ClearTake

ClearTake

An iPhone app that removes steady background noise from your videos and recordings, then shows you the measured decibel drop. Everything runs on the device.

What it does

What it does not do

Sudden noise that fully overlaps speech, such as a wind gust, is beyond what single-channel processing can fix. The app says so up front rather than promising to remove every kind of noise. On a gust that lands entirely under someone talking, expect little or no improvement.

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?

No. The video track is copied through without re-encoding, so the picture is bit-for-bit what you started with. Only the audio is rebuilt.

How long does a long video take?

Roughly a quarter of the clip's length on a recent iPhone, so a 10-minute video takes a couple of minutes. Keep the app in the foreground while it works.

Contact

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