How to Remove Noise and Echo During Online Meetings [+4 Apps]

Remote work has become more popular than ever in recent years. With more people working from home, online meetings via video conferencing apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet have become the norm for collaboration and communication.

However, working from home comes with its challenges. Background noise and echo are two common issues that can disrupt online meetings and impact productivity. In this guide, we‘ll explore methods to remove noise and echo during online video calls to create a better meeting experience.

Why Noise and Echo Are Problematic

Background noise like barking dogs, noisy appliances, and street traffic can make it difficult to hear the speaker during online meetings. As a listener, ambient sounds are distracting and make it hard to focus on the conversation.

As a speaker, background noise reduces audio quality and clarity. Meeting participants may constantly ask you to repeat what you said if your voice is drowned out by noise. This slows down the meeting and hampers productivity.

Echo or reverberation is another nuisance. It happens when the speaker‘s voice is picked up by their microphone and played back, creating an echo effect. This audio feedback makes it strenuous to communicate effectively during meetings.

Finding ways to reduce background noise and echo improves meeting quality for all participants. The speaker can convey information clearly without repetition. Listeners can focus better without distractions. Overall, meetings become more productive.

Tips to Prevent Noise and Echo

Before diving into apps and gear, there are some tips you can follow to proactively prevent noise issues in online meetings:

Use a quiet space – Pick a room in your home that is farther from noisy areas like the street, kitchen, pets, etc. Avoid spaces with bare walls that can cause echo.
Adjust your microphone settings – Most apps let you tweak the microphone sensitivity to minimize background noise. Lower sensitivity so it focuses on your voice only.
Position the microphone correctly – Place the mic 2-4 inches from your mouth and avoid pointing it towards noise sources. Use a boom mic or headset rather than the mic built into your device.
Use noise cancellation features – Many conferencing apps and devices today come with built-in noise cancellation to suppress ambient sounds.
Ask others to mute when not speaking – Remind meeting participants to mute their mic when they are not speaking to avoid echo and feedback.
Avoid speaker mode – Use a headset instead of putting your device on speaker mode which can easily pick up background noise.
Close doors and windows – Shut nearby doors and windows to prevent outdoor noise from seeping in. Draw curtains to block noise.

Now let‘s look at some solutions to actively remove noise and echo during online meetings when prevention tips don‘t help.

Software Solutions to Remove Noise and Echo

Many video conferencing apps today come equipped with audio settings to suppress background noise and echo. Here are some popular platforms and how to use them:

Zoom

Zoom offers noise suppression settings ranging from low to high depending on your requirements:

Open the Zoom desktop app and click on your profile picture.
Select "Settings" and click "Audio" on the left sidebar.
Under the "Noise Suppression" section, you will see options like Auto, Low, Medium, High, etc.
Experiment with these during test calls to find the best setting for your environment.

You can also access noise suppression controls during active Zoom meetings by clicking the upward arrow next to the mute button.

Microsoft Teams

Though Microsoft Teams has noise suppression features, they are oddly hidden for many users. Try these steps to access them:

In Teams, click on the ellipsis (…) icon for More Actions.
Select "Show device settings" under Meeting Options.
Go to Audio Settings and adjust the noise suppression level.

You can also access these in an active meeting by clicking the 3-dot menu and selecting "Device settings".

Google Meet

Google Meet has a simple toggle for noise cancellation if you are lucky to have the feature enabled in your region. Just click on the 3-dot menu, go into Settings > Audio and enable "Noise cancellation".

If you don‘t see this option, 3rd party apps are your next best bet for Google Meet.

Slack Calls

Slack‘s built-in call feature has background noise suppression settings accessible during a call. Click the gear icon to open audio settings and adjust "Noise suppression".

Amazon Chime

Amazon Chime has noise cancellation settings under Audio > Reduce Background Noise that can be controlled before and during meetings.

