> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://captions.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Clean Up Audio with Denoise & Censor

> Remove background noise with Denoise and automatically bleep out unwanted words with Censor. Two tools for polishing your audio before you publish.

Audio quality is one of the most important factors in whether people keep watching. Background noise, wind, echo, and accidental profanity all make viewers tap away fast. Captions has two tools that fix this automatically.

## Denoise: remove background noise and echo

Denoise separates your vocal track from the background and removes:

* Environmental noise (traffic, HVAC, crowd noise)
* Echo and reverb from recording in a room
* Wind noise
* Keyboard, mouse clicks, and other ambient sounds

The result sounds like you recorded in a proper studio, even if you recorded in a coffee shop.

### When to use Denoise

Use it whenever:

* You recorded somewhere you couldn't fully control the sound
* Your audio has a slight hum or room echo
* You used a phone mic instead of an external microphone
* You want to clean up the audio before adding [captions](/help/docs/captions/add-captions) (better audio = better transcription)

### How to apply Denoise

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your project">
    Import your video and open it in the editor.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Apply Denoise">
    Tap **[Denoise](/help/docs/audio/denoise)** in the editor toolbar. It applies instantly with no settings to configure and no sliders to adjust. Captions automatically determines the right amount of noise reduction.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Listen and verify">
    Scrub through your video and check that the vocal track sounds clean. The background should be noticeably quieter while your voice sounds natural and full.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Disable if needed">
    If Denoise over-processes the audio and makes it sound thin or artificial, tap **Denoise** again to toggle it off.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Apply [Denoise](/help/docs/audio/denoise) before generating captions. Cleaner audio produces more accurate transcription.
</Tip>

## Censor: automatically bleep unwanted words

Censor detects and bleeps curse words automatically. Useful for:

* Making content available for all audiences
* Editing out accidental slips in otherwise usable takes
* Creating a clean version of raw footage for brand-safe platforms

### How to apply Censor

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open your project">
    Import the video and open it in the editor.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Tap Censor">
    Tap **[Censor](/help/docs/audio/censor)** in the bottom navigation. Captions automatically detects and bleeps curse words throughout the video.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Censor individual words manually">
    To censor a specific word that wasn't caught automatically:

    1. Tap the word in the captions to edit it
    2. Add `**` anywhere in the word (e.g. `sh**t`)
    3. Make sure Censor is enabled. If it doesn't apply, toggle it off and back on

    <Note>
      Some caption styles have Censor enabled by default. If words are being censored unexpectedly, tap Censor to disable it.
    </Note>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Using Denoise and Censor together

These tools work independently and can be applied at the same time. A common workflow for polishing raw footage:

1. Import your video
2. Apply **[Denoise](/help/docs/audio/denoise)** to clean the audio
3. Apply **[Censor](/help/docs/audio/censor)** to catch any language you want removed
4. Generate [captions](/help/docs/captions/add-captions) (on cleaner audio)
5. Style and [export](/help/docs/settings/export)

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Denoise reference" icon="ear" href="/help/docs/audio/denoise">
    Full Denoise documentation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Censor reference" icon="volume-xmark" href="/help/docs/audio/censor">
    Full Censor documentation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Record with Camera & Teleprompter" icon="camera" href="/help/guides/creators/camera-teleprompter">
    Recording tips that reduce the need for cleanup.
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI Eye Contact" icon="eyes" href="/help/guides/advanced/eye-contact">
    Another tool for polishing recorded footage.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>