How to Get Rid of Annoying Wind Noise in Adobe Premiere Pro

If you‘ve ever recorded video outdoors, you‘ve probably dealt with the frustrating problem of wind noise in your audio. Even a gentle breeze blowing across your microphone can cause a distracting low rumbling that overpowers dialogue and other important sounds.

Wind noise occurs when moving air hits the microphone capsule directly, creating turbulence that gets picked up as a bassy, fluttering noise. The lower the frequency, the more difficult this wind noise is to remove without damaging the rest of the audio.

As an video editor who has worked on countless projects for major brands over the past decade, I‘ve learned several techniques for rescuing wind-swept audio in post-production using Adobe Premiere Pro. While it‘s always best to prevent wind noise on location with proper mic placement and accessories, these tools can be a lifesaver when you‘re stuck with less-than-ideal audio.

In this article, I‘ll share my top methods for removing wind noise in Premiere, along with tips for getting cleaner audio in the first place. If you‘ve been struggling to fix your soundtrack, read on to find out how to easily cut the noise and let your message shine through.

Method 1: The DeNoise Effect

Premiere Pro‘s DeNoise effect is a powerful tool for reducing background hiss and rumble in any clip. While it‘s not specifically designed for wind noise, it can work wonders on mild to moderate wind if applied correctly. Here‘s how to use it:

1. In your project, select the clip with the wind noise issue.

2. Navigate to the Effects panel and search for "DeNoise". Drag and drop the effect onto your clip.

3. Open the Effect Controls panel for the clip and click Edit next to DeNoise.

4. In the DeNoise window, you‘ll see a graph representing your audio‘s frequencies over time. The white line is the noise threshold – anything below this line will be reduced.

5. Use the presets in the Processing Focus dropdown menu as a starting point. For wind noise, try Light or Medium noise reduction.

6. Adjust the Reduce By slider to control the strength of the noise reduction. Be careful not to set it too high or your audio will start to sound muffled.

7. If needed, you can fine tune the threshold by clicking and dragging on the white line in the graph. Focus on the lower frequencies where wind noise lives.

8. Click Apply to commit the changes to your clip.

9. Play back the audio and continue to make small adjustments to taste. A little DeNoise goes a long way, so err on the side of subtlety.

The DeNoise effect is best for wind noise that‘s relatively quiet compared to the desired audio. If your clip is overwhelmed with loud wind, you‘ll likely do better with an EQ-based solution.

Method 2: High Pass Filter

Another quick way to cut rumble and wind is by applying a high pass filter, which attenuates all frequencies below a set cutoff point. Wind noise tends to occupy the very low end of the frequency spectrum, so rolling off everything below 100-200 Hz can clean things up drastically.

To apply a high pass in Premiere:

1. Select the problem clip and open the Effects panel.

2. Search for "High Pass" under Audio Effects and drag it onto your clip.

3. In the Effect Controls panel, start by setting the Cutoff to 100 Hz.

4. Play the clip and listen carefully. Gradually increase the Cutoff frequency until the wind noise disappears. Be careful not to set it higher than 200 Hz or you risk thinning out important low end energy.

5. If needed, adjust the Q setting to control the steepness of the filter slope. A higher Q value means a narrower, more focused range of frequencies will be cut.

The high pass filter is a brute force approach that can effectively eliminate wind rumble, but may also negatively impact bass tones, room tone, and voice fundamentals in the process. Use it sparingly, and consider automating the effect to only kick in when the wind noise is most noticeable.

Method 3: Parametric EQ

For the most surgical wind noise removal, nothing beats a parametric equalizer. With an EQ, you can zero in on the specific frequencies that are causing problems and turn them down without affecting the rest of the signal.

Premiere‘s built-in Parametric EQ effect has four fully adjustable bands, allowing you to fine-tune different ranges independently. Here‘s how to shape it for wind removal:

1. Add the Parametric EQ effect to your wind-noisy clip.

2. Solo the clip if needed to hear it in isolation.

3. Enable Band 1 and set the filter type to High Cut. Start with a frequency around 200 Hz.

4. Adjust the Q value to narrow the filter‘s focus around the cutoff point. A higher Q affects a smaller range.

5. While playing the clip, slowly drag the decibel (dB) value downwards to taste. Aim to reduce the wind noise without noticeably impacting the overall tone. -3 to -6 dB is typically plenty.

