Here’s How to Remove Reverb from Audio (Step-by-Step)

Quick Summary

This article explains what reverb is, why it hurts your audio quality, and how to remove it step-by-step using Cleanvoice’s AI Echo & Reverb Removal tool. It also shares best practices for minimizing reverb at the source, no expensive gear required, to help podcasters and creators sound clear, professional, and polished.

Tired of Reverb and Echo in Your Recordings?

You hit record, deliver your best take, and when you play it back, it sounds like you’re speaking from the bottom of a well. That annoying echo or "reverb" turns clean content into a distracting mess.

For podcasters, voiceover artists, and content creators working from home or less-than-ideal spaces, reverb isn’t just frustrating, it’s a quality killer. And no, buying expensive gear isn’t the only solution.

In this Cleanvoice article, we’ll cover what reverb is, how it affects your sound quality, and how to remove it from your audio, step by step.

But first…

Why Listen to Us?

At Cleanvoice, we’ve helped over 15,000 podcasters and audio creators clean up their recordings with AI tools. Our expertise in audio editing and noise removal has delivered studio-quality results for a wide range of clients. With this experience, we understand the challenges of unwanted reverb and are uniquely qualified to guide you through step-by-step methods to remove reverb from your audio and improve your sound quality.

What is Reverb?

Reverb is created when sound waves bounce off hard surfaces like walls, floors, or ceilings, especially in untreated or large spaces. This creates a “wet” or hollow effect that can blur speech and reduce audio quality. Unlike basic echo, which is a single delayed sound, reverb is a complex mix of decaying reflections that are difficult to isolate and clean up manually.

You’ve likely heard reverb when:

• A voice sounds like it was recorded in a large, empty room
• Dialogue overlaps or becomes difficult to understand
• Speech lacks sharpness, making it feel less professional or engaging

Imagine recording two voiceovers, one in a well-treated booth and another in a tiled kitchen. Without treatment, the second will sound distant and hard to follow, especially in headphones. Removing reverb from audio means eliminating the echoes and reflections that make recordings sound hollow, distant, or unclear.

Why Remove Reverb from Audio?

• Improve Speech Clarity: Reverb muddies your message. Clean, direct audio ensures your words are easy to follow and understand.
• Sound More Professional: Polished audio builds trust. Whether it's a podcast, voiceover, or video, reducing reverb makes you sound like a pro.
• Meet Platform Standards: Many streaming platforms expect studio-quality audio. Cleanvoice helps you get there by automatically removing reverb and improving overall clarity.
• Boost Listener Retention: Distracting echoes drive listeners away. Crisp, focused audio keeps your audience engaged from start to finish.
• Enhance Editing Control: Removing reverb gives you a cleaner base for applying effects, mixing, or mastering.

How to Remove Reverb from Your Audio Using Cleanvoice

Removing reverb used to mean hours of manual editing or costly studio fixes. At Cleanvoice, we built our Echo & Reverb Removal tool to make this process effortless.

Whether you're fixing a voiceover or podcast, here's how to remove reverb from your audio using our AI-powered tool, step by step.

Step 1: Sign up

Visit the Cleanvoice Echo Reverb Removal Tool Page and click the “Remove echo & reverb for free” button.

• It’s free to sign up, and no credit card is required.
• You’ll get 30 minutes of free audio editing time to test it out.

You may be prompted to verify your email. Just check your inbox and confirm to proceed.

Step 2: Log In and Access the Dashboard

Once you're signed in, you’ll land on your Cleanvoice dashboard, where you can start uploading and editing your files.

Step 3: Upload Your Audio or Video File

You’ll see multiple upload options:

• Upload from your device
• Paste a link
• Import from Dropbox
• Record audio directly
• Use screencast

For this guide, let’s upload an audio file saved on your device.

Here is how long it takes to edit a podcast (and how to speed it up).

Step 4: Choose or Create an Editing Template

After your file is uploaded, you’ll be prompted to choose a template for editing. These templates are pre-configured to suit different needs:

• Clean Audio(Natural Sound): Removes filler words, background noise, breaths, and mouth sounds, keeping your voice and tone natural.

