“Ventilation fan sounds get into my stream…” “Refrigerator operation sounds are distracting…” “Family household sounds are picked up by my microphone…” If you’re a streamer facing these issues, you’re not alone.
In streaming environments, appliances (refrigerators, ventilation fans, PC fans) easily become environmental noise, and household sounds, family members, and appliance sounds also become distracting noise for viewers. Especially when streaming from home in Japan, living environments directly affect stream audio quality, making effective countermeasures necessary.
This article reveals the true nature of streaming noise and compiles practical techniques for effectively eliminating environmental noise such as ventilation fans, refrigerators, and household sounds, covering everything from appliance quieting to microphone settings and software countermeasures.
The True Nature of Streaming Noise: Why Appliances and Household Sounds Become Noise#
Why Appliances Easily Become Environmental Noise#
Appliances (refrigerators, ventilation fans, PC fans) have characteristics that easily make them environmental noise in streaming environments.
Characteristics of Appliance Noise
| Appliance Type | Sound Pressure Level | Noise Type | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ventilation Fan | 40-60dB | Fan rotation sound, wind noise | Constant |
| Refrigerator | 35-50dB | Compressor sound, fan sound | Intermittent |
| PC Fan | 30-45dB | Fan rotation sound | Constant (under load) |
| Air Conditioner | 40-55dB | Fan sound, refrigerant sound | Intermittent |
| Washing Machine | 50-70dB | Motor sound, vibration sound | Only when in use |
These appliance noises become distracting noise for viewers in streaming environments, and are particularly fatal for ASMR streaming or streams requiring quiet environments.
Impact of Household Sounds on Streaming#
Household sounds, family members, and appliance sounds also become distracting noise for viewers.
Main Types of Household Sounds
- Family Conversation: 30-50dB, mixes with stream audio
- TV Sound: 40-60dB, picked up as background noise
- Door Opening/Closing Sounds: 50-60dB, noticeable as sudden noise
- Water Flow Sounds: 35-45dB, continuous noise
- Stair Sounds: 40-50dB, propagates as vibration sound
These household sounds become distracting noise for viewers in streaming environments, degrading stream quality.
Impact of Noise on Stream Audio Quality#
Environmental noise affects stream audio quality in the following ways:
Impact of Noise on Stream Audio Quality
- Reduced Speech Clarity: Background noise drowns out speech
- Reduced Viewer Concentration: Continuous noise disrupts viewer concentration
- Lower Stream Quality Ratings: Streams with much noise have lower viewer retention
- Lack of Professional Impression: Much noise gives amateur impression
Especially for ASMR streaming or audio-focused streams, environmental noise becomes a fatal problem.
Quieting Techniques for Ventilation Fans#
The True Nature of Ventilation Fan Sounds#
Ventilation fan sounds are primarily caused by the following factors:
Factors Causing Ventilation Fan Sounds
- Fan Rotation Sound: Sound from motor and fan blade rotation
- Wind Noise: Sound from air flow
- Vibration Sound: Motor vibrations propagating through building
- Duct Resonance Sound: Air resonance within ducts
Ventilation fan sound pressure levels are approximately 40-60dB, clearly audible noise in streaming environments.
Methods for Quieting Ventilation Fans#
The following methods are available for quieting ventilation fans:
Ventilation Fan Quieting Countermeasures
| Countermeasure Method | Effect | Cost | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace with Quiet Fan | High (10-20dB reduction) | ¥20,000-50,000 | Medium |
| Clean and Maintain Fan | Medium (5-10dB reduction) | Free-¥5,000 | Low |
| Soundproof Duct Treatment | Medium (5-15dB reduction) | ¥10,000-30,000 | Medium |
| Adjust Fan Usage Time | Low (temporary) | Free | Low |
| Install Soundproof Cover | Medium (5-10dB reduction) | ¥5,000-15,000 | Low |
Recommended Quiet Ventilation Fans
- Panasonic Ceiling Fan: Quiet design, low noise
- Mitsubishi Electric Ventilation Fan: High quietness, high performance
- Daikin Ventilation Fan: Equipped with quiet mode
Replacing with quiet fans is the most effective countermeasure but costs more.
