Why you need noise gate software as an online professional

As an Independent professional or a freelancer who delivers by recording audio or constantly communicating, you’ll always require a quiet and noiseless environment to perform. Unfortunately, there are many uncertainties and unanticipated occurrences that could sometimes disrupt the workflow. And nobody loves to listen to bad audio, whether it’s a meeting with clients or colleagues. A study has revealed that 23% of clients are totally dissatisfied with poor audio quality. I’m sure you know what that means. 

Besides, depending on where you live or where you are at a particular time, you may be unable to control the external noise. This means that you must always have an alternative measure to ensure crispy, clear communication with your client. These alternative measures also mean integrating noise gate software into your workflow. 

With a noise gate, you can quickly eliminate noise in your audio or video production work. You can use it to clean up a mix and remove noise like unwanted sounds, hum, hiss, or other sounds that interfere with the clarity of the audio. It can help to manage noise gate audio during recording effectively.

Read on to learn more about using noise gate software to enhance your communication delivery and some of the best noise gate software to try today.

What is noise gate software?

Noise gate software is a digital tool that helps reduce or remove unwanted sounds, technically known as "noise" in audio recordings. It automatically mutes or decreases the sound volume below a specific threshold level set for the microphone. It does this by regulating the noise gate audio of device microphones, leaving only the desired audio. 

Noise gate programs analyze the incoming audio signal and determine whether it falls above or below the set threshold. If the noise is higher than the threshold set for the microphone, it gets filtered through. If it's below the point, it's either muted or reduced in volume.

Recording artists, podcasters, and content creators use these microphone noise gates to achieve clear audio records in noisy environments. Noise gate software also works on computer and mobile devices and thus makes it easy to use, customize, and get the desired results. 

How to use noise gate software to enhance your audio content

1. Choose your software

There are different noise gate software for different devices and purposes. For example, there is a microphone noise gate for phones and other mobile gadgets and one for PC, Macbooks, etc. So, choose the one that best suits your needs and budget.

2. Install and set up the software

Follow the installation guidelines provided by the software developer on their website or installation manual if you are provided with one. There, you will see how to connect your microphone or audio interface to your PC or mobile phone. 

3. Adjust the threshold

The threshold is the level at which the noise gate will activate. Set the threshold just below the background noise level you want to eliminate. This will ensure that the noise gate mic stays open when you're speaking or playing music but closes when there is no sound.

4. Adjust the stop and release settings

The stop and release settings control how fast the gate opens and closes. Adjust these settings to achieve a smooth transition between sound and silence and to avoid cutting off the beginning or end of a word or note.

5. Test

When you are through with setting up the noise reduction software, test it by recording some audio in a noisy environment. Listen to the recording and adjust the settings to your taste to achieve your desired level of noise reduction. Testing the audio quality will tell whether the noise gate software works as expected.

6. Save your settings

Once you're okay with your mic noise gate settings, save them so you can use them again in future recordings.

The benefits of noise gate software 

There are several benefits to using a noise gate for a microphone. They include:

1. Reduces backdrop noise

How do you feel when you have to listen to a podcast or an audio message with too much noise from the speaker’s background or a generally bad audio output? Irking right. That’s exactly how your listeners feel when you promote a noisy audio message. In fact, a Statista report revealed that over 45%of listeners would ditch a podcast for poor-quality audio. Making poor audio is one of the top four reasons people abandon a podcast channel.

The primary benefit of noise gate software is that it helps to reduce unwanted background noise in audio recordings. By suppressing these background noises and quiet sounds, the software can help to optimize audio clarity and quality.

2. Customizable settings

Noisegate for microphones often has an extensive range of customizable settings, allowing the user to adjust the threshold and other settings to achieve the desired level of noise reduction. This flexibility makes fine-tuning the software to work with various recording environments easier.

3. Increased portability

Unlike physical noise gates, which can be bulky and require additional equipment, you can run a software noise gate on a computer or mobile device. Being portable, you can use the software on the go and for multi-setting recording situations.

4. Cost-effective

Noisegate software is often more affordable than physical noise gates. This makes it a more cost-effective solution for people looking to improve the standard of their audio recordings.

5. Easy to use

With intuitive interfaces and user-friendly controls, a noise gate is generally easy to use, even by people with little or no experience in audio recording/production.

Recommendation: as a freelancer looking for the best microphone noise gate, you might also want to try out a cloud-based business management service fully integrated with smart video conferencing and audio tools. That's Workee. Workee allows unlimited video calls and seamlessly integrates with other tools like Zoom and Google Meet. Get started for free here. 

