Updated October 2026 · Audio repair and clean-up
Uneven volume usually comes from changing distance to the microphone, speaking at different strengths, or joining takes recorded at different levels. Level the sections by hand first, using gain changes on the clips, then apply gentle levelling if needed. Keep the natural variation that gives the voice life.
Some variation is natural in speech, because people get louder and softer as they talk. Uneven volume is different. It is the jump from a quiet section to a loud one that makes a listener reach for the volume knob. The fix is to match the levels between sections while keeping the voice expressive.
Listen for patterns. If the speaker moves closer or further from the microphone, the level changes with their position. If the level jumps at the edit point, two takes were recorded at different levels. If one passage is consistently quiet, the speaker probably turned away or spoke more softly. Each cause has a different fix.
If the variation is still large after hand levelling, a gentle levelling tool can smooth the remaining differences. Keep the amount low, or the voice will sound compressed and lifeless. The levelling guide shows how to apply levelling across two or more speakers.
After levelling, check that the loudest moments do not clip, and that the quiet passages are still clear on a phone. If the quiet parts are now noisy, reduce the background noise before raising them further.
Keep the microphone distance steady, use a marker on the desk, and record a short test at the start of each session. Speak at a steady strength, and record each section with its own check before moving on.
Levelling cannot fix every problem. A very quiet take with a lot of noise will sound noisy when raised, and a loud take with clipping cannot be made clean. In those cases, re-recording is the better choice.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Level the sections so they sit together, but keep the natural emphasis of the voice.
Two takes were recorded at different levels. Match them by hand before levelling.
Only if you use too much. Keep it gentle and listen for flatness.
If the take is very quiet, very loud or clipped, re-recording usually sounds better.