How to Use Ventilation Fans During Streaming#
During streaming, adjusting how ventilation fans are used can reduce noise.
How to Use Ventilation Fans During Streaming
- Ventilate Before Streaming: Run fan before starting stream to ventilate
- Stop During Streaming: Stop fan during stream (for short streams)
- Low Airflow Setting: Use fan on low airflow setting
- Timer Setting: Set timer according to stream time
For short stream times, ventilating before streaming and stopping the fan during streaming is effective.
Quieting Techniques for Refrigerators#
The True Nature of Refrigerator Sounds#
Refrigerator sounds are primarily caused by the following factors:
Factors Causing Refrigerator Sounds
- Compressor Sound: Sound when compressing refrigerant
- Fan Sound: Cooling fan rotation sound
- Vibration Sound: Compressor vibrations propagating through building
- Ice Maker Noise: Ice maker operation sound
Refrigerator sound pressure levels are approximately 35-50dB, occurring intermittently.
Methods for Quieting Refrigerators#
The following methods are available for quieting refrigerators:
Refrigerator Quieting Countermeasures
| Countermeasure Method | Effect | Cost | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace with Quiet Refrigerator | High (10-20dB reduction) | ¥100,000-300,000 | High |
| Adjust Refrigerator Position | Medium (5-10dB reduction) | Free | Low |
| Install Vibration Isolation Mat | Medium (5-10dB reduction) | ¥3,000-8,000 | Low |
| Refrigerator Maintenance | Low (5dB reduction) | Free-¥10,000 | Low |
| Maintain Distance from Streaming Area | Medium (5-15dB reduction) | Free | Low |
Recommended Quiet Refrigerators
- Panasonic Refrigerator: Quiet design, low noise
- Hitachi Refrigerator: High quietness, high performance
- Mitsubishi Electric Refrigerator: Equipped with quiet mode
Replacing with quiet refrigerators is the most effective countermeasure but is high cost.
How to Use Refrigerators During Streaming#
During streaming, adjusting how refrigerators are used can reduce noise.
How to Use Refrigerators During Streaming
- Cool Before Streaming: Cool refrigerator sufficiently before starting stream
- Avoid Opening Door: Don’t open refrigerator door during stream
- Adjust Temperature Setting: Set refrigerator temperature appropriately
- Maintain Distance from Streaming Area: Keep refrigerator away from streaming area
Keeping refrigerator away from streaming area significantly reduces noise.
Quieting Techniques for PC Fans#
The True Nature of PC Fan Sounds#
PC fan sounds are primarily caused by the following factors:
Factors Causing PC Fan Sounds
- Fan Rotation Sound: Rotation sound from CPU, GPU, and case fans
- Fan Vibration Sound: Fan vibrations propagating to case
- Airflow Sound: Sound from air flow within case
PC fan sound pressure levels are approximately 30-45dB, varying with PC load.
Methods for Quieting PC Fans#
The following methods are available for quieting PC fans:
PC Fan Quieting Countermeasures
| Countermeasure Method | Effect | Cost | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace with Quiet Fan | High (10-15dB reduction) | ¥5,000-15,000 | Medium |
| Introduce Fan Controller | Medium (5-10dB reduction) | ¥3,000-8,000 | Low |
| PC Case Quieting | Medium (5-10dB reduction) | ¥10,000-30,000 | Medium |
| Fan Cleaning and Maintenance | Low (5dB reduction) | Free | Low |
| Reduce PC Load | Medium (5-10dB reduction) | Free | Low |
Recommended Quiet Fans
- Noctua Fans: High quietness, high performance
- be quiet! Fans: Quiet design, low noise
- Corsair Fans: Equipped with quiet mode
Replacing with quiet fans is an effective countermeasure but costs more.
