Waves noise reduction bundle. Waves Z-noise Bundle Vst Free Download - DOWNLOAD Featuring advanced real-time noise profiling, innovative transient preservation, and increased low-frequency resolution, the Z-Noise plugin truly is a revolution in noise reduction. Voxengo Redunoise is a high-resolution noise reduction plug-in that provides a wide range of controls for reducing and eliminating noise. A comprehensive noise reduction system that goes beyond the capabilities of your average noise-ridding plug-in, it is a versatile solution that should find many uses in your productions.
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Having trouble getting rid of noise in your audio, but don’t have the cash to spare for a payware noise reduction plug-in?
You might find what you need in this selection of the best free noise reduction plug-ins available. You’d be surprised that they’re capable of what they can do, with a variety of functions that can deliver performance that is at least equal to that of their paid counterparts.
Let’s take a closer look!
Free Noise Reduction Plugins
Also check out our Top VST Plugin Roundup
ReaFIR by Cockos
Cockos is known primarily for Reaper, an excellent shareware–practically freeware–DAW that can stand toe-to-toe with the best fully-fledged DAWs costing hundreds of dollars more. The company also has a line of very capable plug-ins, one of which is the ReaFir dynamics processor.
Specs and useful features
An FFT-based plug-in, ReaFIR is a dynamics processor that pulls off some need tricks. The “FIR” in the name stands for “Finite Impulse Response”, which refers to a variety of functions revolving around FFT spectrum analysis.
Most of these functions have to do with EQing and dynamics processing, both of which are typically employed in noise reduction circuitry. But ReaFIR can do more than clean up hissy signals. It also serves as a gate, a compressor, and a dedicated EQ. It is especially capable of precise EQing and compression, so you could expect to get much more use out of it than from most any noise reduction plug-in on the market.
User impressions
Unsurprisingly, many users found ReaFIR to be more effective at removing noise than many other dedicated noise reduction plug-ins. The onboard features makes it a very capable and versatile EQ that can be used for ultra-precise sound shaping and even for mastering. In fact, many users have found it to be useful at various stages of the production and mixing processes.
Bottom-line
ReaFIR stands apart from most other noise reduction plug-ins with its wealth of pro features and flexible capabilities. Even if this were a paid plug-in, we would still recommend adding it to your arsenal of sonic enhancement tools.
Redunoise by Voxengo
Voxengo Redunoise is a high-resolution noise reduction plug-in that provides a wide range of controls for reducing and eliminating noise. A comprehensive noise reduction system that goes beyond the capabilities of your average noise-ridding plug-in, it is a versatile solution that should find many uses in your productions.
Redunoise is especially effective at dealing with noisy single tracks, although it will work on full mixes as well. Results are always musically pleasant, which is rarely the case with broadband noise reduction solutions.
Specs and useful features
High-resolution spectrum analysis is the key to the effectiveness of Redunoise. This feature precisely identifies the offending area of audio material, enabling the plug-in to eliminate it without affecting the rest of the signal.
Redunoise comes with two flavors of filtering: analog-prototype and linear-phase. Between these two, you can handle pretty much any flavor of noise, from fairly simple hisses to more complex noises that cover different bands of the audio spectrum. There is even a noise learn function for quick and easy cleanup of audio material.
User impressions
Redunoise has found plenty of avid fans among those that routinely work with outdoor recordings. Useful for reducing many types of background noise, the plug-in is also effective at separating sounds according to frequency range.
Surprisingly, some users found Redunoise to be quite an effective EQ unit. With its many controls suited for creative EQing, Redunoise is way more than just your run-of-the-mill noise reduction plug-in.
Bottom-line
Redunoise is a versatile noise reduction plug-in that has some surprising tricks up its sleeve, particularly in the realm of creative EQing. Although it is free, it definitely measures up to even some of the best payware offerings available.
Sound Recovery by Bitsonic
If you have ever had to struggle with restoring signals from poorly recorded or severely degraded audio, Bitsonic Sound Recovery might be exactly what you need, and for free. It’s designed specifically for repairing extremely low-quality audio.
Sound Recovery fills a gap in the audio editing world that most EQs and noise reduction systems simply cannot fill. With a unique set of features onboard, this plug-in should find value among audio restorers and even forensic professionals.
Specs and useful features
Sound Recovery essentially recreates mid-frequency content from low-frequency harmonics. By adding subtle levels of harmonic distortion, this process makes audio clearer and more understandable, even with most of the mid-frequency content missing.
