Trying to record with fans is a disaster. If your room has hard surfaces, you can get a harsh sound from them, but a simple gate or isolation box will do the trick. You can also use a reflexion thingy to minimize fan noise. These are just a few of the many options to reduce fan noise during recording. Some of these solutions are simple, and they may be enough for your rough demo.
Avoid recording in a room with hard surfaces
It is impossible to completely eliminate fan noise, but there are ways to minimize the volume. For starters, avoid recording in a room with hard surfaces. The lower the frequency, the less noise it will produce. Another way to minimize the volume of fan noise is to use an acoustic foam. This can be as simple as a pillow and a makeshift box.
If your recording room has hard surfaces, you should consider using acoustic foam panels to absorb sound. Acoustic foam panels are inexpensive and effective at reducing high-frequency sounds. The irregular angle of the panels reduces the power of sound waves and decreases the risk of them reflecting back. Acoustic foam panels can also be used in conjunction with other acoustic treatments to reduce fan noise.
Use a microphone with a high-pass filter
When recording music or sound, using a microphone with a high-pass frequency filter will reduce the amount of fan noise that is picked up by the mic. This noise is caused by various sources, including bad cabling, dirty potentiometers, and sample rate inconsistencies. In addition, wind noise is particularly hard to eliminate in a transparent way. Using a high-pass filter will help reduce the amount of background noise, so it’s a good idea to use one with this filter.
Another problem with using a HPF is that it can cut out the natural frequency spectrum of a sound source. However, if you cut out too much low-end frequency, your sound may become thin and difficult to mix. If this happens, it can be difficult to eliminate fan noise completely. Thankfully, there are other ways to reduce fan noise, such as using a high-pass filter.
Avoid recording in a room with a high-pass filter
In addition to using a high-pass filter, you may also consider baffles, which reduce noise from electrical buzzing. These simple, temporary devices are available from retailers and are great for minimizing background noise in your room. However, these devices can’t replace full iso booths and cannot completely eliminate fan noise from your recordings. To achieve the best possible results, you should test the cables and microphone to ensure they’re free of any noise.
One of the most effective methods for reducing or eliminating noisy audio is to record in a room with low ambient noise. This doesn’t necessarily mean utilizing a recording studio, but it is important to have an intimate knowledge of the room’s ambient noise before you start recording. Things like the noise generated by an air conditioning or heating system, or the buzz of fluorescent lights can all impact your audio quality.
Use a reflexion thingy to reduce fan noise
When you’re recording, using a reflexion thingy will greatly reduce computer fan noise. The volume of sound decreases exponentially as you move further away. If you can’t get a reflexion thingy, you can use some acoustic foam or even a makeshift box with a pillow and blankets. Either way, if you’re going to use a computer, you’ll want to try absorption.