How to Use PC During Streaming#
During streaming, adjusting how PC is used can reduce fan noise.
How to Use PC During Streaming
- Reduce PC Load: Close unnecessary applications
- Fan Controller Settings: Lower fan rotation speed
- Cool PC: Cool PC sufficiently before starting stream
- Adjust PC Position: Keep PC away from streaming area
Reducing PC load significantly reduces fan noise.
Quieting Techniques for Household Sounds#
Countermeasures for Family Conversation#
Family conversation becomes distracting noise in streaming environments.
Countermeasures for Family Conversation
- Adjust Stream Time: Stream when family is absent
- Isolate Streaming Area: Keep streaming area away from family living area
- Close Doors: Close doors to streaming area
- Request Family Cooperation: Ask family to be quiet during streaming
Adjusting stream time or isolating streaming area can reduce family conversation.
Countermeasures for TV Sound#
TV sound is picked up as background noise in streaming environments.
Countermeasures for TV Sound
- Lower TV Volume: Minimize TV volume
- Adjust TV Position: Keep TV away from streaming area
- Use Headphones: Use headphones when watching TV
- Adjust Stream Time: Avoid TV viewing times
Lowering TV volume or adjusting position can reduce TV sound.
Countermeasures for Door Opening/Closing Sounds#
Door opening/closing sounds are noticeable as sudden noise.
Countermeasures for Door Opening/Closing Sounds
- Install Door Buffers: Install buffers on doors
- Adjust Doors: Open and close doors quietly
- Adjust Stream Time: Stream when door opening/closing is minimal
- Close Doors: Close doors to streaming area
Installing door buffers or opening/closing quietly can reduce door sounds.
Methods to Reduce Noise Through Microphone Settings#
Microphone Directionality Settings#
Properly setting microphone directionality can make it less likely to pick up environmental noise.
How to Choose Microphone Directionality
- Cardioid Directionality: Picks up sounds in front, suppresses sounds from behind/sides (recommended)
- Super Cardioid Directionality: Picks up sounds from narrower range (effective when environmental noise is high)
- Omnidirectional: Should be avoided (picks up surrounding sounds equally)
Setting to cardioid mode and positioning environmental noise sources behind or to the side of microphone can significantly reduce environmental noise.
Noise Gate Settings#
Utilizing noise gate functionality can automatically cut environmental noise below a certain level.
Noise Gate Settings in OBS
- Add Filter: Add “Noise Gate” filter to microphone source
- Close Threshold: Set to -50 to -40dB (below environmental noise level)
- Open Threshold: Set to -35 to -30dB (speech level)
- Attack Time: 5-10ms (reaction speed)
- Release Time: 100-200ms (natural switching)
Noise gates cut environmental noise when not speaking and naturally pass audio when speaking.
Noise Suppression Filter Settings#
Utilizing OBS noise suppression filter can effectively remove environmental noise.
OBS Noise Suppression Setup
- Add Filter: Add “Noise Suppression” filter to microphone source
- Suppression Level: Set to moderate (approximately -30dB)
- Use RNNoise: Enables more advanced noise removal (increases CPU usage)
OBS noise suppression effectively removes noise with consistent patterns like environmental noise.
Software Noise Removal#
RTX Voice / NVIDIA Broadcast#
If using NVIDIA GPUs, RTX Voice or NVIDIA Broadcast provide powerful noise removal functionality.
NVIDIA Broadcast Features
- AI-Based Noise Removal: High-precision noise removal using machine learning
- Real-Time Processing: Enables real-time processing during streams
- Low CPU Load: Processes on GPU, reducing CPU load
RTX Voice effectively removes environmental noise while maintaining speech quality.
Using VST Plugins#
For more advanced noise removal, VST plugins can be utilized.
