Remove clicks, pops and impacts from an audio recording
When to use De-click or spectral attenuation, and how to preserve speech.
Peak reduction
Tame protruding sample peaks while leaving below-threshold samples unchanged.
When should you choose this tool?
A knock or brief spike may be disproportionately loud compared with speech. Peak reduction reduces only the amplitude portion exceeding the chosen threshold. An impact’s longer tail may remain audible.
How it changes audio
Below-threshold samples remain unchanged; excess amplitude is reduced by the chosen percentage. This is sample-wise amplitude processing, without reconstruction, makeup gain or channel linking.
What do the parameters control?
- Threshold
- −60–0 dBFS. Only the waveform above this level changes. Use dragging or numeric controls and inspect actual affected regions.
- Reduction
- 0–100% of excess amplitude above threshold. At 100%, sample peaks are capped at the threshold; this is not a true-peak guarantee or a dB compression ratio.
Try a short passage
- Select the spike with quieter surroundings. Place the threshold above speech you want preserved, if the recording permits that distinction.
- Increase reduction gradually during Preview. The graph and affected-sample summary refer to the current preview scope.
- Listen to Residual and the whole event. If a harsh edge appears, reduce strength or narrow the time selection.
What to listen for
The spike should be less intrusive without making surrounding speech crackle. Residual contains the difference above threshold.
Limits of the method
Strong settings can introduce distortion. It does not reconstruct clipped peaks; De-clip is the separate repair method.
Preview covers a short passage. After applying, review the full treated section; you can undo the step from history.
Related problems and workflows
Fix clipped, distorted audio: De-clip or peak reduction?
Identify clipped peaks, evaluate estimated repair and leave output headroom.