How to Remove Echo from Audio: Step-by-Step Guide

Quick Summary

This article shows how to remove echo from audio using three effective methods including manual editing, audio plugins, and AI tools like Cleanvoice.

Echo can make recordings sound unclear and unprofessional. You’ll learn why it matters, how to fix it, and where to find more resources. Visit our blog for deeper insights and advanced audio cleanup tips.

Fixing Echo for Clearer and More Professional Audio

Echo can make even the best audio recordings sound messy and unprofessional. We've all captured a great take, only to hear that hollow, reflective sound ruin it. It's frustrating, especially when re-recording is not an option.

We’ve worked through this issue ourselves. From podcast episodes to voiceovers, removing echo quickly became essential to our workflow. That’s why tools like Cleanvoice exist, to help streamline audio cleanup without overcomplicating the process.

In this Cleanvoice article, we’re going to explain how to remove echo from audio using practical steps, from quick fixes to advanced tools that clean your recordings in seconds.

Why Listen to Us?

At Cleanvoice, we’ve helped 15,000+ podcasters, content creators, and audio professionals clean up everything from distracting echoes to low-quality recordings. Our users range from solo creators to businesses with demanding audio standards.

Whether it’s editing podcasts, voiceovers, or interviews, we’ve seen what works, and what doesn’t. That hands-on experience is what we’ve used to shape this guide. If you’re trying to remove echo from audio, we know the pitfalls, shortcuts, and reliable solutions, and we’re sharing all of it here.

What Is Echo in Audio?

Echo in audio happens when sound reflects off surfaces like walls, ceilings, or floors and bounces back into the microphone a moment after the original sound.

This creates a duplicated or "hollow" effect that makes voices sound distant, muddy, or unnatural. It is especially frustrating in content like podcasts or voiceovers, where clarity is essential.

Here’s what you should know:

  • Unlike background noise, echo is intermittent and changes with speech patterns, making it difficult to isolate.
  • Echo is common in untreated rooms with hard surfaces or when using built-in laptop microphones.
  • It reduces speech clarity, making it harder for listeners to follow conversations or stories.
  • Echo negatively impacts listener engagement, leading to skipped episodes or lower retention.

Jason's story is one of many showing how echo can hold creators back and how the right tool can change everything.

The good news is that echo doesn’t have to ruin your recordings. Once you understand where it comes from and how to remove it, you are well on your way to cleaner, more professional audio.

How to Remove Echo from Audio (3 Methods That Work)

Method 1: Using Audio Editing Software (e.g., Audacity)

Audacity is a powerful, free audio editor that provides some control over echo, even without advanced plugins. While it’s not designed specifically for dereverb, creative use of its built-in tools can significantly reduce the issue if you follow these steps carefully.

Step 1: Import your audio into Audacity

Launch Audacity and open your recording. Use File > Import or drag the audio file into the workspace. Make sure the waveform is visible across the timeline. If working with stereo, split the track into mono channels for more precise editing (Tracks > Mix > Mix Stereo down to Mono).

Step 2: Highlight a section with echo

Find a moment where echo is clearly audible, preferably without speech. This allows you to isolate ambient room noise and reverb tails.

Zoom in and listen carefully to ensure the segment doesn’t include overlapping vocals or other content.

Step 3: Go to Effect > Noise Reduction and capture noise profile

With the echo segment selected, go to Effect > Noise Reduction, then click “Get Noise Profile.” This tells Audacity what to filter.

Next, select the entire track (Ctrl+A), return to Effect > Noise Reduction, and apply the filter using moderate settings:

  • Noise Reduction (dB): 8–12
  • Sensitivity: 4–6
  • Frequency Smoothing (bands): 1–3

Click OK and listen to a preview. These settings help suppress the echo's lingering tails without overprocessing the voice.

Step 4: Apply noise reduction to the entire track

With your settings dialed in, apply the effect across the full recording. This works best when echo is consistent throughout the file. Listen critically, if the voice sounds too “boxed in,” reduce sensitivity and reprocess. Repeat the application in lighter passes rather than one aggressive cut, which risks distortion. Save an intermediate copy in case you need to revert.

Step 5: Use Reverb or Equalization tools to manually reduce echo frequencies

Echo often builds up in mid to high frequencies. Use Effect > Equalization (or Filter Curve EQ in newer versions) to dampen these ranges:

  • Dip frequencies between 500 Hz and 4 kHz slightly.
  • Add a subtle roll-off above 8 kHz to reduce sparkle that exaggerates reverb.

Then, apply Effect > Reverb with settings reversed to reduce reflections (e.g., shorten reverb time, increase damping). This process won’t eliminate echo, but it reshapes its tone to be less noticeable. You may need to iterate using EQ and light compression to keep the voice natural while reducing the roominess.

Step 6: Export the cleaned audio

When satisfied with the sound, export your track via File > Export. Save it in WAV or high-quality MP3 format to preserve the improvements. Label it clearly to distinguish from the original. Optionally, run it through a mastering plugin to smooth out any tonal inconsistencies introduced during echo reduction.

Method 2: Using AI Tools like Cleanvoice

Step 1: Sign Up or Log In

  • Visit Cleanvoice.ai and click on "Sign Up" to create a new account, or "Log In" if you already have one.​

Step 2: Upload Your Audio File

  • After logging in, you'll be prompted to upload your audio file.​
  • Click on "Upload" and select the audio file from your device. Cleanvoice.ai supports various audio formats, including MP3 and WAV.​

Step 3: Select Editing Options

  • Under Edit, you can leave the default settings or customize it.
  • Echo removal works best by enabling:
  • Remove Noise (this helps reduce echo and unwanted ambient sounds).
  • Optionally, turn on Studio Sound to make your audio sound more professional.Once your file is uploaded, you'll see options for editing.​

Step 4: Process the Audio

  • Once you’ve selected your settings, let Cleanvoice process the file.
  • It will show you stats like number of breaths removed, filler words, etc.
  • You’ll see a waveform view of your cleaned audio.

