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How to Reduce Background Noise on Blue Yeti for Better Audio

How to Reduce Background Noise

Knowing that the Blue Yeti microphone is among the most popular on the market speaks much about its quality.

It’s adaptable and widely used by streamers, online content providers, and podcast hosts.

However, knowing how to remove extraneous background noises while recording will help you make the most of it.

With a few simple changes, many YouTubers, podcasters, and even people putting up microphones for choirs use the Blue Yeti routinely with little to no background noise.

Everyone dislikes watching a video with a lot of background noises of some kind.

If you own a Blue Yeti but have never worked out how to eliminate background noise, keep reading because this post will help you solve as many problems as possible.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The Blue Yeti mic is susceptible and will pick up even the slightest noise.
  • By changing your location, adjusting your mic, fixing the gain, and adding accessories to your device, you can improve your audio quality and reduce background noise.
  • You can also process your audio recording thru editing software to remove background noises from the recording.
Table of Contents

The Problem With Blue Yeti Sensitivity

The Problem with Blue Yeti Sensitivity

The Blue Yeti microphone features three condenser capsules with four switchable polar patterns. Cardioid mode, omnidirectional, and bidirectional pickup patterns are available.

The issue is that the Blue Yeti microphone is extremely sensitive, especially when set to omnidirectional pickup.

If your Blue Yeti picks up on everything, know that it’s a frequent issue that can be fixed.

However, if the microphone is not used correctly, it will pick up many unwanted background and ambient noises.

Almost everyone will encounter issues with the sensitivity of this microphone unless they understand the best methods for reducing and eliminating problems caused by mic sensitivity.

How to Suppress Background Noise on a Blue Yeti Microphone

How to Suppress Background Noise on a Blue Yeti Microphone

Numerous users claim that by properly situating the Blue Yeti, you may reduce excessive external noises from your microphone.

Before you go live or begin recording audio, you must determine where your greatest sound is. This is often referred to as the “sweet spot.”

To accomplish this, move the microphone around until you find your voice-overs’ optimal location.

Fixing The Gain

Fixing the Gain

The mic gain is the number of live sounds the Blue Yeti records as input.

Consider the gain knob: if you turn it up too high, you get as much background noise as possible, and if you turn it down too low, the microphone barely takes up any sound at all.

Consider it like a gas pedal in a car: the harder you press on it (, the higher the pressure), the faster (and more sensitive) the microphone is.

It all comes down to finding the sweet spot for the output gain.

Here are some tips to fix the gain:

  • Connect your headphones to the microphone so you can hear the sound level without other outside noises.
  • Adjust the gain knob down until you notice that the background noise is gone.
  • Make sure that the Blue Yeti is selected as your input device on your computer.
  • Lower the gain on the actual microphone (the knob) down to 3%.
  • Go to your desktop, right-click Sounds>Recording Devices, find your mic, and open its Properties. Under “Levels,” set the input volume to 50 – 60.

The Blue Yeti mic doesn’t completely turn off and seems to pick up every noise; making the mic sound bad is a hassle. But this helps to resolve most of that issue.

After this, there is a reasonable probability that you will still experience noise even if you keep the same volume level. But there are more things you can do to reduce background noise.

Finding A Quiet Room

Finding a Quiet Room

There is sound all around us in our modern environment. Living in a city will hear neighbors shouting, automobiles honking, and other unwanted noise.

It doesn’t matter if you live in a remote place far from the hustle and bustle. Any sound coming from wild animals are very annoying when voice recording.

While it’s pleasant to hear nature speak at other times, finding a quiet location to record is also tricky. The fact that Blue Yeti mics are sensitive to sound does not help.

Even the slightest vibrations are picked up by it. Therefore, you must look for a quiet location to record if you want to eliminate noises properly.

However, carrying your microphone around the house won’t be as tricky, thanks to the portable Blue Yeti mic. Here are some of the most quiet recording space we can find.

In The Bathroom

You can surely benefit from your bathroom’s distinctive acoustic design. The room’s sharp and flat worktops, mirrors, and floor tiles do an excellent job of reducing background noise.

Although it’s not the most comfortable place to record, the bathroom will work if your goal is to reduce the noise on a Blue Yeti mic.

Inside Closets

If you are hesitant to record in the restroom, you might prefer to do it in the closet.

It is ideal because it is compact and won’t vibrate as much as large rooms because it is covert and cushioned. You can also reduce echoes by wearing clothing.

The only downside is that you may get a muffled sound on your Blue Yeti mic. Adjust the distance between you and the audio device if this keeps happening.

Soundproof Room

Do you have any long-term intentions for recording, podcasting, or producing content? If yes, you may consider purchasing or renting a soundproof recording studio.

