Mouth Clicks
Unwanted clicking or sticky sounds caused by saliva and tongue movement during recording, one of the most common quality issues in audiobook narration.
Mouth clicks are small, sharp sounds produced when the tongue, lips, or palate separate with a thin layer of saliva between them. They sound like tiny clicks or sticky pops, and they are one of the most common and frustrating quality issues in audiobook narration. While often inaudible in normal conversation, the close-mic technique used in studio recording picks them up clearly, and they become especially noticeable in quiet passages and during sibilant sounds.
Prevention is far more effective than removal. Staying well hydrated is the single most important factor: drink water consistently throughout the day, not just during recording sessions. Many narrators swear by green apple slices, which contain malic acid that helps thin saliva and reduce stickiness. Avoiding dairy, caffeine, and sugary drinks before sessions also helps. Some narrators use a light mouth rinse or biotene spray to manage saliva consistency. Taking regular breaks and keeping the recording environment at a comfortable humidity level further reduces mouth click frequency.
When mouth clicks do occur, they can be removed in post-production using specialized tools like iZotope RX or similar de-click processors that detect and remove the short transients without affecting the surrounding audio. However, heavy de-clicking can introduce artifacts and is time-consuming. For narrators using punch-and-roll technique, the best approach is to simply punch back and re-record the line when you hear a mouth click, rather than planning to fix it later.