Sound Recovery also has a multiband denoiser feature that makes it a very capable noise reduction solution. Effective at reducing the noise from the low-mid and mid-high frequencies, this provides a much more subtle alternative to heavy-handed EQing that often thrashes the entire audio signal.
Other features let you further restore audio with depth and precision. The “split freq” feature lets you define the most troublesome frequency range, while the dedicated “recovery” feature adds even more distortion for enhanced clarity.
User impressions
Sound Recovery is a fairly capable noise reduction plug-in. The low pass filter and the denoiser feature effectively reduce noise in a broad range of frequencies. But most users seem to use the plug-in for restoring lost audio content, which is hardly surprising given its capabilities in that area.
Bottom-line
Sound Recovery might not be your first choice if you need a comprehensive range of noise reduction features. But if your focus is on restoring the intelligibility of recorded audio, this plug-in is a must-have.
Noise Reduction by Christian Budde
Christian Budde Noise Reduction is a spectral noise gate designed for removing unwanted noise from a variety of audio sources. By targeting specific frequency ranges, its spectral gate effectively filters out noise with a fair degree of customizability over attack and release times.
Specs and useful features
Noise Reduction goes beyond the capabilities of most spectral noise gate plug-ins by offering a good range of customization options. The soft knee control is fully adjustable over a very wide range, so you can avoid many of the sonic anomalies that other spectral noise gates impart to audio material.
The plug-in comes with a few different options for FFT sizes, and you could even choose from many window functions.
Noise Reduction sets itself apart from other plug-ins of its kind with its continuous and consistent characteristic. The plug-in’s various features let you clean up only the offending bands of noise without introducing artifacts that are often more bothersome than hissing and crackling.
Noise elimination plug-ins generally have low CPU requirements, but Noise Reduction places especially low demands on computer resources. You could easily strap on as many instances as you need for your various tracks, and still have enough CPU power for your other plug-ins.
User impressions
Users found Noise Reduction to be effective at getting rid of noise from problematic soundboard recordings and audio transferred from tape. For many users, the ability to identify the noise from a quiet section of audio is useful for treating the rest of the material.
Bottom-line
Like all plug-ins of its kind, Noise Reduction is most effective when used sparingly at moderate settings. It won’t win any awards for precision and total control, but it will be enough to get the job done in most cases.
FFT Tools by Smart Electronix
Smart Electronix FFT Tools turns to the graphics world for inspiration in dealing with unwanted noise in audio material. Based on the image-processing technique employed in graphics programs such as Adobe’s Photoshop, it utilizes spectral-based processing along with a slew of intriguing features.
FFT Tools makes it possible to clear out the hash from specific audio frequency ranges while leaving the surrounding frequencies unscathed. The plug-in can also be used to warp sound in numerous interesting ways, many of which go beyond the capabilities of even dedicated sound-mangling plug-ins.
Specs and useful features
One of the most intriguing features of FFT Tools is “Warp”, which swaps high and low frequencies with each according to a defined frequency band. The results can be pretty wild, to say the least, although moderate settings can produce more musical results.
Noise reduction functions are mostly handled by the “Levels” feature, which gives you a good degree of control over the spectral dynamics. This feature lets you liven up dull audio or remove background noise equally well.
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FFT Tools also comes with a “Kontrast” control for saturating specific bands of the frequency range. If more robotic sounds are your thing, the aptly-named “Robotizer” should find plenty of use in your productions.
User impressions
Most people seem to use FFT Tools for generating weird textures and alien-sounding sonic landscapes. Although it does a decent enough job at noise reduction, it seems better suited for creative sound design than cleaning up noisy material.
Bottom-line
FFT Tools probably won’t be the first thing that comes to mind if you need to clean up noisy audio. Although it will work as a noise reducer in a pinch, this plug-in is more useful as a tool for generating unusual sounds and textures.
Noise reduction can a be crucial part of music production.
In a perfect world, we’d have noiseless and buzzless audio signals galore. But if you’re sampling vinyl, or are forced to record in less than stellar environment, you need something in your audio toolkit that’s got your back.
So in this guide we’ll take a look at some of the best noise reduction plugin software for music producers on the market.
Quick answer: iZotope RX 7 is the top choice for sure.
But if you want something for quick and easy noise reduction, that’s easier on the budget, take a look at ERA Bundle by Accusonus and Waves Z-Noise.
The rest of this guide will look at these and other plugins more in depth, so you’ll be able to make the right choice for what you need.
Let’s take a closer look 🙂
Table of Contents
- Noise Reduction Plug-In Buying Guide
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Noise Reduction Plug-In Buying Guide
What is a Noise Reduction Plug-in?
