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Written by Alan Spicer

YouTube Certified Expert (Audience Growth, Channel Management, Content Strategy)
YouTube & Digital Media Consultant (including work with Coin Bureau brands)
Built repeatable growth systems across multiple channels (including 0→20k in 2 months and 15k→100k in 8 months)
Recipient of 6× YouTube Silver Play Buttons

My bias: mouth clicks are rarely “just your mouth”. They’re usually a combo of mic distance + over-processing + monitoring too late. Fix capture first, then polish gently.

Stop Mouth Clicks & Saliva Noise on YouTube Audio (UK): Fix Clicking, Smacking, and “Wet” Mic Sounds

If your mic is picking up clicking, smacking, lip noise, or that “wet” saliva sound… you’re not alone. Most creators only notice it after they’ve compressed the audio (which makes it louder), or when they finally listen on headphones.

This guide fixes mouth noise in the order that gives the most natural result — without turning your voice dull or robotic.

Jump to:

Quick answer / TL;DR ·
Watch the quick demo ·
Related searches ·
60-second decision tree ·
Why mouth clicks happen ·
Fix order (do this first) ·
Fix it at capture (best results) ·
Settings that make mouth clicks worse ·
OBS approach (clean + natural) ·
Fix mouth clicks in editing (without wrecking speech) ·
Comparison table ·
What not to do ·
Who this is not for ·
Gear links ·
Related reading ·
FAQs

Quick answer / TL;DR (snippet-friendly)

To stop mouth clicks and saliva noise: move the mic slightly farther away (often 15–25cm), angle it slightly off-axis, and reduce over-processing (heavy compression and make-up gain amplify mouth sounds). Monitor on headphones while testing. If clicks remain, use gentle targeted reduction in editing rather than blanket noise suppression. Most creators fix this with placement + lighter processing — not expensive plugins.

Watch the quick demo (from my channel)

Video pick: these two are useful because mouth noise is often revealed by (1) basic capture mistakes and (2) “small room” setups that force you to crank gain and over-process audio.

Watch on YouTube

The 60-second decision tree

Clicks get worse after compression → lighten compression / reduce make-up gain / consider gentle de-click in editing.
Clicks only happen when you’re close to the mic → back off slightly + go off-axis.
Mouth sounds appear between words → you’re capturing too much “detail”; placement + less gain usually fixes it.
Noise suppression makes it watery/robotic → back it off and fix capture instead.
You only hear clicks on headphones → that’s normal; use headphones to spot the real problem early.

Why mouth clicks happen

Mouth clicks and saliva noise are normal human sounds. The problem is that modern mics (especially close-miked setups) can capture them in a way that feels unnatural on playback.

They usually get worse when:

You’re very close to the mic (you’re magnifying tiny mouth sounds)
You’ve got high gain because the mic is too far away or the room is noisy
You use heavy compression (it lifts quiet details between words)
You stack noise suppression and filters that create artefacts
You don’t monitor on headphones until after the recording

Fix order (do this first)

Mic placement (distance + angle)
Gain staging (safe levels without cranking)
Reduce “problem amplification” (compression / make-up gain)
Then selective cleanup in editing (only if needed)

These are the foundation posts this one depends on:

Fix it at capture (best results)

1) Back off slightly (yes, really)

If you’re right up on the mic, you’re recording every mouth detail. Try moving to roughly 15–25cm and retest. You’ll often get a more natural voice instantly.

2) Go slightly off-axis

Aim the mic slightly to the side (or aim it at the corner of your mouth rather than straight on). This reduces the “direct” mouth noise without making you sound muffled.

3) Use consistency tools (boom arm / stable placement)

Mouth noise becomes more noticeable when your distance changes constantly. A stable mic position gives you predictable levels — and less need for heavy processing.

4) Quick “pre-record routine” (30 seconds)

Record 10 seconds of your intro
Listen back on headphones
If clicks are obvious: back off slightly, go off-axis, reduce compression

Settings that make mouth clicks worse

Compression + make-up gain

Compression is useful for YouTube voice. But heavy compression (or lots of make-up gain) lifts the quiet detail between words — which is exactly where mouth clicks live.

