If you’re reading this, you’re probably on a desperate hunt to find a fix for your Blue Yeti’s static sound, and you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, you’ll learn about some of the most likely causes of this problem with the Blue Yeti microphone, as well as some possible fixes.
Many people have had the Blue Yeti loud static issue, but because several things can cause that issue, there are multiple solutions for that problem.
The Best Ways to Fix Blue Yeti Loud Static Issue
1. Check your USB connectivity (try different sockets and check the cable)
2. Choose an appropriate gain setting
3. Choose the correct polar pattern
4. Update your OBS or switch to another streaming software
5. Have an electrician check your grounding
6. Convert files into another format
7. Try using software for noise reduction
Here’s what I’ll go through:
Now, let’s get into it and fix that irritating static noise!
Table of Contents
Blue Yeti Microphone Loud Static Sound Reasons
Blue Yeti microphones are well-loved and used among many streamers and content creators, however, for the past few years there seems to be a problem with this mic – it picks up a strange static-like noise on people’s recordings.
The causes can vary, there are both software and hardware-related ones, and hopefully, you can figure out what’s up with your specific one by using my list.
I have my fingers crossed that you won’t have to spend an additional chink on money for your recording equipment!
1. Issues With The USB Port
Issues with USB ports are common with all the devices that use them, so the Blue Yeti mic isn’t much different from that.
To check if this is your issue, you’ll just need to try out some of the other USB ports on your computer and check what happens with the audio quality when you do that.
If you use a separate USB hub, it might be that its ports are broken.
2. Issues With The USB Cable
Just as common as issues as USB ports, or probably even more common, USB cables tend to break on us all of the time.
Before you go out and buy a new separate USB cable for the Yeti mic, take a cable from some of your other devices, that you know works, and connect it to the mic.
Then try out the Blue Yeti mic and see if you’ll have clear audio or if the mic still makes that white noise.
3. The Mic Gain Is Not Appropriate
If you don’t know what mic gain is, then that might be a sign that’s the problem with your Blue Yeti mic.
Basically, mic gain is a setting that makes sure that the mic’s input is right – not overloading and picking up all of the background noise, and not on the opposite end where it doesn’t even pick up your voice that well.
If you’ve tried out every cable, port, and any other possible part of the hardware that could be the issue, then this is probably the best next step that you could take.
To check this out, you just need to go to your Settings, open the Sound section, and then go to Recording.
If it’s set too high, then your mic might be picking up the hum of your PC, or some other radio frequencies.
4. Wrong Polar Pattern
A polar pattern might be another term that is unknown to you, but it can be the reason why your Blue Yeti mic is picking up every background sound that makes your mic have that static sound.
The polar pattern is the term used to describe the direction in which your mic senses signals.
Different polar patterns can be subcardioid, cardioid pattern, omnidirectional, super-cardioid, hyper-cardioid, bi-directional, and lobar.
The Blue Yeti specifically has 4 different polar patterns: stereo, cardioid, omnidirectional and bi-directional.
So, your mic might be set to one of the modes that pick up too many background noises.
5. OBS Doesn’t Agree With Latest Mac OS update
Many people that have their Mac OS up to date have had the same problem with their Blue Yeti, but have found out that the problem is indeed in the OBS, and not the mic itself.
If you’re a Mac user, then you should look into this.
The slight issue here is that you’ll have to find some other laptop that doesn’t have the same operating system to check whether the mic will work well there.
If you have some other programs that have the same function, you can also try that out and see if that will reduce background noise picking up.
6. Your Mic Is Not On An Appropriate Spot
This is probably the first thing that you should work out.
Sometimes, the location of your mic could cause interruptions in its performance.
For example, it can pick up vibrations from other devices that are on the same table.
To check this, you will obviously have to move your device around and see whether the voice recording is still having static noise in it.
Also, if you find out that the mic works fine when it’s on some type of mic stand, then this is what you’re dealing with.
7. Grounding Issues
Finally, your power supply could be the reason why the static sound appears in the recording.
The outlet that your PC cable is plugged in might be poorly grounded, or it might not be grounded at all.
If you’re using a laptop computer, and not a PC, then you should try to use the Blue Yeti device when it’s running just on battery, and not plugged in.
If you have a PC, try to plug everything into a different socket.
If the noise goes away when you try these things out, then that will be the proof that power supply issues are what’s behind your white noise problem.
If the static continues after you’ve tried to plug the computer into every other socket, you will need to test your outlets using a device called a multimeter.
You can purchase this yourself, but before you make such a step, ask around and see whether someone you know has it and has experience using it, maybe it’s better to ask them to do it.
