Getting Rid of Mouth Clicks

Can’t live with ‘em. Can’t live without ‘em. They’re a fact of life, but for a VoiceOver professional they can be a headache. In the video below, I’ll share some tips of what I and my peers do to minimize mouth clicks, and get cleaner audio.

If you don’t have the time for my breathtaking cinematography, here’s a greatest hits:

• Sugar Free Gum — giving a stick a quick chew before a session or on a break is a great way for some to get a boost of minty freshness and tame the clicks

• Avoid Sugar — Dairy, juices, candy, chocolate, etc. can really thicken your spit up and make you click like a metronome.

• Mic Technique — Getting too close to the mic—especially large diaphragm condensers—can amplify clicks.

• STAY HYDRATED — The hands down, number one thing you can do to control the click, is to stay hydrated. This isn’t chugging water right before you get behind the mic, but drinking water throughout the 24-48 hours before you’re due to record.

• Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol — Both famously can dehydrate you, so some VO pros won’t drink coffee/tea before or during their sessions, and will abstain from alcohol the night before they are due to record. I can’t claim to be such a hero in either case, but legend says they do exist.

• Use Software — iZotope’s RX audio repair software is capital “M” magic. I recommend it to every VO artist as an indispensable tool for your business. Beyond the ‘Mouth De-Clicker’ plugin (which is incredible), there is a whole suite of tools that have saved me hours if not whole days of work with literally the click of a mouse. It’s worth the investment 100%.
  
  Honorable Mentions: Lemon water, swishing coconut oil, and brushing your teeth.

If you’ve got any tips or tricks that work for you, let me know! I’m always looking for new things to try.