little magic.

Yes, it’s totally possible only your system sounds like that. So anybody with your exact collection of equipment will be able to hear the clicks.

So now we’re down to needing the details. Which Audacity and what are your Noise Reduction settings? If your Audacity is old enough, there is no Noise Reduction and the older Noise Removal is not the best filter. We may be able to do better by just using what you have a little differently.

Koz