How to Get Rid of Background Noise in Davinci Resolve

Background noise can distract from spoken content and reduce the professionalism of a video. Davinci Resolve offers a robust set of denoising tools alongside third-party plugins that can elevate audio quality. This guide walks through practical steps for reducing unwanted hum, hiss, and ambient noise while preserving dialogue clarity.

Quick Answer

In Davinci Resolve, start with the built‑in noise reduction and spectral tools, then selectively apply a noise reduction plugin for final polish. Use a light touch to avoid over‑processing and preserve natural speech. For the best results, lock the vocal chain with a clean door and gentle compression before denoising.

What You’ll Need

iZotope RX 9 Noise Reduction plugin for audio post production
Waves NS1 Noise Suppressor plugin for video audio
Accusonus ERA Bundle Noise Remover plugin

PNGKNYOCN Car Stereo Noise Suppressor, 15A RCA Stereo 2 Channel Ground Loop Noise Suppressor for Car Audio Home Stereo

Before You Start

Prepare a clean project workflow: disable any loud transient effects during denoising and work on a duplicate audio track to preserve the original. Set your monitoring level to a comfortable range to hear subtle noise reductions. Typical time for a basic pass is 10–30 minutes per dialogue clip, depending on length and noise complexity. Important: avoid aggressive denoising that creates artifacts or muffled speech. Always compare before/after audio to confirm intelligibility.

Step-By-Step: How To Reduce Background Noise In Davinci Resolve

Open your project and locate the audio track with noise. Create a duplicate track to experiment without altering the original.
In Davinci Resolve, switch to the Fairlight workspace for advanced audio editing.
First, apply a light noise gate if the hiss is constant but quiet. Set the gate threshold just above the lowest noise floor to avoid cutting speech.
Use the built-in Noise Reduction: locate the Noise Reduction panel and enable a gentle reduction (start with 3–6 dB) while previewing the dialogue.
Employ spectral editing to target specific problems. In the Spectral Frequency display, select noisy bands and reduce them with careful EQ adjustments or a spectral repair tool.
If the built-in tools aren’t enough, engage a third‑party plugin from the provided options. Start with iZotope RX 9 Noise Reduction for a broad, transparent pass, then fine‑tune with Waves NS1 or ERA Bundle for quick suppression without artifacts.
Preserve consonants and sibilance by cutting high‑frequency noise gradually, using a high‑shelf boost only if the voice sounds dull after denoising.
Test with voice-over, room ambience, and pauses. Ensure continuity by rendering short segments for comparison.
Apply a light compressor after denoising to maintain consistent levels, then audition in context with music and sound effects.
Export a sample render and check for artifacts like ringing, warble, or metallic tone. If present, back off the processing amount and re‑test.
Document the adjustments in the project notes so future sessions start from a proven baseline.
When satisfied, consolidate the changes to a final mix and ensure loudness normalization aligns with your delivery target.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fix	Prevention
Audio sounds metallic after denoising	Over-aggressive processing or artifact creation	Reduce denoise amount or move to a gentler plugin	Test on short clips; use subtle settings
Voice becomes muffled	High-frequency attenuation during denoise	Restore highs with a narrow EQ boost post‑denoise	Avoid heavy EQ boosts during cleanup
Background hiss persists	Noise profile too dynamic or variable	Apply plugin in multiple passes with different thresholds	Record in quieter locations when possible
Dialogue levels uneven	Inconsistent gain before denoise	Normalize or compress before denoising	Keep a stable mic technique during shoot

Common Mistakes

Relying on a single denoise pass for all noise types
Over‑processing which introduces robotic voice artifacts
Ignoring room tone and ambience in transitions
Not comparing before/after results on multiple clips

Balanced denoising requires iterative tweaking. Use small, incremental changes and audition across different parts of the audio track to ensure natural speech remains intact.

Tips For Best Results

Record with a high‑pass filter at the source to reduce low‑frequency rumble before denoising.
Capture clean room tone on set; it helps in matching the ambient when applying noise reduction.
Leverage the strengths of each plugin: RX 9 for deep, surgical edits; NS1 for quick suppression in looped content; ERA Bundle for user‑friendly dial‑ins.
Keep processing non-destructive by working on duplicates and saving presets for similar projects.
Match final loudness to the video’s loudness standard to avoid constant level changes after denoise.

Call A Professional

Consider a pro if you encounter persistent hum from electrical interference, complex multi‑mic recordings, or if the audio is critical for a sellable product. Stop signs include:

Unresolved buzz after multiple denoise passes
Persistent phase issues or stereo widening artifacts
Very thin or artifacts‑ridden dialogue that harms intelligibility

In these cases, a professional audio engineer can perform advanced spectral restoration, de‑reverberation, and precise EQ tuning that go beyond standard plugins.

FAQ

What is the quickest way to reduce hiss in DaVinci Resolve?

Use a light noise gate followed by a gentle denoise with the built‑in tools, then refine with a third‑party plugin if needed.

Can I use Waves NS1 with DaVinci Resolve?

Yes. NS1 can be used as an insert in Fairlight to suppress background noise quickly while keeping dialogue clear.

Should I denoise before or after compression?

Apply gentle denoising before compression to prevent noise from triggering compressor artifacts, then apply compression for consistency.

Is it worth using RX 9, ERA Bundle, or NS1 together?

Yes, as complementary tools: RX 9 for in‑depth cleanup, ERA Bundle for user‑friendly removal, and NS1 for rapid suppression in mixed audio tracks.

How do I preserve natural voice after denoising?

Keep denoise levels modest, avoid heavy high‑frequency reduction, and use a light EQ and gentle compression after cleanup.

Buying Guide

Choosing the right tools to clean up background noise in video projects involves several factors. Size and scope of the project influence whether you need a comprehensive plugin bundle or a single specialized tool. Noise levels vary by environment, so flexible controls and adaptive profiles are valuable. Consider how often you’ll work with dialogue versus music tracks to determine the best balance between cleanup power and ease of use.

Key buying factors include:

Plug-in compatibility: Ensure the plugin runs in your DAW or video editor’s plugin format and is compatible with Davinci Resolve Fairlight.
Noise reduction performance: Look for plugins with spectral editing, multi‑band noise profiles, and adaptive algorithms that minimize artifacts.
Control sophistication: Adjustable thresholds, attack/release timing, and user presets help match diverse recording conditions.
Real‑time vs. offline processing: Real‑time preview can speed workflows; offline rendering may yield deeper cleanups.
Resource usage: Plugins should run smoothly on your workstation without causing system strain during editing.
Support and updates: A responsive vendor with regular updates helps address new noise challenges and DAW compatibility.
Workflow fit: If you frequently work with video, prefer plugins known for quick suppression as well as detailed cleanup.

Comparing options like iZotope RX 9, Waves NS1, and Accusonus ERA Bundle helps align tool choice with project goals. RX 9 is strong for in‑depth restoration, NS1 offers fast on‑the‑fly suppression, and ERA Bundle provides a user‑friendly suite for everyday dialogue cleanup. Evaluate your typical noise scenarios, desired ease of use, and budget to determine the best fit for DaVinci Resolve workflows.