Vocal cleanup that keeps your performance

Start with the cleanest available recording

Upload a dry vocal when you have one. A dry take gives the producer more control than a voice already blended with drums, reverb and a limiter. If your only copy is a finished demo, separate the vocal first and check for separation artifacts before applying more processing.

WAV, FLAC, MP3 and M4A are useful starting formats. Converting a compressed recording into a WAV does not restore detail that was already lost. Keep the original file in your project so every later decision has a reliable reference.

Clean only what needs cleaning

Room rumble, steady hiss, sharp consonants and uneven levels are different problems. A high-pass filter can reduce rumble; noise reduction addresses a noise bed; a de-esser controls harsh sibilants; compression and automation manage level. Applying all of them heavily can make a natural voice sound smaller or artificial.

Describe the result you want in ordinary language. “Keep the breath and warmth, but reduce the fan noise” gives a more useful direction than “remove everything.” Ask for a comparison after a restrained first pass. A little room sound can be part of the performance.

Judge the voice inside the song

A solo vocal can sound polished yet disappear when the backing returns. Check words at quiet moments, the loudest chorus and the transitions. The right amount of brightness or compression depends on the arrangement, not just the isolated vocal.

Dhun keeps saved results available for playback and download. Technical measurements help identify silence, excessive peaks and level changes; your audition decides whether the performance still feels like you.

Common questions