Best Noise Gate Software: Advantages and Disadvantages

There is various noise gate software in the market, but here are a few curated by Workee experts you may consider.  Any of these below would give you a good job as they are among the best noise gate programs.

Reaper

Reaper is a digital audio workstation software that comes with a built-in noise gate plugin that you can use to apply this effect to your audio file.

When you apply a noise gate to a track in Reaper, the plugin essentially sets a threshold for the audio level. Any sound below that threshold is silenced or reduced, while any sound above it is allowed to pass through unaltered. This can be really helpful for cleaning up recordings with a lot of background noise.

• Advantages:

1. Customizable threshold, attack, and release settings.

2. Wide range of other audio processing tools.

3. Affordable pricing.

• Disadvantages

1. Has a steep learning curve for beginners.

2. It can be resource-intensive, which may impact performance on older computers.

Audacity

Audacity is a free and open-source audio editing software that includes a noise gate tool. With Audacity's noise gate, you can set the threshold level and adjust other parameters like attack and release times to fine-tune how the noise gate behaves. The Audacity tool is great for beginners because of its easy-to-understand interface.

• Advantages

1. Free and open-source.

2. Simple controls for adjusting the threshold and other settings.

3. Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

• Disadvantages

1. Limited audio processing capabilities compared to more advanced software.

2. A basic interface may not be as intuitive for experienced users.

Krisp

Krisp is an AI-powered noise-canceling software that can eliminate background noise in real time. It can work with any communication app and supports both Windows and Mac platforms. Krisp offers a free version with limited usage and a paid version with unlimited usage.

• Advantages

1. Effective noise cancellation

2. Easy to set up and use

3. Works with any communication app

4. Offers a free version

Disadvantages

1. The paid version can be expensive for some freelancers

2. Requires a stable internet connection

SoliCall Pro

SoliCall Pro is a noise reduction and echo cancellation software that is designed for professionals. It supports various communication apps and can work with both Windows and Mac platforms. SoliCall Pro offers a 14-day free trial, and the paid version costs $39.99 per year.

• Advantages

1. Advanced noise suppression and echo cancellation features

2. Works with various communication apps

3. Easy to use

4. Offers a free trial

• Disadvantages

1. The paid version may not be affordable for some freelancers

2. Requires a stable internet connection

Waves NS1

The Waves NS1 is a popular noise suppression plugin that automatically detects and attenuates background noise in real-time. The plugin has a simple user interface and is easy to use. One of its biggest pros is its ability to reduce noise effectively without affecting the quality of the desired audio signal. However, the downside is that it's quite expensive.

• Advantages

1. Automatically detects and reduces unusual background sounds.

2. Simple controls for adjusting sensitivity and other settings.

3. Compatible with a wide range of audio editing software.

• Disadvantages

1. Limited customization options compared to other mic noise gate audio programs.

2. High price point.

iZotope RX

iZotope RX7 is a powerful noise-reduction software used by professionals in the audio industry. It has advanced features such as spectral repair, dialogue isolation, and de-reverb, making it one of the most versatile noise-reduction tools. The downside is that it has a steep learning curve.

• Advantages

1. Advanced audio processing tools, including unwanted sound gate software.

2. Offers a wide range of audio restoration and repair tools.

3. Supports third-party plugins and instruments.

• Disadvantages

1. High price point.

2. It can be resource-intensive, which may impact performance on older computers.

FabFilter Pro-G

The FabFilter Pro-G is an advanced and versatile software plugin that can be used within a digital audio workstation (DAW) to apply noise gating to your audio jobs.

One of the key features of the Pro-G is its highly customizable gating algorithm. You can adjust parameters such as attack time, release time, hold time, and range to fine-tune the gating effect to your specific needs.

• Advantages

1. Customizable threshold, attack, and release settings.

2. Advanced features like lookahead and mid/side processing.

3. Simple and intuitive interface.

• Disadvantages

1. High price point.

2. Limited compatibility with certain audio editing software.

Conclusion

Noise gate for microphones is an essential tool for content creators to enhance their sound quality and reduce or remove noise from recordings, thereby improving the clarity and quality of audio. With the help of the best noise gate software, you can effectively eliminate background sound from your recordings without sacrificing the quality of your sound.

However, managing customer relationships, sales, and marketing effectively beyond noise reduction is essential for holistic results. Using a business management tool like Workee, you can streamline your workflow, automate routine tasks, and manage customer relationships more effectively.

Combining a microphone noise gate with a business management tool can help freelancers achieve greater productivity and efficiency.