Audio Cleaner

Audio Cleaner in Cryo Mix

TL;DR: Audio Cleaner learns your background noise and reduces it - even while you’re singing or playing - so your vocals, instruments, and full mix sound cleaner and more professional.

The Audio Cleaner in Cryo Mix is an intelligent noise-reduction tool that learns what your background noise sounds like, then removes as much of it as possible from the rest of your audio.

Unlike a gate (which mainly mutes silent parts), Audio Cleaner can reduce noise during the performance - while you’re singing, talking, or playing - by analyzing a noise profile such as hiss, hum, room noise, fan noise, and other steady background layers.

It mainly improves clarity and cleanliness by lowering the noise floor (the constant background noise level), so your vocals, instruments, or full mix feel more focused and professional.

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When to Use Audio Cleaner

Use Audio Cleaner whenever you have a strong performance but a noisy recording - especially when the noise is audible even while the audio is playing (not just in silent gaps).

Typical situations where it helps

Vocals & speech

• Laptop mic recordings with constant hiss
• Room tone, computer fan noise, air conditioner, or light hum
• Podcast or YouTube audio with noticeable background noise

Instruments

• Electric guitars with amp hiss or pedalboard noise
• Keys/synths with line noise or old hardware hum
• Acoustic instruments recorded in less-than-ideal rooms (traffic outside, subtle rumble, air noise)

Full mix / bounces

• Live rehearsal recordings with constant background noise
• Field recordings or ambience with a constant background layer
• Rough demos you can’t easily re-record, but need to sound more polished

Use the Audio Cleaner when…

• Background noise is audible during words, notes, or hits (not just between them)
• A gate alone can’t fix it, because the noise is present while the signal is active

When not to use the Audio Cleaner

Audio Cleaner works best on steady, consistent noise. It may be less effective when:

• The “noise” is part of the vibe (intentional room/texture)
• The background changes constantly (random bangs, intermittent sounds)
• The noise floor is extremely close to your main signal (very quiet recording)

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Pro Tips & Creative Uses

Use Audio Cleaner before EQ and compression

Clean the noise first so EQ and compression don’t boost hiss/hum along with your main signal.

Combine with a gate for even cleaner pauses

• Let Audio Cleaner reduce noise during the performance
• Then use a Gate to mute any remaining noise in silent gaps between phrases or hits

Subtle is often best

A small to medium amount can make a big difference without sounding artificial. If it starts to sound “underwater” or “swirly,” dial it back slightly.

Great for stacked layers

Clean each vocal or instrument layer before stacking multiple takes so noise doesn’t multiply with every added track.

Use it on noisy re-amps or analog gear

When running audio through amps, pedals, or vintage gear, Audio Cleaner can help tame added hiss while keeping the character - especially at moderate settings.

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Common Mistakes & How to Fix Them

“My audio sounds underwater, metallic, or phasey.”

Cause: Noise reduction is too strong.
Fix: Reduce the Audio Cleaner intensity (or mix amount) until the tone feels natural again.

“My recording is cleaner, but it now feels dull or lifeless.”

Cause: Heavy noise reduction can soften highs/air/ambience.
Fix: After cleaning, use EQ (or Highs) to gently bring back brightness. Avoid max settings unless the noise is extreme.

3) “Noise is gone in quiet parts, but still noticeable while I’m singing/playing.”

Cause: The noise floor is close to your main signal, so full removal would damage tone.\

Fix:

• Use a lower (but still helpful) Audio Cleaner amount
• Add a Gate for silent gaps
• If possible next time, record slightly louder/closer to the mic so the main signal sits above the noise

“My instruments feel thin after cleaning.”

Cause: Aggressive cleaning can remove body/room tone along with noise.
Fix: Back off the cleaner strength, then restore warmth using Lows/Mids (or a gentle EQ boost).