3rd Party Apps to Remove Background Noise

Don‘t worry if your conferencing platform lacks advanced noise controls. Third-party noise suppression apps can come to the rescue! Here are some top options:

Krisp

Krisp is a popular app that works with all major platforms like Zoom, Slack, Teams, etc. It uses AI-powered algorithms to remove background noise bi-directionally.

The free version of Krisp works for 60 minutes per day. Paid plans start at $5/month and add features like meeting transcriptions and analytics. Krisp is available for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.

RNNoise

RNNoise is an open source noise suppression library from Mozilla that blocks noise in real-time. It‘s available as precompiled binaries for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. RNNoise can integrate with conferencing apps through virtual audio cable software.

NoiseGator

NoiseGator is a free noise gate filter for Windows that mutes your mic when you aren‘t speaking. It works with any app and reduces background noise only when you stop talking. NoiseGator is useful for noisy environments.

Nvidia Broadcast

Nvidia Broadcast leverages AI to remove background noise and works with most video conferencing apps. However, it requires an Nvidia RTX GPU. Broadcast also has virtual background and auto-framing features.

Sonarworks Sound Clean

Sound Clean by Sonarworks is a paid noise reduction solution for Windows and Mac. It integrates with your system audio and enhances call quality in any communication app. They offer a 7-day free trial to test it out.

Noise Cancelling Headphones

Noise cancelling headphones are a simple plug-and-play way to remove ambient sound during online meetings. They come in wired or wireless variants and help improve call quality. Here are some top recommendations:

Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700

The Bose 700 headphones deliver class-leading noise cancellation using 11 levels of active noise reduction. They have an adaptive four-microphone system for superior noise blocking and voice pickup. You get up to 20 hours of battery life and fast charging.

Sony WH-1000XM4

Another top ANC headphone is the Sony WH-1000XM4 which uses dual noise sensor technology for better noise blocking. It offers multi-device pairing, speak-to-chat feature, wearing detection, and up to 30 hours of battery life.

Jabra Elite 85h

For those looking for an affordable option, check out the Jabra Elite 85h. It offers adjustable active noise cancellation and SmartSound AI technology to block noises automatically. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri.

Plantronics Voyager Focus UC

Plantronics Voyager Focus UC is optimized for work usage with active noise cancelling, wireless flexibility, and connectivity across platforms. It focuses on your voice and cancels disruptions. The headset lets you attend calls up to 300ft from your phone.

Mpow H19 IPO

The budget-friendly Mpow H19 IPO reduces ambient sounds using both active and passive noise control. It features a noise-cancelling microphone, up to 30 hours battery life, and high-quality speakers for an immersive audio experience.

Tips for Echo Cancellation

Echo can ruin your meetings but can be mitigated with these tips:

Use headphones or earphones to prevent echo between your speakers and microphone.
Speakers and microphones should not point towards each other. Face your mic away from speakers.
Enable "Acoustic Echo Cancellation" in your app settings if available. This suppresses echo.
Reduce speaker volume and increase mic volume to prevent voice feedback.
Use noise suppression which reduces background sounds that get reverbated.
Add sound dampening materials in echo-prone rooms. Acoustic foam pads, carpets, and curtains absorb echoed sounds.
Enable "Original Sound" mode in Zoom to get raw audio input without echo cancellation processing.
Try wired earphones or headsets instead of wireless which have slightly more echo issues.
Adjust your setup so your mic doesn‘t pick up sounds from your speakers or other participants.
Ask participants to mute when not speaking to avoid secondary echoes.

Conclusion

Background noise and echo don‘t have to hinder your online meetings anymore. With the right tools and techniques, you can effectively remove ambient sounds and echo for seamless conferencing from home.

Prioritize solutions built into your video calling apps, and complement them with 3rd party software or noise-cancelling headphones as needed. With some trial and error, you can find the optimal audio environment.

Mute vigilance, optimized microphone placement, closed doors and windows, and echo reduction tips also go a long way. With these fixes, you can transform even a noisy home workspace into one that enables crystal clear communication.