How to Remove Background Noise in Descript

Background noise (a fan, traffic, computer hum) is the most common reason a good recording sounds bad. Descript offers a dedicated Reduce Noise effect plus Studio Sound, and combining them carefully gives clean speech without that underwater, over-processed sound. This guide shows the right order to apply them.

What you need

• A Descript project with a noisy recording
• Headphones to hear noise and artifacts accurately
• A few minutes to compare settings

Step 1: Add the Reduce Noise effect

Select the clip, open the Effects panel, and add Reduce Noise (sometimes labeled Background Noise). This effect specifically targets steady background sounds like hum and hiss. Start with the strength low.

Step 2: Raise the strength until the noise is gone, then back off

Slowly increase the strength while a noisy section plays. Stop the moment the noise disappears. If you push past that, the voice starts to sound watery or robotic. The goal is the lowest setting that kills the noise.

Step 3: Add Studio Sound for polish

Once the background is quiet, add Studio Sound on top at a moderate intensity. It evens the tone and makes the voice fuller. Together the two effects turn a rough recording into something that sounds intentional.

Step 4: Check the quiet parts

Aggressive noise reduction can make pauses sound unnaturally dead, like the audio dropped out. Listen specifically to gaps between sentences. If silence sounds eerie, lower the noise reduction a touch so a little natural room tone remains.

1. Reduce Noise   -> lowest setting that removes hum/hiss
2. Studio Sound   -> moderate intensity for warmth
3. A/B test       -> toggle both off, compare
4. Check pauses   -> avoid dead, lifeless silence

Result: a recording made next to a noisy laptop fan now has clear, present speech with only a faint, natural room tone in the gaps, instead of distracting hum.