• Clean & Enhance(Studio Sound): Edits everything from "clean audio". And also removes echo, reverb, and distortion. Adjusts your voice and tone to give you a studio-feel.

• Mute for Sync: Cleans audio and mutes sections for easy video sync.

• Clean & Summarize: Edits, enhances, and generates transcript + show notes.

• Clean Audio, but keep Music: Perfect if your audio has background music you want to retain.

• For precise control, click “Create Custom Template.”

Step 5: Configure Your Custom Template Settings

In the custom template editor:

• Uncheck all options under "Edit"
• Check the box labeled “Noise” under the "Enhance" section. This specifically targets echo, reverb, background hum, and other unwanted ambient elements.)
• You can also check the box labeled “Studio Sound”. This applies a full suite of vocal enhancement effects, making your voice cleaner, more present, and professionally processed.

At the top, rename your template to something clear like “Remove Reverb & Echo” then click “Create Template.”

Step 6: Start Processing

With your custom template selected, click the “Start Processing” button.

Cleanvoice will now analyze your audio, detect echo/reverb patterns, and intelligently remove them while preserving the natural tone of your voice.

• Processing time: Usually under 10 minutes, depending on file size.

Step 7: Review the Cleaned Audio Timeline

Once processing is done, you’ll receive a timeline view of your edited file.

• Play the preview to hear the cleaned version.
• Use the markers to inspect which segments were altered or cleaned.
• Make any manual adjustments if needed, especially for flow and pacing.

Step 8: Download the Cleaned Audio

Once you're satisfied with the edits, simply click Download Audio to save your cleaned audio file.

Best Practices for Reducing and Removing Reverb in Your Audio

While Cleanvoice can help reduce reverb, you’ll get the best results when you combine smart recording habits with intelligent processing.

Record in a reverb-resistant environment

Preventing reverb is far easier than fixing it later. Choose smaller, well-furnished rooms with rugs, curtains, bookshelves, or even blankets to absorb sound reflections. Avoid spaces with hard floors, high ceilings, or bare walls. If possible, record in closets or with portable vocal booths to dampen reflections.

Use the right microphone and positioning

Directional (cardioid) microphones capture sound primarily from the front, reducing ambient noise from the sides and back. Position the mic close to the speaker, ideally 4–8 inches away, and use a pop filter. This setup ensures a stronger direct signal and reduces the effect of surrounding room tone.

Use studio audio settings when possible

Not everyone has access to a professional studio, but that doesn’t mean your audio has to suffer. If you're recording in a home office, bedroom, or echo-prone space, you can still achieve studio-like sound with the right tools.

Cleanvoice’s Studio Sound enhancement intelligently simulates studio-quality processing, adding clarity, warmth, and presence to make your audio sound like it was recorded in a pro setup, even when it wasn’t.

Maintain a consistent recording setup

Recording across multiple sessions? Keep the mic, environment, and settings consistent. Variations can cause uneven reverb, making it harder to clean uniformly in post. Take a reference photo of your setup if needed.

Don’t over-process

Too much cleanup can strip your audio of warmth and realism. Aim for a natural sound that reduces distraction without flattening your voice’s presence. Use Cleanvoice’s preview tool to compare before and after, and adjust intensity settings as needed. Balance is key.

Monitor with good headphones

Always use high-quality headphones to detect subtle reverberation and ensure your edits sound clean and natural. Speakers can mask reverb and background noise, leading to false confidence in your mix.

Polish Your Audio with Cleanvoice’s AI Tools

Reverb can make even the best content sound distant, unprofessional, or hard to follow. Whether you're recording podcasts, voiceovers, or client content, clarity is key to keeping your audience engaged and your message clear.

Cleanvoice helps you sound your best, without expensive gear or complicated plugins. Its AI-powered Echo & Reverb Removal tool detects and removes spatial reflections intelligently, preserving the natural tone of your voice while giving your audio a studio-polished feel.

Ready to sound crisp and professional? Sign up for Cleanvoice—it’s free.