What techniques can you use to fix sound distortion in your recordings?

1 Check your levels

The first step to avoid sound distortion is to check your levels before you start recording. Make sure that your microphone, mixer, or audio interface is set to a suitable gain level, and that your recording software is not clipping or peaking. You can use a meter or a waveform monitor to see if your signal is too high or too low. Ideally, you want to aim for a consistent level that is not too close to the maximum or the minimum, leaving some headroom for editing and processing later.

2 Use a limiter or a compressor

If your levels are already distorted, or if you have some sudden spikes or drops in volume, you can use a limiter or a compressor to reduce the dynamic range and smooth out the signal. A limiter is a device or a plugin that prevents the signal from exceeding a certain threshold, cutting off any peaks that might cause clipping. A compressor is similar, but instead of cutting off the signal, it reduces its amplitude by a ratio, making the loud parts quieter and the quiet parts louder. Both can help you achieve a more balanced and consistent sound, but be careful not to overdo it, as they can also affect the tone and the quality of your audio.

3 Apply noise reduction or filtering

Another source of sound distortion is unwanted noise, such as hum, hiss, or background sounds. Noise can interfere with your signal and make it harder to hear or understand. To fix this, you can use noise reduction or filtering techniques, which are designed to remove or reduce the noise from your audio. Noise reduction is a process that analyzes the noise profile of your audio and subtracts it from the signal, leaving only the desired sound. Filtering is a process that removes certain frequencies from your audio, such as low-pass, high-pass, or band-pass filters. Both can help you clean up your audio and improve its clarity, but again, be careful not to overdo it, as they can also remove some of the natural sound and create artifacts or gaps.

4 Use EQ or de-essing

Another way to fix sound distortion is to use EQ or de-essing, which are techniques that adjust the frequency balance and the tone of your audio. EQ, or equalization, is a process that boosts or cuts certain frequencies from your audio, such as bass, treble, or mid-range. EQ can help you enhance or reduce certain aspects of your sound, such as warmth, brightness, or presence. De-essing is a specific type of EQ that targets the sibilant sounds, such as s, sh, or z, that can cause harshness or distortion in your audio. De-essing can help you soften or smooth out these sounds, making them more pleasant and natural.

5 Use a reverb or a delay

Finally, if your sound distortion is caused by a poor recording environment, such as a room that is too small, too large, or too reflective, you can use a reverb or a delay to add some depth and space to your audio. Reverb, or reverberation, is a process that simulates the sound of a room or a hall, adding some echo and ambience to your audio. Delay, or echo, is a process that repeats your audio at a certain interval and decay, creating a sense of movement and dimension. Both can help you create a more realistic and immersive sound, but be careful not to overdo it, as they can also make your audio muddy or confusing.