Like the name suggests, noise reduction plug-ins essentially reduce or eliminate noise from audio material. They do this by using different algorithms and modeled circuitry. These software tools, like the one we’re about to talk about, eliminate things that you’d rather not have in your music production, like background noises, electrical interference, ground buzzes, clicks, hums, and crackles from the source audio.
How Noise Reduction Plug-ins Work
Noise reduction circuits employ different methods for eliminating noise. Here are some of what they include:
- Spectral noise gating or Fourier analysis – This detects the spectrum of tones that comprise the background noise and reduces their volume levels.
- Manual threshold setting – This sets the threshold for each individual band and reduces their level independently. Meaning, if a sound is below the a certain threshold (like environmental sounds), then it will be cut out during the “silent” portions of a recording.
- Graphical noise reducers – Samples the noise profile and creates a frequency-dependent threshold that varies across the harmonic spectrum. Provides control over multiple variables.
- Spectral analysis – Breaks up sound into different frequency ranges, allowing the removal of specific bands.
Features to Look for in a Noise Reduction Plug-in
As with all plug-ins that have the potential to significantly affect the quality of the sound, transparency is one of the most desirable properties to look for in a noise reduction plug-in.
Although you want your plug-in to effectively remove the noise—or at least reduce it to such a degree that it is no longer apparent—you don’t want to compromise the overall quality of the audio.
Low-latency is also a must as noise reduction is a very CPU-intensive process. When applying noise reduction to several tracks of audio, you might find that some of them will lag as your CPU struggles to cope with the load. This can lead to phasing, loss of sync, and other issues.
Sufficient control over the various parameters is also a good quality to have in a noise reduction plug-in. However, don’t discount the benefits provided by automation, particularly with regard to identifying and detecting noise prints. In some cases, the auto-detect circuitry of a good noise reduction plug-in can be far more effective at pinpointing noise than your ears.
Choosing the Best Noise Reduction Plugin for Music Production
When choosing a noise reduction plugin, a good rule of thumb is to decide on one that offers a good balance between ease of use and control.
Although you will want the ability to get under the hood and tweak the various settings to your content…
…. there will be times when you simply want to “set-and-forget” the controls. Y
ou should therefore choose a great sounding noise reduction plug-in that allows you to get as detailed or as simple as you need.
With that same, let’s take a look at some of our options.
7 Best Noise Reduction Plugins to Use
iZotope RX 7
Upon its release, iZotope’s RX 6 – the previous version – was widely lauded for its ability to clean up even the most troublesome recordings. Used by everyone from bedroom producers to industry professionals, it quickly achieved a reputation for solving audio problems that other software solutions simply couldn’t touch.
With RX 7, iZotope’s RX 7 once again proves that it is at the forefront of audio repair, with a host of new features that greatly expand the suite’s capabilities.
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Specs and useful features
- Repair Assistant intelligently detects noise, clipping, clicks, hum, and other audio anomalies
- Music Rebalance effectively isolates individual elements of a track for precision enhancement
- Variable Time and Pitch enables the alteration of pitch without affecting audio timing, and vice versa
- Dialogue Contour improves pitch, performance, and intonation of spoken dialogue
- Dialogue De-Reverb reduces reverberations in dialogue tracks
- Multichannel support
- Enhanced UI
User impressions
Just like RX 6 before it, iZotope RX 7 is widely considered to be the most powerful and versatile audio repair and restoration tool around. More than just a solution for cleaning up noise, users have found it amazingly effective for getting rid of most anomalies in recorded audio.
RX 7’s users range from bedroom hobbyists to studio owners, and even industry professionals. The versatility of this software suite is such that it can be used for a multitude of tasks of any size. Even with its sheer power and versatility, its ease of use makes it the noise reduction and repair tool of choice for many users.
Bottom-line
iZotope RX 7 is by far one of the most flexible and all-out powerful solutions for restoring and repairing audio. More than just a noise reduction plug-in, it is a comprehensive suite of precision tools that can pretty much fix whatever ails your audio. Whether for individual tracks or completed mixes, iZotope RX 7 will definitely give you quality results.
Demonstration
Sonnox Oxford DeNoiser
“Surgically-precise” noise reduction is what the Sonnox Oxford DeNoiser specializes in, and there not that many tools better than this in that arena. It has a lot of useful features that enable you to clean up even the most problematic audio, like an integrated de-hisser, continual input analysis, and even a Freeze Mode that samples chunks of audio containing just noise.
The Oxford DeNoiser is also capable of preserving the quality of the original recording with a useful post-processing “Warmth” control.
