How to Fix Problematic Audio: Plosives, Clipping, and Background Noise

We’ve all been there: you finish recording your podcast or audiobook, excited to dive into editing, and then you hit play.

And what do you hear?

A pop every time you say a “P,” a harsh “clipping” sound when your voice gets too loud, or a faint hum that won’t go away.

Don’t panic!

These issues are common, and with a little know-how, you can fix them quickly.

Here’s how to tackle plosives, clipping, and background noise like a pro.

1. Plosives: Those Pesky Pops

Plosives happen when a burst of air hits the mic, usually with words like “puh” or “buh.” These create a loud, annoying low-frequency pop that’s totally distracting.

How to fix it: First, make sure your mic is positioned slightly off-center to avoid direct air blasts. If you’re still getting plosives, use a pop filter (the round mesh thing that sits in front of your mic).

In post-production, you can reduce plosives by using a low-cut filter or manually lowering the volume of the pops with automation.

2. Clipping: When Your Audio Goes Over the Edge

Clipping happens when your audio levels are too high, causing distortion. It’s a terrible sound, and the bad news here is, it’s usually irreversible once it’s recorded.

How to fix it: Prevention is key. Always monitor your levels while recording to make sure they don’t peak above 0 dB.

If clipping does happen, the best fix is to go back and re-record if possible. In post-production, you can reduce clipping with some advanced restoration tools like iZotope RX, but it’s not always perfect, so try to avoid it from the start.

3. Background Noise: The Unwanted Guest

Whether it’s the hum of your computer, traffic from outside, or your neighbor’s dog barking, background noise is one of the most common problems when recording at home.

How to fix it: Start by treating your recording space. You can use foam panels, bass traps, or even a blanket fort around your mic to minimize noise.

If you’re dealing with unwanted hum, a noise reduction plugin can help clean things up. But be careful with noise reduction, since too much can make your voice sound hollow.

Dealing with audio problems is just part of the recording game, but it doesn’t have to be that frustrating. With the right tools and techniques, you can quickly fix plosives, clipping, and background noise to make sure your recordings sound professional.