8 Ways To Reduce Keyboard Noise on a Blue Yeti

Your Blue Yeti does a great job during your podcast, but it’s so sensitive that it keeps picking up keyboard noise every time you type. Fortunately, it’s easy to reduce keyboard noise when you’re using a Blue Yeti. 

Here are 8 ways to reduce keyboard noise on a Blue Yeti:

1. Use the Blue Yeti’s cardioid mode.
2. Position your Blue Yeti properly.
3. Place the keyboard behind your Blue Yeti.
4. Reduce your Blue Yeti’s gain.
5. Use a noise gate or suppressor.
6. Use a boom scissor stand and shock mount.
7. Stop sound reflections.
8. Replace your keyboard.

It’s annoying when your keyboard’s typing noise gets picked up by your Blue Yeti microphone. Fortunately, you can try several effective ways to fix the issue. Keep reading to learn in more detail how to reduce the keyboard on your Blue Yeti.

Use the Blue Yeti’s Cardioid Mode

Your Blue Yeti has 4 modes: 

• Cardioid mode: It records sound in front of the microphone.
• Stereo mode: It records two channels, left and right
• Omnidirectional mode: It picks up sounds in a 360° radius around the Yeti.
• Bidirectional mode: It picks up the sound to the front and rear of the Yeti.

For most podcasting and broadcast purposes, you want to set your Blue Yeti to cardioid mode. Cardioid mode ensures that your microphone picks up your voice without picking up other outside sounds. The cardioid mode records sound within an approximately 130° radius of the Yeti’s front.  

You might only use omnidirectional or bidirectional mode in a recording or podcast if you do a multi-person broadcast or if you want to pick up everyone’s voice. But this is not an ideal solution. You will do better in those situations with multiple microphones connected to a mixer. 

The Pyle PMXU43BT Sound Mixer (available on Amazon.com) lets you connect up to 4 microphones to your computer or recording device. Since your Yeti doesn’t have an XLR interface, you will need to connect it via the headphone monitoring jack with a cable like the UGREEN 6.5mm to 3.5mm cable (also on Amazon.com). 

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Position Your Blue Yeti Properly

Many people speak at the top of their Blue Yeti. While many handheld performance microphones pick up sound from the top, the Blue Yeti picks up sound from its sides. If you have your Yeti placed incorrectly, it will pick up less of your voice and more of the sound around you, including your keyboard noise. 

Adjust your Yeti so that your voice projects toward its side, not the top. Doing this may require a boom. Blue offers a Blue Compass Boom Arm and Radius III Shockmount (available on Amazon.com), which will make it easy to put your Yeti precisely where you want it to be. 

Your Yeti should be positioned with the Blue logo, mute button, and volume knob facing you. If you can see the recording pattern and gain knobs, you have your Yeti backward. The microphone should be 4–10 inches (11–25 cm) away from your mouth. Too far away and your voice will sound distant; too close and you will sound boomy and distorted. 

Properly positioning your Yeti won’t just alleviate your keyboard noise problem. It will make your voice clearer on your podcasts and recordings. 

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Place the Keyboard Behind Your Blue Yeti

If you are typing with your keyboard in front of the Yeti, the cardioid pattern will likely pick up your keyboard’s clacking. Moving the keyboard behind the Yeti will place it out of the Yeti’s pickup range.  

With a boom, you can place your Yeti with the less sensitive top pointing toward your keyboard while the side picks up your voice. This placement will minimize keyboard noise, though if you are streaming a game, you also want to make sure the Yeti does not obstruct your monitor view.

If your Yeti is blocking your view, try placing the Yeti to your side as far from the keyboard as possible while keeping the Yeti within optimal speaking distance. Move the keyboard as far as you can in the opposite direction to get it away from the Yeti’s pickup range.

Reduce Your Blue Yeti’s Gain

The Yeti’s gain knob is located on the back beneath the recording pattern knob. Do not confuse the gain knob with the volume knob located on the front. 