Step 5: Review and Download

  • Once processing is complete, listen to the preview to ensure the echo has been effectively removed.​
  • If satisfied, click "Download" to save the edited audio file to your device.
  • You can also choose Export Options for different formats.

Cleanvoice simplifies 80% of the cleanup process, letting you focus on storytelling instead of tedious editing.

Method 3: Manually Removing Echo in a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation)

This method is best suited for those experienced with tools like Adobe Audition, Reaper, or Logic Pro.

Step 1: Import your audio into a DAW

  • Open your DAW of choice and import your recorded file. If possible, use multitrack recordings so you can isolate problematic audio. Solo each speaker’s track and listen carefully for echo or room reverb.
  • Manual cleanup is surgical, so you’ll want to identify exactly which segments need fixing before applying effects across the board.

Step 2: Apply noise gating to tame reflections

  • Noise gates help reduce low-level reflections by muting audio below a certain threshold. It’s an efficient way to eliminate faint echoes between speech phrases.
  • Set your threshold just below the average speaking volume. Use gentle attack and release settings to avoid cutting into words.

Be cautious:

  • Gates that are too aggressive can clip soft consonants.
  • Always listen back to ensure natural cadence is preserved.

Step 3: Use EQ to cut midrange muddiness

  • Echo and reverb often accumulate in the midrange (400 Hz – 2 kHz). Use a parametric EQ to reduce these frequencies by 2–4 dB.
  • Sweep through this range while listening closely, when the echo begins to dull or pull back, you’ve likely found the right band to cut.

Tips:

  • Use a narrow Q to isolate the problem frequency.
  • Avoid reducing more than 6 dB unless absolutely necessary, this can thin out the voice unnaturally.
  • Layer with high-pass filtering (below 80 Hz) to clean up room hum and mic rumble.

Step 4: Use a de-reverb or echo reduction plugin

Many professional DAWs come with built-in or third-party echo suppression tools. Look for plugins like:

  • DeReverb (iZotope RX)
  • Acon Digital DeVerberate
  • Waves Clarity Vx Pro
  • Insert these onto your track and adjust the wet/dry balance carefully. These tools analyze early reflections and room tails, minimizing them while preserving intelligibility.
  • Always A/B your changes with the original track to ensure you’re not introducing artifacts or overprocessing.

These plugins often offer more transparent results than aggressive EQ or gating, but they work best on clear, non-overlapping speech and recordings with moderate echo, not extreme acoustic flaws.

Step 5: Render and export

Bounce or render the track into a high-quality WAV file. Ensure that your export settings match your project (sample rate, bit depth) to avoid artifacts or distortion. If you’ve edited multiple tracks, export stems or a final mix depending on your publishing workflow.

Keep both the dry and treated versions on file. If future updates are needed, say, for mastering or video syncing, you’ll want the flexibility to go back to your clean mix.

This method is time-intensive, but it gives you pinpoint control and typically yields the highest fidelity, especially in environments where AI tools struggle with nuance or layered audio.

Best Practices for Removing Echo from Audio

To consistently get clear, echo-free recordings, it’s not just about fixing problems after the fact, it's about preventing them in the first place. Here are five best practices to keep in mind:

  • Record in a treated space: Your recording space plays a big role in sound quality. Choose a room with minimal hard surfaces that reflect sound. Add soft materials like rugs, curtains, cushions, or acoustic foam panels to absorb those reflections. Even hanging a blanket on the wall can make a noticeable difference.
  • Use the right microphone: Microphones with a cardioid or shotgun pickup pattern capture audio from the front while rejecting sounds from the sides and rear. This helps focus on your voice and reduces the amount of reflected sound the mic picks up.
  • Monitor your recording in real time: Wearing headphones during recording lets you catch echo issues as they happen. If something sounds off, you can adjust your mic placement, gain settings, or room setup immediately instead of dealing with it later.
  • Control your gain and input levels: High gain levels not only increase your voice but also amplify room noise and reverb. Set gain just high enough to capture your voice cleanly without boosting environmental sounds.
  • Edit gently and intentionally**: Once recorded, use a combination of EQ, noise gating, and dereverb plugins to reduce echo. Avoid overprocessing, which can make your audio sound unnatural. AI tools like Cleanvoice offer automated echo reduction while keeping speech clear and lifelike.
  • Try AI tools for echo removal: Tools like Cleanvoice offer automated echo removal that cleans up your audio without overprocessing. These tools save time and help preserve vocal clarity, especially in recordings made in imperfect environments.

By following these practices, you'll reduce the need for heavy editing and get better-sounding audio right from the start.

Say Goodbye to Echo in Your Recordings

Echo can ruin an otherwise strong recording, but as we’ve shown, there are multiple ways to fix it. Whether you prefer AI tools, editing plugins, or manual DAW workflows, each method has tradeoffs. That’s where Cleanvoice fits in.

Cleanvoice uses targeted AI to remove echo and other vocal imperfections automatically, with no loss in vocal clarity or pacing. It's built for podcasters, voice artists, and content creators who want studio-quality results without manual effort.

Try Cleanvoice today and get clean audio in seconds!