Updated October 2026 · Audio repair and clean-up
Listen to the whole recording once without changing anything, then check for clipping, the level, background noise, dropouts and the room sound. Write down what you find, and only then choose the fixes. A check first saves time and stops you repairing problems that do not matter.
Many editing sessions go wrong before the first change is made. The editor starts fixing things that do not matter, or misses a problem that will ruin the final file. A short, structured check at the start tells you what the recording needs, so each fix has a reason.
Play the file from start to end, with headphones and at a comfortable volume. Do not change anything yet. Note where you hear a problem, including the start and end, the pauses and the edits. The first listen tells you the overall character of the recording.
Look at the waveform for flat tops, which show clipping. Check the peak level, and the true peak if your tool shows it. Clipping cannot be fully repaired, so a clipped recording may need to be re-recorded or accepted with care.
Listen to the quiet pauses. A steady hiss, hum or room noise will be obvious there. Check the level of the speech, and whether it changes between sections. The room tone post explains how to use the quiet sections to judge the noise.
Zoom in on the waveform in a few places, looking for sharp spikes and flat gaps. Listen for mouth clicks, breath pops and sudden cut-outs. Write each one down, with its time, so you can find it again during the edit.
Fix the equipment-related problems first, such as clicks, dropouts and hum. Then clean the noise, level the voice, and only then add any tonal changes. Following this order stops later steps from spreading earlier problems.
A check gives you a plan, not a guarantee. Some problems only show on the final playback, and a fresh pair of ears often catches what you missed. If a recording has too many problems, re-recording is usually faster than repairing it.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
A few minutes for a short clip. For a long recording, check in sections and note the problems as you go.
No. Listen and note first, then edit. Changing things during the check makes it hard to judge.
Background noise and uneven levels are the most common. Clipping and clicks are also frequent.
No. A tool helps you see levels and peaks, but your ears judge the sound.
