How to reduce background noise in phone videos

1. Move the mic closer

Background noise is a ratio: your voice against everything else. The surest way to win is to get the microphone closer to your mouth. A clip-on mic 6–8 inches away beats any setting on a phone across the room.

2. Pick the quietest spot you can

• Turn off fans, air conditioning and the TV.
• Close windows and move away from fridges and road-facing walls.
• Indoors, soft rooms (sofas, rugs, curtains) have less echo than kitchens and bathrooms.
• Outdoors, stand with your back to the wind or behind something that blocks it.

3. Use the right windscreen

Foam is for indoors. Outdoors, use a furry windscreen (a “dead cat”); it’s the only thing that really stops wind rumble. Keep it seated loosely and dry, or the sound goes muffled.

4. Use a mic with noise reduction

Mini Mic Pro has noise reduction that’s always on, tuned to keep the wearer’s voice and turn down what’s around them. That’s why it’s great for talking and less suited to recording music or room sound.

5. Check before you commit

1. Record 10 seconds in the spot you’ll film.
2. Listen back on headphones, not the phone speaker.
3. If you hear echo you didn’t expect, check reverb mode isn’t on (see the support page).
4. Fix the biggest problem, then film.

Questions