A few words on how to remove noise in the microphone

PC users and show business people have often faced a problem that caused them to rack their brains for a long time and to look for ways to solve it. What are we talking about? About noise and feedback, which arise when using a microphone. And here it does not matter whether the device is built into your laptop or this expensive equipment for sound recording. Due to its physical properties, the membrane that catches the sound, one way or another, perceives interference. This becomes an unpleasant moment when talking with IP telephony, sound recording or just when performing on stage. Today we will try to figure out how to remove noise in the microphone.

Required Tools

First, we'll look at methods that avoid the occurrence of noise when using a computer. So, for this, the user needs to have:

• Basic skills of working with the sound manager;

• The skill of using a sound recording program;

• The ability to set up a voice program (Skype, Google Hangouts, ooVoo, etc.).

Following is an instruction on how to suppress the microphone noise.

Why is noise heard?

There are several reasons why there is interference. The first thing to understand: different programs on a PC can not physically generate noise. That is, in the vast majority of cases, they arise through the fault of the user. One of the most common causes of noise when using various IP telephony services is the poor quality of the Internet connection. Despite the fact that voice programs usually do not require the presence of a powerful communication channel, you must have at least an average connection speed. Too "weak" Internet is the reason for not only poor sound quality, but also frequent disconnections. How to remove noise in the microphone in this case? The answer is very simple - to increase the connection speed. To do this, during the communication session, you must disable the download of media files and torrents. If the connection speed is initially low, then it makes sense to switch to a faster tariff plan or change the provider.

Noises due to a malfunctioning microphone

The next most common cause is problems with the equipment itself. First, you need to check that the microphone is working properly. If you are dealing with a microphone PC, then you need to run any recording program (a simple utility is included in the Windows OS). To do this, in Windows XP, go to the "Start" - "Programs" - "Standard" and in the "Entertainment" section, find the program "Sound recording". If you have Windows 7 or 8 installed, then it's even easier. Click the "Start" button and enter the word "sound recording" in the search field. Run the program. With its help a short section of your decision is recorded, after which the sound quality is checked.

If you hear noises on the recording you make, you need to understand the microphone itself. The correct solution may be the use of another device. But if this is not at hand, you can do with improvised means. Around the microphone, you need to make a foam rubber or fur ball (like the TV news reporters). Also, make sure that the microphone is not too far away when talking. If it is placed outside the zone of its sensitivity, the probability of the occurrence of interference increases many times.

Error in drivers and settings

The last cause of noise is software errors. How to remove noise in the microphone, if the two previous methods did not fit? You must reinstall the sound card drivers . Usually the disc comes with a motherboard (if the card is built-in) or in the box with the sound card itself. For Realtek audio cards, you can enable noise and echo cancellation. To do this, go to the sound control panel on the tab "Microphone", in which opposite the corresponding options to tick.

Another effective solution may be to reduce the sensitivity of the microphone, because it is possible that it simply fixes much more than it should. To do this, you need to find the "Audio Settings" menu in the Internet telephony application you are using. In the opened window, you should adjust the volume slider (it is possible that you have it in its maximum position).

Speaking on stage or recording

How to remove noise in a microphone during a performance or work in a recording studio? Prior to live performance, you must pre-configure the microphone. To do this, on the mixing console should be selected the optimum ratio of the sensitivity and volume controls. Often, noise occurs because the input signal strength slider is too high. That is, it makes sense to reduce the sensitivity of the signal.

If you can not get rid of extraneous sounds and they are audible on the record, then the program for suppressing microphone noises will help. Its algorithm reliably removes the entire audio spectrum, which has a volume lower than the preset one. Thus, noise will be removed from the sound track, while voice and musical instruments will remain untouched. Now you know how to remove the background noise of the microphone.