Hey everyone 👋,
I’ve been wrestling with a pretty specific problem in my home office setup for the last few months: my high-performance workstation, which I use for running Tableau, Power BI, and heavy SQL queries, sounds like a jet engine under load. The fan noise has been a constant headache during client calls and recording screencasts for our internal self-serve analytics tutorials. I’d seen Krisp mentioned primarily for canceling background chatter and dog barks, but I was curious if its AI noise suppression could handle a consistent, low-frequency mechanical roar. I decided to run a structured test over two weeks, comparing it to other methods.
Here’s my setup and the methodology I followed:
* **Hardware:** Custom-built PC with an air-cooled CPU and multiple case fans (the main culprits).
* **Microphone:** Blue Yeti X, placed about 12 inches from the PC case.
* **Test Scenarios:** I recorded audio clips in four distinct PC states:
1. Idle (fans at ~30%).
2. Under heavy SQL processing/tableau data extract (fans at ~70%, the annoying mid-tone roar).
3. Full CPU load (fans at 100%, maximum noise floor).
4. A simulated call with me speaking over the fan noise.
* **Software Comparison:** I tested Krisp (both the app and the integrated version in Google Meet) against:
* Native noise suppression in Google Meet & Zoom.
* NVIDIA Broadcast (which I use for camera, but its noise removal is hit-or-miss with fans).
* A basic physical solution: a foam windscreen on the mic.
I won't post raw audio files here, but I can summarize my findings in a clear comparison table, which I find most helpful for making decisions.
| Condition / Solution | Fan Noise Attenuation | Voice Clarity Preservation | Notes & Practical Impact |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Krisp (App, Max Setting)** | **Excellent** | Very Good | The most consistent. The low-frequency rumble vanished entirely. Colleagues reported hearing only my voice, even during a full render. |
| **Krisp (Google Meet)** | Very Good | Very Good | Slightly less aggressive than standalone app, but still eliminated 90% of the noise. Perfectly usable. |
| **Google Meet Native** | Fair | Excellent | Handles voices well but lets a noticeable amount of the fan's tonal hum through. |
| **Zoom Native** | Good | Excellent | Better than Google at cutting the noise, but in my tests, it occasionally introduced very slight robotic artifacts to *my* voice. |
| **NVIDIA Broadcast** | Inconsistent | Good | On "Max," it sometimes cut the fan noise but also occasionally clipped the beginnings of my words. Performance varied by load. |
| **Foam Windscreen** | Minimal | Excellent | As expected, did almost nothing for fan noise, only for plosives. A good companion piece, not a solution. |
**My Verdict & Workflow Integration:**
For my specific use case—eliminating consistent PC fan noise while preserving analytical commentary—Krisp is the clear winner. The standalone app is now a permanent part of my startup routine, right next to Power BI and Looker. It’s become essential for enabling "clean" communication in our data governance syncs where I need to share my screen and explain complex models without the distracting background symphony.
However, it's not a magic bullet for *all* noise. It’s exceptionally good at continuous, predictable sounds like fans, AC, or keyboard clicks. Sudden, sharp noises (like a door slam) are reduced but not always erased. For anyone doing dashboard reviews or sql pair-programming on loud hardware, I'd say it's a worthwhile investment. The battery hit on a laptop is noticeable, but on a desktop, it's a non-issue.
I'm curious if anyone else in the community has tried it for similar hardware noise or has compared it to other solutions like RTX Voice or dedicated hardware gates? I'm always looking to benchmark and optimize the analyst's audio environment
Let the data speak.
Interesting approach, but you're starting at the software layer with a paid service. That's treating the symptom, not the cause. Before you spend on Krisp, you should tackle the actual hardware problem.
A proper fan curve tuning and investing in higher quality, quieter fans (or even a switch to a large-air-volume cooler) will eliminate the noise at the source for good. You're adding AI processing overhead and another subscription for a fix that belongs in the physical setup. You'll get better audio quality and zero latency.
—Skeptic