ClearTake

An iPhone and iPad app that reduces steady background noise in your videos and recordings, then shows you the measured change. Processing stays on the device.

What it does

Reduces steady background noise: fans, air conditioning, electrical hum, hiss
Shows a measured number after each run, taken from the noise-only sections before and after, unless there is too little noise-only audio to measure
A/B playback with both tracks in sync, so switching never breaks the timeline
Copies the main video track without re-encoding and processes the audio; the output leaves out extra audio tracks, subtitles, and metadata
Works with video files and M4A, WAV, MP3 audio
Records up to 2 hours of 48 kHz mono audio inside the app, with the original available in Files
Exports processed audio as high-quality M4A, compact M4A, or 16-bit WAV
Queues up to 20 videos or audio files and processes them one at a time
Since version 1.5, saves completed output files in an on-device Library for playback, export, and sharing; older versions keep metadata-only history
Lets you choose a preview start time or use the automatically suggested excerpt before processing the whole file

What it does not do

Results are limited for sudden noise that fully overlaps speech, such as a wind gust. The app says so up front rather than promising to remove every kind of noise.

Free uses and unlocking

The first 3 runs are free, so you can see the measured result on your own footage before deciding. Unlocking unlimited use is a one-time purchase. No subscription, no renewals, no ads.

Common questions

Why does it say the noise floor cannot be measured?

The measurement needs sections with no speech in them. If someone talks through the entire clip, there is nothing to measure against, so the app says so instead of showing a number it cannot back up.

Does processing hurt the video quality?

The picture is not re-encoded. ClearTake copies the main video track and processes only the audio. It saves the result as a .mov file without any extra audio tracks, subtitles, or metadata from the source, and the result screen tells you when something was left out.

How long does a long video take?

Processing time depends on the device, file length, format, and available resources. Keep the app in the foreground while it works.

Where is a completed output saved?

After processing, ClearTake saves a copy of the finished output in its Library. You can reopen it to play, export, or share it. The Library does not keep imported originals or A/B preview tracks, and older history records do not gain a file automatically. If saving fails, the result screen shows a warning and a Retry Saving to Library button, which saves again without running denoising a second time. You can also export that temporary result before closing it.

Deleting a Library item removes its saved output from ClearTake, not your original recording or copies already exported to Photos, Files, or another app. Removing the app also removes its local Library; keep a separate exported copy of important work.

Where is an original recording saved?

In ClearTake, open Original Recordings from the home screen to play, export, share, or denoise a recording you kept. The same files are in the Files app: choose On My iPhone or On My iPad, then open ClearTake and the Recordings folder. A usable recording stays there until you delete it in Files or explicitly discard it in ClearTake; empty or too-short attempts may be removed automatically.

What happens if I lock the screen or leave the app while recording?

ClearTake stops recording when it moves to the background and keeps the usable portion in Files. Recording runs only while ClearTake is open in the foreground and only after you tap Start Recording.

Contact

Bug reports, questions, or a clip that came out badly: szpwqq@gmail.com