Fix: lighten the compression and reduce make-up gain. If you need consistency, aim for “even” rather than “crushed”.

Noise suppression as a “fix”

Noise suppression is for constant background noise. Mouth clicks are short and sharp. Suppression can smear them into weird artefacts that sound even more distracting.

Fix: keep suppression light and treat mouth clicks with placement first, editing second.

Overly bright EQ

Boosting clarity/presence can make clicks feel sharper. If you boosted highs, undo it and retest.

OBS approach (clean + natural)

If you’re recording or streaming through OBS, keep your chain simple and predictable:

Noise suppression (only if needed, keep it light)
Compressor (gentle)
Limiter (final safety net)

If mouth clicks are still obvious after a good placement setup, the cleanest approach is often: leave OBS clean and do the final surgical cleanup in editing.

If you’re also fighting harsh consonants, pair this with:

Stop sibilance (harsh S sounds) (UK)

Fix mouth clicks in editing (without wrecking speech)

If your take is good but has annoying clicks, you want selective reduction, not blanket processing.

Safe workflow:

Step 1: Find the worst clicks (zoom in on waveform if needed)
Step 2: Reduce only those moments (clip gain / automation)
Step 3: If your editor has a “de-click” style tool, use it lightly on short sections
Step 4: Re-check after compression (compression can re-reveal clicks)

And if your audio is also distorting or peaking, fix that first:

Stop mic clipping & distortion (UK)

Fixes compared (what works most)

Fix	Cost	Impact	Best for
Back off slightly (15–25cm)	£0	High	Close-mic “wet” voice
Off-axis placement	£0	High	Clicks + harsh consonants
Lighter compression / less make-up gain	£0	Medium–High	Clicks amplified by processing
Headphone monitoring while testing	£–££	Medium	Spotting the real issue early
Selective cleanup in editing	£0–£££	Medium	Great takes with a few nasty clicks

What not to do (trust builder)

Don’t try to “noise suppress” mouth clicks away. It often creates watery artefacts.
Don’t crush your voice with compression. You’ll lift clicks between words.
Don’t move the mic far away as the only fix. You’ll increase room echo and background noise.
Don’t buy new gear as your first move. Placement and processing usually solve this.

Who this is not for

ASMR creators intentionally recording mouth sounds
Music vocal production workflows (different goals and tools)
Creators looking for a single “magic preset” without changing mic position

Gear links (kept editorial, not salesy)

Core audio pillar:

Sound better on YouTube without a treated studio (UK)

Most relevant supporting posts:

Creator Gear hub:

Creator Gear hub

Amazon UK searches (tagged so the session is credited):

FAQs (People Also Ask style)

Why do I get mouth clicks and saliva noise on my microphone?

It’s usually a combination of close mic distance, high gain, and compression bringing up tiny mouth sounds between words.

How do I stop mouth clicks when recording YouTube videos?

Back the mic off slightly (often 15–25cm), angle it off-axis, reduce heavy compression/make-up gain, and monitor on headphones while testing.

Does compression make mouth noises worse?

Yes. Compression lifts quiet details between words, which is exactly where clicks and saliva sounds live.

Can I remove mouth clicks in OBS?

OBS is better for clean capture than surgical repair. Keep filters light and do selective cleanup in editing if clicks remain.

Why does my voice sound “wet” on mic?

Most often you’re too close to the mic or the signal is over-processed. Back off slightly, go off-axis, and reduce aggressive compression.

Do pop filters help mouth clicks?

They mainly help plosives, but they can slightly soften airflow. The bigger fix is usually mic angle/distance and lighter processing.

What mic distance helps reduce mouth noise?

For many talking-head setups, 15–25cm is a good starting point. Too close exaggerates mouth detail; too far increases room noise.

Why do mouth clicks get worse after editing?

Compression, loudness normalisation, and bright EQ can make clicks more obvious. Re-check after your final processing.

Can I remove mouth clicks in editing?

Yes. The most natural method is selective reduction (clip gain/automation) on the worst clicks rather than blanket noise removal.

What’s the quickest fix for mouth noise?

Monitor on headphones, back the mic off slightly, go off-axis, and reduce heavy compression/make-up gain.