Imagine, complete with microphone broadcast boom arms, a shock mount, and a mic stand. This is the best way to reduce background noise and get crisp and clear audio.

Although it may be expensive, at least you’ll have a cozy space to work on your mic. You will experience the best sound quality for your ear drums.

If a recording room seems a little unrealistic right now, numerous workarounds can make your home soundproof and free of background sound.

Rugs, carpets, and even tapestries can be used on your walls to absorb vibrations from the floor.

Position Your Blue Yeti Mic Closer

Position Your Blue Yeti Mic Closer

Along with outside disturbances, you can unknowingly lower the quality of your audio. For this reason, it would be best if you mounted your Blue Yeti microphone properly.

You don’t want your breathing or movement to produce distorted or muted sounds that would divert your audience.

The Yeti mic must be close to the sound source, as it is delicate. While speaking, you should maintain a comfortable distance that doesn’t cause static and reverberations.

The recommended distance between sound sources and the Blue Yeti mic is 2 inches maximum. Distance is not the only thing to consider when we talk about positioning.

Make sure you position your mic properly from your face; 45 degrees would be enough. This angle will send the air bursts from your plosives away from the mic.

Use the Right Recording Setting

Use the Right Recording Setting

There are four patterns on Blue Yeti microphones. The quality of your recordings can be significantly enhanced by selecting the correct polar pattern.

Bidirectional Pattern

This pickup pattern is suitable for interviews. It will concentrate on the noises originating from the microphone’s front and back sides, reducing muffled sound.

Omnidirectional Pattern

Because it collects noises from all directions, you can use this setting for live sounds. While listening to a podcast, this setting could result in awful ambient noise.

Stereo Pattern

The stereo pickup pattern captures sounds from your microphone’s left and right sides. This environment is ideal for recording musical instruments like the guitar.

Cardioid Pattern

This pattern will primarily capture noises coming from the front. This mode is advised for gamers, live streamers, and podcast hosts.

Using Noise-Reduction Tools

Using Noise-Reduction Tools

The vibrations and sounds all around you can be out of your control. However, using a few technological devices will make your mic pick up fewer unpleasant white noises.

Pop Filters

If you don’t already have a pop filter, you should acquire one for your Blue Yeti mic if you are experiencing sound issues.

Pop filters do more than eliminate lip-smacking and complex “P’s” and “T’s.” They are also effective at reducing background noise without losing the sound quality of the audio recording.

A pop filter also effectively reduces mouth noises caused by dryness, congestion, and poor consonant sounds. All these are filtered before reaching the mic

Although, when you try to remove unwanted sounds with a pop filter, it is not as effective as a noise suppression device as others.

Noise Gates

An audio processor called a noise gate limits the amount of outside noise audio equipment picks up. In a word, noise gates block undesired noises, like an actual gate.

Your Blue Yeti mic should enable you to record outstanding audio if you purchase it and attach or set it up appropriately. The default setting on the noise gate should be kept at 0dB.

Shock Mounts

Utilizing shock mounts might be necessary because most microphones nowadays are prone to picking up various types of external white noise.

A shock mount prevents your Yeti mic from picking up shocks and vibrations from your surroundings.

Adjust Settings of Your Audio Editing Software

Adjust Settings of Your Audio Editing Software

If you believe your mic audio output could be improved but are unsure whether using hardware tools is the best action, noise reduction software is an option.

Audio editing software reduces and removes all unnecessary noise interference. The noises of the keypad can be removed, the mouse click sound and several other sounds.

If you’re interested in some of the trendiest, free noise-canceling programs for your Blue Yeti mic, here are our top three selections:

  1. Audacity is an open-source sound editing program. This fits you just right if you desire more excellent recording quality without paying more.
  2. EArt Audio Editor is a program that was created to edit various kinds of audio. You may also record here with a mic and can pick from many significant audio effects.
  3. SoundEngine is quite an easy program to use. Their Noise Suppressor function is excellent for tweaking your mic.

Conclusion

You’ve learned from the background noise issue that the Blue Yeti mic doesn’t have fantastic sound right out of the box.

Fortunately, if you do a couple of tweaks, you can capture some background noise-free, crisp audio with your Blue Yeti mic.

With the help of the advice mentioned earlier, your Blue Yeti mic background noise-free audio recordings should be a breeze.

About the author

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After becoming obsessed with the beats that were the soundtrack to his youth, Nick became a student of hip hop, digging for vinyl records, looking for the perfect break. Before he got his hands on an MPC sampler, he would mash these records, beats, and breaks into mixtapes and live DJ sets.