How to Remove Background Noise in Premiere Pro (2026 Guide)

Background noise ruins otherwise great video footage. Fans, air conditioning, traffic, hum — Premiere Pro has tools to fix all of it. Here's how to get clean audio without switching to a dedicated audio editor.

Method 1: Essential Sound Panel (Easiest)

Premiere Pro's built-in Essential Sound panel is the fastest way to reduce noise:

Step-by-Step:

1. Select your audio clip in the timeline
2. Open Essential Sound panel (Window → Essential Sound)
3. Click "Dialogue" to tag the clip
4. Check "Reduce Noise" in the Repair section
5. Adjust the slider (start around 5, increase as needed)
6. Check "Reduce Rumble" for low-frequency noise (AC, traffic)

Settings Guide:

Pro tip: Start low and increase gradually. Too much noise reduction creates artifacts and makes audio sound robotic.

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Need to separate voice from music? StemSplit isolates vocals from background music — different from noise reduction, but equally useful for video editors.

Isolate Vocals from Music →

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Method 2: DeNoise Effect (More Control)

For more precise control, use the dedicated DeNoise effect:

Apply DeNoise:

1. Go to Effects panel (Window → Effects)
2. Search for "DeNoise"
3. Drag effect onto your audio clip
4. Open Effect Controls panel

DeNoise Settings:

Using the "Learn" Feature:

DeNoise works better when it knows what the noise sounds like:

1. Find a section with only noise (no dialogue)
2. In Effect Controls, click "Analyze" while that section plays
3. DeNoise learns the noise profile
4. Apply to the full clip

This produces cleaner results than automatic detection.

Method 3: Parametric Equalizer (Technical)

Sometimes noise lives in specific frequencies. EQ can cut it surgically:

Common Noise Frequencies:

Applying EQ:

1. Add Parametric Equalizer effect
2. Identify the noise frequency
3. Create a narrow band (high Q value)
4. Cut that frequency by 6-12dB
5. Listen and adjust

Warning: EQ affects voice too if voice occupies those frequencies. Use sparingly.

Method 4: Audition Round-Trip

For stubborn noise, send to Adobe Audition:

1. Right-click audio clip
2. Select "Edit Clip in Adobe Audition"
3. In Audition, use Noise Reduction (Effects → Noise Reduction/Restoration)
4. Save and it updates automatically in Premiere

Audition's noise reduction is more powerful, with spectral editing for precision.

Method 5: Third-Party Plugins

For professional results, consider these plugins:

Waves Clarity Vx

• AI-powered noise removal
• Real-time processing
• Great for dialogue
• ~$50-100

iZotope RX Elements

• Industry standard for audio repair
• Includes de-noise, de-reverb, de-click
• Spectral editing
• ~$130

CrumplePop AudioDenoise

• One-click operation
• Fast processing
• Made for video editors
• ~$100

Free Alternative: Audacity

1. Export audio from Premiere
2. Open in Audacity
3. Select noise sample
4. Effect → Noise Reduction → Get Noise Profile
5. Select all audio
6. Effect → Noise Reduction → Apply
7. Export and import back to Premiere

Workflow for Different Noise Types

Constant Background Noise (Fan, AC, Hum)

1. Essential Sound → Reduce Noise (6-8)
2. Add DeNoise effect with analyzed noise profile
3. Check for artifacts
4. Add light compression to even out levels

Intermittent Noise (Coughs, Bumps)

1. Use Premiere's waveform view to locate
2. Manual volume keyframes to duck the noise
3. Or: Cut and replace with room tone
4. Or: Use Audition's spectral editing

Low Frequency Rumble (Traffic, Footsteps)

1. Essential Sound → Reduce Rumble
2. Add high-pass filter (EQ) at 80-100Hz
3. Removes frequencies below human voice

Wind Noise (Outdoor Recordings)

Wind is particularly difficult:

1. High-pass filter at 100-150Hz
2. Essential Sound → Reduce Noise (high setting)
3. May need DeNoise with custom profile
4. Accept some quality loss — wind is harsh

Tips for Better Results

Layer Your Tools

Combine multiple light applications:

• Essential Sound: Reduce Noise at 4
• DeNoise: Amount at 30%
• EQ: Gentle cuts on problem frequencies

This often sounds better than one heavy application.

Preserve Voice Quality

Signs of over-processing:

• Voice sounds "underwater" or muffled
• Robotic/metallic artifacts
• Words become unclear

If you hear these, back off the settings.

Use Keyframes

If noise varies throughout the clip:

1. Set keyframes on noise reduction parameters
2. Increase during quiet sections
3. Decrease when dialogue is louder

Always A/B Compare

Toggle effects on/off to hear the difference. Sometimes you're making it worse without realizing.

Preventing Noise in Future Recordings

Recording Environment

• Record in quiet spaces
• Turn off AC/fans during recording
• Close windows
• Add soft materials (blankets, rugs)

Microphone Technique

• Get microphone closer to subject
• Use directional (cardioid) microphones
• Use a windscreen outdoors
• Record at appropriate gain levels

Gear Considerations

• Shotgun mics reject off-axis noise
• Lavalier mics capture cleaner dialogue
• Audio recorders often have better preamps than cameras

FAQ

Can I completely remove all background noise?

Usually not without affecting voice quality. Goal is reduction, not elimination. Accept that some noise may remain.

Does noise reduction affect video quality?

No — audio and video are processed separately. Only the audio track is affected.

Should I remove noise before or after color grading?

Audio editing order doesn't matter relative to video edits. But for audio: noise reduction first, then other effects.

My voice sounds robotic after noise reduction. What went wrong?

Too aggressive settings. Reduce the Amount/Strength. Multiple light passes beat one heavy pass.

Can I remove music from dialogue, not just noise?

Standard noise reduction won't work — use StemSplit or similar AI tools to separate voice from music.

What's the difference between noise reduction and DeReverb?

• Noise reduction: Removes constant sounds (hiss, hum, fans)
• DeReverb: Removes room echo/reflections

Use both if you have noisy AND echoey audio.

Quick Reference Settings

Light Cleanup

Medium Cleanup

Heavy Cleanup

The Bottom Line

Premiere Pro's built-in tools handle most noise situations well. The Essential Sound panel is sufficient for typical YouTube/social content. For professional work or stubborn noise, third-party plugins or Adobe Audition provide more power.

Remember: Prevention beats removal. Good recording technique will always produce better results than post-processing fixes.

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Need to Remove Music Instead of Noise?

Different problem, different solution.

• ✅ Separate voice from background music
• ✅ Keep dialogue, remove copyrighted tracks
• ✅ AI-powered stem separation
• ✅ Works with any audio file

Try StemSplit →

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