This way it will be a bit cheaper to fix your audio recording quality.
How To Fix Blue Yeti Static Sound Issues
Depending on what was your issue, you will see which one of these solutions will work for you.
1. Fixing USB Connection Issues
The first and most basic thing that you can do to fix your USB issues, is to try using a different USB port to connect your mic to the PC.
If you have a powered USB hub, you should try connecting the USB microphones to some of the other ports on it, but maybe it is time to change it up if you find that it has issues with other devices too.
However, if you don’t have a port, getting it might solve your problems, as many people found out that that fixed their mic works just fine with it.
Then, the cable on your Yeti mic might be broken, so you should buy a new one and change it.
This is now a big investment, but try not to buy the cheapest available ones, as they tend to break faster on the audio device.
2. Resolving The Gain Setting On Your Mic
As I said, the amount of background noise that the Blue Yeti microphone will pick up can depend on which gain setting is currently set.
The gain your mic is set on now is probably too high, so you will need to lower it.
This is what you need to do:
3. Fixing The Wrong Polar Pattern
To fix the polar pattern, you should set your mic to cardioid mode.
When you plug the mic in, you will get the ability to choose which polar pattern you want to use.
It looks the same on all different computers, so there shouldn’t be an issue with figuring this out.
When it’s on this mode, the microphone usually works just fine.
4. Dealing With OBS-related Issues
The only real and sustainable solution for this is to opt for using another streaming software.
Some of the possible alternatives are Wondershare DemoCreator, XSplit, or ShareX.
While OBS seems to be an industry standard, a lot of streamers still use these alternatives because they’ve found them better for one reason or another.
When it comes to the microphone issues specifically, no one found any audio issues with Blue Yeti or any other equipment.
While this problem is primarily connected to the newer Mac updates, you could still try this out with Windows.
5. Fixing Grounding Issues
There are 2 problems that can happen here, the grounding wires in your house are either broken, or there aren’t any at all.
Both of these will probably require a professional electrician tuning in, as it can be potentially dangerous to fiddle with this on your own.
If this seems too much for just a background noise issue, this is your reminder that this actually is not just a background noise issue.
Having a grounding problem isn’t only affecting your sound quality, but it can also have an impact on your quality of life.
You don’t want just quality content, you want your life quality to be good as well, and that won’t happen when there is a grounding issue.
6. Convert Your File Format
Some people found the solution for the loud noises in converting your files.
The default format your file will be in is .mkv, and it seems like the microphone recording loses the static noise when it’s in .mp4.
This is a step more, and it might be irritating, but it is a free and simple solution.
7. Noise Reduction Software
If nothing here helped you, then you should look into software made for improving sound quality.
Noise cancellation software works by placing pop filters over your audio recording.
To do this, it records the background sound and then inverts it to a signal which it uses to create an anti-noise that will cancel it.
The two main ones that work for both Windows and Mac OS are Krisp and Nvidia RTX Voice.
If you’re a Linux user, there’s NoiseGator, and if you use sour microphones on an Android device, try Neutralizer or Noise Killer apps.
Whenever you edit your recording, make sure that you use headphones to be sure that it works out fine once it goes through the program.
FAQ
Why is my Blue Yeti making static noise?
There are many reasons why the mic could be having this kind of an issue. Some of the most common ones include USB issues, gain, and polar pattern issues, which are all very easy to deal with.
Also, if you use Mac OS and also OBS, it seems like the latest updates of the operating system don’t work well with OBS, making microphones have a static noise to them.
A bit of a bigger issue that you could have is related to your power supply, and your grounding might not work properly, or you might not have grounding at all.
Finally, maybe the location where you have your microphone isn’t the best for acoustics so you might need to work out a new recording place.
How do you get rid of the static noise on a Blue Yeti?
This depends mostly on what is the issue that is causing the sound in the first place. Depending on what is your core issue, you will see what are the next steps you need to take in order to fix the problem.
If you aren’t sure and you can’t really point your finger at the primary problem, some recording fixes include converting your files to .mp4 or installing software that’s made for canceling the background sounds.
The first things that you should check when troubleshooting this is the USB ports and cables, the placement of your mic, and the grounding status of your sockets.
Why does my mic have so much static?
There are many issues that can cause this to happen. Some of the most common issues are the things related to your mic’s USB connection, the microphone settings, the placement of your mic, and even whether you have a good grounding in your home.
You should try each of these things out to see and point where the problem lies. Once you diagnose what the exact problem is, you will know what your solutions are.