Recommended VST Plugins
- ReaFIR: Free, high-functionality noise removal
- iZotope RX: Paid, professional-level noise removal
- Krisp: Real-time noise removal, subscription-based
VST plugins offer more advanced noise removal than OBS filters but require attention to increased CPU usage.
Recommended Solutions by Budget#
Budget Under ¥10,000 (Entry Level)#
Solution Content
- Ventilation fan cleaning and maintenance (free-¥5,000)
- Refrigerator position adjustment (free)
- PC fan cleaning (free)
- Microphone setting optimization (free)
Expected Effect: Reduces environmental noise by 5-10dB, simple countermeasures
Budget Under ¥50,000 (Standard Level)#
Solution Content
- Install soundproof covers (for ventilation fan, ¥5,000-15,000)
- Install vibration isolation mats (for refrigerator, ¥3,000-8,000)
- Replace with quiet fans (for PC, ¥5,000-15,000)
- Noise gate and noise suppression settings (free)
Expected Effect: Reduces environmental noise by 10-15dB, significantly improves stream audio quality
Budget Over ¥100,000 (Professional Level)#
Solution Content
- Replace with quiet ventilation fan (¥20,000-50,000)
- Replace with quiet refrigerator (¥100,000-300,000)
- PC case quieting (¥10,000-30,000)
- VST plugin introduction (paid plugins)
Expected Effect: Reduces environmental noise by 15-20dB, professional-level streaming environment
Frequently Asked Questions#
Q1: I’m worried about ventilation if I stop the fan?#
A: When stopping ventilation fans, the following points require attention:
Precautions When Stopping Ventilation Fans
- Short Stream Time: If stream is within 1 hour, ventilating before streaming is fine
- Ensure Ventilation: Ventilate sufficiently before streaming and after streaming
- Low Airflow Setting: Instead of completely stopping, setting to low airflow is also effective
- Air Flow: Open windows to create air flow
For short stream times, ventilating before streaming and stopping the fan during streaming is effective.
Q2: Can I stop the refrigerator?#
A: Refrigerators cannot be stopped, but the following countermeasures are effective:
Refrigerator Noise Countermeasures
- Position Adjustment: Keep refrigerator away from streaming area
- Vibration Isolation Mat: Install vibration isolation mat under refrigerator
- Adjust Stream Time: Stream when refrigerator operation is minimal
- Replace with Quiet Type: Replace with quiet refrigerator (high cost)
Keeping refrigerator away from streaming area significantly reduces noise.
Q3: Can household sounds be completely eliminated?#
A: Completely eliminating household sounds is difficult, but can be significantly reduced with the following countermeasures:
Household Sound Countermeasures
- Physical Countermeasures: Isolate streaming area, close doors
- Time-Based Countermeasures: Stream when household sounds are minimal
- Microphone Settings: Noise gate and noise suppression settings
- Software Countermeasures: Utilize RTX Voice and VST plugins
Combining these countermeasures can significantly reduce household sounds.
Summary: Quieting Techniques to Eliminate Streaming Noise#
The true nature of streaming noise is appliance noise from ventilation fans, refrigerators, PC fans, etc., and household sounds such as family conversation and TV sound. These environmental noises are important factors degrading stream quality.
Priority Order of Effective Countermeasures
- Immediate Solutions: Microphone setting optimization, noise gate settings (free)
- Physical Solutions: Appliance position adjustment, vibration isolation mat installation (low cost)
- Professional Solutions: Replace with quiet appliances, introduce VST plugins (high cost)
Progressing countermeasures step by step according to budget can achieve quiet streaming environments. Start with microphone setting optimization that can be done for free, then consider physical countermeasures or equipment introduction as needed.
Streaming environment quieting not only improves viewer experience but also creates an environment where you can stream stress-free for long periods. We hope this article helps improve the quality of your streaming activities.
This article is based on the latest information as of 2025. Product prices and specifications may change, so please check with manufacturers and specialists for the latest information when considering actual introduction.