What Is a High-Pass Filter?
Updated October 2026
A high-pass filter lets the high frequencies pass and reduces everything below a chosen cut-off. For voice recordings it is the first tool to remove rumble, handling noise and low hum.
The short version
- A high-pass filter reduces the low frequencies below a cut-off you set.
- For a voice, a cut-off around 80 to 120 Hz removes rumble with little harm.
- Set it too high and the voice sounds thin.
- It is usually the first step in cleaning a voice recording.
The short definition
A high-pass filter passes the frequencies above a cut-off and reduces those below it. The steepness of the cut, called the slope, decides how sharply the low end is removed. The filter is also called a low cut, and it is one of the most common tools in voice work.
What it removes
Most voice recordings carry low noise that speech does not need: rumble from a desk or a floor, handling noise, air movement and some mains hum. A high-pass filter removes these with little effect on speech, which lives mostly above 100 Hz.
Where to set it
A starting point for a voice is around 80 to 120 Hz. Move the cut-off up slowly until the rumble disappears, then move it back a little. Going much higher than about 150 Hz starts to thin the voice, because the chest warmth of the voice sits lower.
Check it
Listen with the filter on and off. The change should be in the rumble, not in the sound of the voice. If the voice sounds weaker, the cut-off is too high. For the rumble itself, see the wind noise guide.
Cut the rumble first
Tunedzy’s cleanup applies a low cut as part of the voice repair. Use Before and After to check that the voice stays full.
Free tools for this
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a high-pass and a low-cut filter?
They are the same thing. Both names describe a filter that removes the low frequencies.
Where should I set a high-pass for a male voice?
The same range works for most voices. Check by ear, because deeper voices need a lower cut.
Does a high-pass filter remove hum?
Only the part of the hum below the cut-off. Mains hum at 50 or 60 Hz needs a notch filter.
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