Updated October 2026 · Audio repair and clean-up
Mouth noise includes lip smacks, tongue clicks and saliva sounds. Find each one by listening closely and zooming in, then cut or reduce it in a small area with a short fade. Prevent the most common sounds with water, a steady microphone position and short breaks.
Mouth noise is one of the sounds that makes speech feel close and real, and too much of it makes a recording uncomfortable. A close microphone picks up every lip smack and tongue click, and a dry mouth makes them worse. The aim is to reduce the distracting ones while keeping the voice natural.
Common examples are lip smacks, which appear as short, sharp sounds at the start or end of words; tongue clicks, which are small, high-pitched ticks; and saliva sounds, which are wet or crackling noises. Breaths are a separate category, covered in the breath editing post. Knowing the type helps you choose the right fix.
Listen once at normal speed, and note the moments that stand out. Then zoom in on the waveform, where mouth noise appears as a short spike or a small burst. Select the smallest area that covers the sound, so you do not touch the word around it.
Lower the mouth noise by a few decibels, or cut it with a short fade on each side. Aim for a sound that is quieter but still natural. Removing every trace of mouth sound makes the voice sound artificial, so accept that some natural sounds stay.
Some people produce more mouth noise than others, and no editing will remove all of it. The goal is a pleasant, clear voice. If the mouth noise is constant, check your microphone position and your drinking habits before editing.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
No. Remove the distracting ones and keep the natural sounds that make speech feel human.
Yes, especially a sip before and between takes. Avoid taking a drink during a take.
It helps with plosive pops, but not much with clicks and lip smacks. Distance and technique matter more.
No. Breaths are air, and mouth noise is the sound of lips, tongue and saliva. They are edited differently.