Specs and useful features
- Separate sections for de-hissing, noise detection, and noise removal
- High-resolution display of input signal and noise profile
- Frequency bias curve allows for the fine-tuning of noise threshold and reduction
- Mid-side mode
- Warmth control for restoring audio warmth after processing
- Make-up gain facilitates A/B comparison
User impressions
Most users agree that the Sonnox Oxford DeNoiser packs a lot of bunch a slick and easy-to-use package. The plug-in’s ability to automatically adapt to a varying noise floor is one of its most useful features, although it is possible to set the bias for the detected noise curve to a precise degree.
One other feature that many users appreciate is the “Warmth” control that sweetens the sound after processing. Overall, the Oxford DeNoiser seems to have made a favorable impression, although some users advise using it in moderation in order to avoid introducing unwanted sonic artifacts.
Bottom-line
Sonnox’s track record of producing outstanding plug-ins at reasonable prices is well known, and the company upholds that tradition admirably in the Oxford DeNoiser. Offering the ability to get as simple or as detailed as you like, the DeNoiser is just as capable of delivering quality results quickly as it is at allowing more intensive tweaking and parameter fine-tuning.
Demonstration
Waves W43 Noise Reduction Plug-in
The Waves W43 draws inspiration from the legendary hardware noise reduction unit, the Dolby Cat43, a classic film processor noise reduction from the 1970’s. Like its predecessor, you can expect professional results from the W43 in a highly intuitive user interface.
Of course, a host of modern features is also provided, enabling you to target and eliminate noise to a remarkably precise degree.
The W43 is part of the Waves suite of “Intelligent” plug-ins, which utilize DSP in order to differentiate noise from the audio signal.
In the case of the W43, the threshold can be set independently for multiple bands, giving you total control over the noise reduction process.
Specs and useful features
- Affordably-priced
- Easy to use
- Zero latency
- Multiple instances possible
- 24-bit/192kHz resolution
User impressions
The Waves W43 is especially lauded for its four fixed frequency bands that provide a good range of noise reduction options. Many users feel that the plug-in is a worthy successor to the hardware unit that inspired it, citing the Waves W43’s high-quality noise reduction capabilities.
Bottom-line
Of all the noise reduction plug-ins available under the Waves banner, the W43 may be the one that provides the most bang-for-the-buck. Now that it is priced more reasonably, adding it to your studio toolkit is practically a no-brainer. For the money, you get a very versatile and great-sounding noise reduction plug-in that comes with a host of useful features.
Antares SoundSoap 5
Antares SoundSoap is a standalone app and a plug-in that works in a variety of hosts. Originally manufactured by BIAS, it has since been made part of the Antares line of audio processing tools, which include the notorious “Auto-tune.”
Now in its fifth iteration, SoundSoap has garnered considerable praise for its simplicity and high-quality results.
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Specs and useful features
- Improved hum removal algorithm
- Audio metering
- Automatic noise detection*
- Ability to set noise location*
- Video waveform display *
- Enhanced media controls*
- Support for FLAC and MP3*
- Full bypass facilitates A/B comparison*
- Reset control*
*Standalone only
User impressions
A common thread in user reviews of the SoundSoap 5 is how easy and straightforward it is to use. Users report being pleasantly surprised at how effective the plug-in is at eliminating noise, even with a seemingly modest set of controls.
Unfortunately, although SoundSoap 5 is a pretty capable noise reduction plug-in by most accounts, the fact that most of its best features are available only in the standalone app limits its usability somewhat.
Bottom-line
Antares SoundSoap 5 is a pretty impressive plug-in that suffers from one serious flaw: most of its best features are available only in standalone mode. This really is lamentable, as noise reduction is generally better applied to individual tracks and stems rather than entire mixes. If not for this misstep, the excellent algorithms and precise control provided would warrant a more favorable ranking.
Demonstration
Waves Z-Noise
Z-Noise is only one of the many noise reduction plug-ins marketed under the Waves banner. Boasting of a new proprietary algorithm, this one aims to eliminate background noise from recordings without inducing artifacts or compromising audio quality.
Part of the Waves “manual” plug-ins collection, Z-Noise requires you to specify the noise print to be targeted, after which you can hone in on the offending frequencies with the threshold and band controls.
- Specs and useful features
- Improved “musical” algorithm
- Dynamic noise profiling
- 5-band EQ
- Extract mode for creating noise profile from any audio
- Real-time operation
- Preserves low frequencies
- Improves high frequency detail
- Reduced time domain sensitivity eliminates “smearing”
- True broadband processing
User impressions
Most reviewers of the Waves Z-Noise mention the plug-in’s ability to reduce noise while retaining high-end detail and low-end clarity. The absence of “smearing” is definitely one of the plug-in’s biggest strengths, and many users appreciate the ability to eliminate noise without reducing the punchiness of the source audio.