6. If needed, enable a second band and experiment with a narrow cut centered on the heart of the wind noise, often found between 50-100 Hz. Use a higher Q value and cut sparingly to avoid creating unnatural dips in the frequency response.

7. As with any EQ move, trust your ears and aim for subtlety. If the wind noise is still obvious, you can always automate the effect to duck it when needed.

The Parametric EQ takes more time and skill to shape than a simple high pass filter, but gives you ultimate frequency control to transparently reduce wind noise. Combine it with a pinch of DeNoise for the cleanest possible results.

How to Prevent Wind Noise on Location

Of course, no amount of post-production magic can fully fix poorly recorded audio. Whenever possible, it‘s best to avoid capturing wind noise on location through smart microphone selection and placement.

Here are a few tips for minimizing wind noise onset:

• Use a shotgun microphone with a foam windscreen or furry "dead cat" cover. Shotguns are highly directional and reject sound from the sides/back where wind often attacks.

• Position your subject between the wind and the mic to use their body as a natural shield. Have them face away from the wind if possible.

• Alternatively, place the mic downwind or at a 90° angle from the prevailing wind direction. Avoid aiming the mic into the wind.

• If you have a boom pole, keep the mic as close to the subject as possible (just outside of frame) and angle it slightly away from the wind.

• When recording handheld, use your body to block the wind and point the mic towards the subject.

• If the wind is really strong, try to find a sheltered spot behind a tree, wall, or vehicle to act as a wind break. Do whatever you can to diffuse and deflect moving air away from the microphone.

No windscreen is 100% effective in strong gusts, but taking these precautions will dramatically improve your audio quality before you ever open an editor.

When to Give Up and ADR

There may come a time when you have to admit defeat and send a clip to the audio graveyard. If your recording is completely overwhelmed by howling wind to the point where the underlying audio is unrecognizable, no amount of filtering and restoration will bring it back to life.

In these dire situations, it‘s often better to bite the bullet and replace the wounded audio entirely with a fresh voiceover recording (also known as automated dialogue replacement or ADR). This is standard practice in professional film and TV production, and can be done relatively easily in a quiet room with a halfway decent microphone.

To replace a clip‘s audio in Premiere:

1. Record your new dialogue in a separate audio program like Adobe Audition or Audacity, then import it into your project.

2. Park your playhead at the start of the clip you want to ADR and mark an In point.

3. Unlink the clip‘s audio from the video (right-click > Unlink).

4. Delete the original audio and drag your replacement dialogue onto the timeline. Align it with the video and adjust as needed.

5. If desired, use ambient sound effects, foley, or room tone to reintroduce a sense of space and match the original recording environment.

Re-recording dialogue from scratch takes extra time and effort, but sometimes it‘s the only way to save a shot. Don‘t be afraid to cut your losses and give a important scene the audio quality it deserves.

Conclusion

Wind noise can ruin otherwise great audio, but there‘s almost always a way to minimize it in post-production. With the powerful tools in Adobe Premiere Pro, you can easily rescue most windy recordings in just a few clicks.

For best results, try a combination of the DeNoise effect, high pass filtering, and parametric EQ to cut rumble and focus on your subject‘s voice. Listen carefully, adjust gradually, and be willing to sacrifice a little tone in exchange for a cleaner overall sound.

That said, fixing it in post is never ideal – it‘s always better to get your audio right while you‘re recording. Use a shotgun mic, dead cat windscreen, and clever positioning to avoid capturing wind noise in the first place. Your future self will thank you!

If all else fails and you‘re left with unusable audio, consider an ADR session to replace it from scratch. It may sound extreme, but sometimes accepting defeat and starting over is the only way to do a scene justice.

The next time you‘re working with windy footage in Premiere, try out these techniques and take back control of your soundtrack. With a little practice and patience, you‘ll be able to handle any kind of challenging audio that comes your way.