@audio/denoise

Overview

@audio/denoise is a browser-based tool for cleaning recordings and saving the repaired audio. It is best suited to people tackling specific problems such as hum, clicks, crackle or clipping who want processing to stay on their device. For heavy speech-over-noise, a machine-learning-based tool may be a better fit.

Key features

Thirteen open-source restoration methods and a classifier give the tool two useful paths: let automatic mode assess the recording and recommend a method, or choose a treatment yourself. The classifier selects based on measured properties and shows its plan, which makes it a practical starting point when the problem is not obvious. Manual selection suits users who already know they need a targeted repair such as dehum, declick, declip or gating.

The listed targets cover steady background noise, mains hum, clicks and pops, vinyl crackle, clipping, wind rumble, plosives, sibilance, room reverb and noise between phrases. That range supports both speech cleanup and music repair, but the processing is classical signal processing rather than AI noise removal. The stated limitation matters: machine-learning models can do better when speech is heavily buried in noise. Automatic mode also skips dereverb, so users seeking room-reverb treatment need to select it manually.

For music, hum, clicks, crackle and clipping are focused repair jobs. Broadband denoising is less forgiving; the page recommends using it lightly and comparing the result with the original, a useful safeguard when noise reduction may also affect wanted material.

All processing runs in the browser, and the page says audio is neither uploaded nor sent off the device. That is a meaningful advantage for private recordings, though it does not change the tool’s limits on difficult speech noise.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and requires no account. It includes browser-based processing with no upload, noise reduction, click and crackle removal, hum removal, declip repair and spectral repair. Batch processing is not included, so this is better suited to individual cleanup jobs than a repeatable multi-file workflow.

The plan also supports MIDI export, with MIDI, MusicXML and ABC given as output formats. That makes its format coverage broader than an audio-cleanup-only description might suggest, but it does not include stem separation, chord detection or tablature output. The free plan is a straightforward choice for occasional repairs; users needing batch processing or those other music-analysis features will need a different tool.

Platforms

@audio/denoise runs on the web. The package is also documented for developer use through npm, with mono Float32Array audio as both input and output; this is a developer-facing route rather than another listed end-user platform.

Who it's for

Choose it for browser-based cleanup of recordings with hum, clicks, pops, crackle or clipping, especially when keeping audio on-device is a priority. Its manual methods also suit users who want to target a known defect rather than rely entirely on an automatic pass. It is a weaker choice for severe speech masking, and users seeking automatic dereverb should look elsewhere or be prepared to select the method themselves.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Audio stays in the browser, with no account or upload required, which suits privacy-conscious cleanup.
• The free plan includes several distinct repairs, including hum, click and crackle removal, declip repair and spectral repair.

Cons

• Heavy speech-over-noise is a stated weak point compared with machine-learning models.
• Automatic mode does not choose dereverb, adding a manual step for room-reverb repair.
• No batch processing means the free plan is less convenient for cleaning many files in one workflow.
• Broadband denoising should be used sparingly and checked against the original to avoid overprocessing.

Alternatives

Audio Restoration Software is the category list to consult when comparing a broader set of restoration tools. For music-focused transcription options, see Music Transcription Software.

• VinylRest is another free option, with Linux, macOS and web platforms; its listed VinylRest Live plan is a free public beta that requires a license for processing and allows up to three active Mac installations.
• Neiro is a free alternative spanning Linux, macOS, self-hosted, web and Windows platforms.
• PD Cleaner is a free, open-source Windows 64-bit option with no account and no trial.
• CEDAR Cambridge is a paid macOS and Windows modular hardware and software system with custom pricing.
• Cathar is a free alternative for Linux and macOS.
• Wave Arts Master Restoration Suite 6 costs $99, paid once for five restoration plug-ins and requires a host that supports audio plug-ins.
• Accentize DeRoom is a paid macOS and Windows option focused on reverb removal and room resonance suppression; its DeRoom License costs €49, paid once, billed including VAT.
• Algorithmix Sound Rescue is a paid alternative with a $79.90, paid once full version for Windows.

Verdict

@audio/denoise is a strong fit for people who want free, private, browser-based repair of common recording problems, with the added benefit of choosing a specialized method when the automatic recommendation is not enough. Its main reasons to look elsewhere are heavy speech noise, batch processing, or a need for automatic dereverb.