That being said, some users did feel that the Z-Noise isn’t quite as effective as other plug-ins in terms of eliminating more severe noise.
Bottom-line
Waves Z-Noise is quite a capable and versatile solution to most noise reduction needs. It isn’t quite as easy to use as other plug-ins in the Waves lineup, although that comes as no surprise given its extensive features and capabilities. And although it isn’t as effective as removing noise as other more recent offerings, it does provide excellent value for the money.
Demonstration
Accusonus ERA Bundle
The Accusonus ERA Bundle is a set of audio restoration plug-ins that includes the ERA-N, feature in our article on audio restoration and enhancement.
Well this is the noise reduction plug-in of the bunch, providing you with the ability to reduce noise via a single knob control, which is pretty unique. The ERA-N actually provides a surprising amount of flexibility even with its modest controls, with the automatic noise profile estimation especially useful at pinpointing problem areas. Used in conjunction with the five frequency presets, the ERA-N is quite effective at removing noise in different frequency ranges.
The bundle also includes the ERA-D, which provides “intelligent” noise reduction capabilities in a dual-channel configuration, along with the reverb reduction features of the ERA-R.
Specs and useful features
- Enhanced de-noise algorithm
- Five spectral presets for focusing on specific frequency bands
- Automatic noise profile estimation
- Single knob noise reduction
User impressions
Ease of use and simplicity seem to be the biggest draws of the Accusonus ERA Bundle, going by the overall tone of the user reviews of the plug-in. Users especially seem to appreciate the modest-yet-effective set of controls that consist only of a single knob and a couple of settings.
Although it may be too simple for those that require more control over certain parameters, users generally agree that the ERA Bundle makes it possible to get great results quickly.
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Bottom-line
The Accusonus ERA Bundle is a surprisingly capable set of noise reduction plug-ins that gives you get great results with minimal effort. Although there are lower-priced solutions that provide results of comparable quality, there is no denying the ease of use and simplicity of these plug-ins.
Demonstration
Waves NS1 Noise Suppressor
Also part of the Waves “Intelligent” range of plug-ins, the Waves NS1 Noise Suppressor is equally at home in the studio and on stage. Those that don’t want to bother with the extensive controls of other noise reduction plug-ins will definitely appreciate the single-fader interface of the NS1, as it provides all the control needed for most basic tasks.
Despite its simplicity and modest features, the NS1 is quite effective at removing noise without causing warbling, unwanted modulation, or other artifacts. It also imparts no latency whatsoever, allowing you to patch it into any audio track without having to worry about losing sync.
Specs and useful features
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- Simple-yet-effective noise-reduction
- Intuitive single-fader design
- Attenuation gauge for monitoring noise removal
- Suitable for cleaning up audio from a wide variety of sources
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User impressions
“Simplicity” is also a common thread in many user reviews of the Waves NS1, with the single fader interface garnering praise for its effectiveness and ease of use. Users report simply being able to turn the fader up to just before the artifacts set in, easing back a bit, and getting acceptable results. Like even the most fully-featured plug-ins however, subtlety is key in using the Waves NS1 to maximum benefit.
Bottom-line
As far as noise reduction plug-ins go, the Waves NS1 Noise Suppressor is about as simple as they come. Although it has only a single fader, it still manages to deliver performance that equals–and even surpasses–that of its higher-priced counterparts.
Demonstration
Final thoughts – Which to Get?
The iZotope RX 6 is truly the Big Daddy of audio restoration tools, and its noise reduction components meet the highest standards for usability, flexibility, convenience, ease of use, and sound. In fact, this could very well be the only noise reduction plug-in worthy of discussion, if not for the excellent qualities of the other plug-ins in this roundup.
Tied for a close second are the Waves W43 and the Sonnox Oxford DeNoiser, which both provide excellent bang-for-the-buck. Even though these don’t come close to the features and functionalities of the iZotope RX 6 suite, they are definitely deserving of a place in any studio.
Special mention has to be made of the Antares SoundSoap 5, which is a pretty serious piece of noise reduction technology. As impressive as it is however, the fact that most of its best features are available only in the standalone app forces us to shave a few points off its final score.
As for the Waves Z-Noise and the Waves NS1 Noise Suppressor, these definitely aren’t slouches by any means. Even though they have both been surpassed by more recent offerings, they could still be of some use for general noise reduction tasks where surgical control isn’t absolutely necessary.