The volume knob increases and decreases the signal coming from the headphone amplifier, and it will raise and lower the volume in your headphones while monitoring your recording. However, it does not affect the signal going to your computer. 

Lowering the gain on your Yeti means it will be less likely to pick up quieter background noises like keyboards. It will, however, also reduce the volume of your voice. Fortunately, you don’t have to compensate by shouting. With your recording software, you can increase the pickup volume on your computer. 

Yeti users are divided on the best gain-to-pickup ratio. Some broadcasters keep the Yeti’s gain low and record with the pickup at near 100% volume. Others do the reverse. You will have to experiment to see which settings work best for you. 

Be advised that your voice will sound unnatural if you set the gain and pickup too high because your signal will frequently clip. Set the gain and pickup too low, and your voice will be muffled or inaudible. 

Use a Noise Gate or Suppressor

Noise gate software like Krisp’s popular NoiseGator monitors the incoming Yeti signal and drops anything below a certain decibel level. This gate eliminates background sounds like keyboard noises while letting your voice pass through unmodified. 

If you are streaming on YouTube, Twitch, or Facebook, you will notice that their Open Broadcast Software (OBS) has a Noise Gate. Zoom has a similar function which they call Noise Suppression. All these features reduce or eliminate background noise. 

While noise gates can eliminate clicking keyboards and humming air conditioners, they can also cause problems while you are broadcasting. You may find final syllables cut off or quieter passages dropped if you set the noise gate too high. Too high a noise gate setting can produce an unnatural effect, like dead silence interrupted by abrupt shouts. 

Use a Boom Scissor Stand and Shock Mount

Your Blue Yeti comes with a sturdy stand mount that you can place on your desk while speaking. This stand is convenient and free, but it’s not ideal for most podcasters.

With the Yeti desk stand, your microphone is closer to your keyboard than your mouth. And because you are speaking above the Yeti, it does not pick up your voice as well as it could.

Blue’s Compass stand, which I mentioned above, is built for your Blue Yeti. The radius shock mount stabilizes the Yeti and makes it less likely to pick up the sound of your fingers vibrating against the keys and through the desktop. (Yes, your Yeti is that sensitive). 

The Compass lets you place your Yeti at the right height and distance to get the sound you want and to avoid the sounds you don’t. If you want a podcast or live stream that attracts viewers and keeps them watching, you need a boom stand. The best visuals and subject matter won’t save your show if nobody can hear what you’re saying. 

Stop Sound Reflections

Every time you strike your keyboard, the impact resonates through the wooden or glass surface of your desk, amplifying the sound. Resonance is the same principle that makes string instruments work. But while violins and guitars can sound heavenly, keyboards rarely make sweet music. 

If you are having a problem with keyboard noise, try placing a thick desk mat beneath it. The mat muffles the sound before reaching the desk’s resonant surface. It might not eliminate keyboard noise, but it certainly will reduce it. 

If your room is small and filled with hard surfaces, you may want to put down a heavy rug or add a piece of heavily cushioned furniture to alleviate some of the echoes. You can also try sound panels like the Audiosoul 52-pack sound panels (on Amazon.com).  

Available on Amazon, these Audiosoul panels will let you cover 52 square feet (4.8 square meters) of hard walls with inch-thick (2.54 cm-thick) foam that will improve your broadcast quality and help dampen your background noise issues. 

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Replace Your Keyboard

Keyboards are relatively inexpensive. For gamers, the Corsair K55 RGB Gaming Keyboard (available on Amazon) gets excellent reviews for its springy feel and quiet action. Those seeking an even quieter keyboard may favor the Logitech K380 (also on Amazon.com), which is smaller, has a lighter touch, and comes in various colors. 

Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Sources

• Blue Microphones: Yeti
• Github: Open Broadcast Software (OBS): Microphone Noise Gate
• Krisp: Noise Gator Software Alternative for Noise Cancellation
• Wikipedia: Resonance
• Zoom Help Center: Background noise suppression settings for videos