How to Denoise Grainy Video Footage in Premiere Pro (2025 Guide)

When you're working with low-light footage or older video clips, unwanted noise and grain can be a serious distraction. Many video editors turn to Premiere Pro for noise reduction, hoping to clean up their footage without sacrificing too much detail.

In this article, we’ll walk through two practical ways to denoise video in Premiere Pro — using the built-in Median effect and the popular Neat Video plugin. Now, let’s get started.

Method 1: Denoise Video with Premiere Pro's Median Effect

Premiere Pro doesn’t have a dedicated video denoise effect, but it does offer a simple workaround through the Median effect. This effect works by averaging neighboring pixels, which helps reduce visual noise. While not as advanced as dedicated plugins, it’s free and built into Premiere Pro, making it a quick option for basic noise reduction.

Here’s how to apply the Median effect step by step:

Step 1: Import Your Footage into Premiere Pro

Open your project or create a new one, then drag your noisy video clip into the timeline. Make sure you’re working in the Editing workspace so you have easy access to the Effects panel.

Step 2: Find the Median Effect

In the Effects panel, type “Median” into the search bar. You’ll find it under: Video Effects > Noise & Grain > Median. Now simply drag the effect onto your video clip in the timeline.

Step 3: Adjust the Radius Value

Once the effect is applied, go to the Effect Controls panel with the clip selected.

You’ll see a “Radius” slider — this determines how aggressively the effect smooths the image.

• Start with a low value like 2–3.
• Increase gradually to see how much noise is reduced.
• Be careful: higher values may soften the image too much and blur important details.

Step 4: Use Masks to Apply Median Selectively (Optional)

If the noise is only present in specific parts of the image (like shadows), you don’t need to apply the effect to the whole frame.

Under the Median effect in the Effect Controls panel:

• Click the Ellipse, Rectangle, or Pen mask tools to isolate areas.
• You can also feather the mask for a smoother transition.
• Animate the mask if the noisy area moves during the clip.

Step 5: Fine-Tune and Preview

Play back the clip and toggle the effect on and off to compare results. You may need to balance between noise reduction and image sharpness, depending on your footage.

Method 2: Denoise Video in Premiere Pro Using the Neat Video Plugin

For more advanced and effective noise reduction, many professionals turn to Neat Video, a powerful third-party plugin designed specifically to clean up grainy or noisy footage. Unlike the basic Median effect, Neat Video uses sophisticated algorithms to analyze and reduce noise without overly softening the image. It works particularly well with low-light or high ISO footage.

Here’s how to use Neat Video in Premiere Pro step by step:

Step 1: Install the Neat Video Plugin

First, you’ll need to install the plugin. Head over to Neat Video download page and download the version that matches your operating system and Premiere Pro build.

After running the installer and completing the setup, restart Premiere Pro so the plugin becomes available within your effects library.

Step 2: Apply Neat Video to Your Footage

With Premiere Pro open, import your noisy video clip into the timeline. Then, go to the Effects panel and search for “Reduce Noise vX” under Video Effects > Neat Video. Drag this effect onto your clip.

Once applied, you’ll see the plugin listed in the Effect Controls panel.

Step 3: Launch the Plugin Interface

Click the “Options” or “Prepare” button in the Effect Controls panel to launch the Neat Video interface. This opens a separate window where the actual noise analysis and filtering are performed. It’s where the real work begins.

Step 4: Build a Noise Profile

In the Neat Video interface, you’ll need to select an area of your frame that contains only noise — ideally a flat surface with no detail, like a wall or shadowed area. Use your cursor to highlight that region. Once selected, click the “Auto Profile” button. Neat Video will then analyze the sample and generate a custom noise profile tailored to your footage.

Step 5: Adjust Noise Reduction Settings

Once the noise profile is built, switch to the Adjust and Preview tab — this is where all the fine-tuning happens. Neat Video uses two core filters: Spatial and Temporal.

The Spatial filter targets noise within a single frame, like color blotches or sensor grain. You can adjust its strength using the Radius and Noise Reduction Amount sliders. Increasing the radius leads to stronger noise removal, but be cautious — too much will soften image details.

The Temporal filter compares multiple frames to suppress flickering or motion-based noise. Its strength is also controlled via a Radius setting (which determines how many frames before and after are analyzed) and a separate reduction slider. This filter is especially effective for video shot in low light or with compression artifacts.

Step 6: Apply the Filter and Return to Premiere Pro

Once you’re satisfied with the preview, click “Apply” to close the Neat Video window. Back in Premiere Pro, the effect will now be active on your clip. Be aware that Neat Video is demanding on your hardware, so playback may be slow until you render the sequence.

Neat Video offers far more control and better results than basic built-in effects, especially for problematic footage. However, it does come with a cost (both in price and performance). In the next section, we’ll show you a simpler alternative that requires no technical setup and works automatically — ideal for users who just want clean video without the complexity.

Bonus: An Easier Alternative —Denoise Video with AI Tool

If you're not ready to dive into manual plugins or spend time adjusting filters frame by frame, VideoProc Converter AI offers a much simpler approach. It uses AI-powered algorithms to automatically detect and reduce noise in videos — no need to build noise profiles, tweak settings, or install third-party plugins. Everything is handled with just a few clicks.

Here's how it works:

Step 1: Launch the Software and Import Your Video

Open VideoProc Converter AI on your computer. On the main interface, select the “Super Resolution” module.

Then click “Add Media” to add the noisy footage you want to clean up. The software supports a wide range of formats, so you won’t need to worry about compatibility.

Step 2: Choose an AI Model

Click the AI model dropdown to select the one that best suits your footage. There are four models available, each designed for different video types. All models are powered by built-in denoise algorithms that automatically analyze and clean up noise while preserving details and edges.

Step 3: Adjust Model Settings

Customize the output to suit your needs. You can choose:

• Scale: 2X, 3X, or 4X for upscaling and noise reduction.
• Resolution: Set your desired target resolution — 480p, 720p, 1080p, 2K, or 4K.
• Enhancement Level: Enable the Enhance Video (1X) option to apply noise reduction without changing resolution.

Step 4: Preview and Export

You can preview the denoised video before exporting, so you know what to expect. When everything looks good, set your desired codec and quality level if needed, and click “RUN” to start processing.

Compared to manual methods in Premiere Pro, VideoProc Converter AI is fast, user-friendly, and doesn’t require any editing experience. It's a great choice if you’re looking for clean, polished footage without spending extra time on technical adjustments.

FAQs about Noise Reduction in Premiere Pro

1. Does Premiere Pro have a built-in noise reduction effect?

Yes. Premiere Pro includes the Median effect, which can reduce grain by blending pixel values. While not specifically designed for denoising, it works well in many situations when combined with masks and keyframes.

2. Is Neat Video free to use?

Neat Video offers a free demo version with functional limitations, such as watermarked output and restricted resolution. To unlock full features, you need to purchase a license.

3. Can I remove noise from 4K video in Premiere Pro?

Yes, both the Median effect and plugins like Neat Video support 4K footage. However, denoising high-resolution video requires more system resources and may slow down preview and rendering times.

4. What’s the difference between grain and noise in video?

Grain is often intentional and comes from film or sensor textures, adding a stylistic look. Noise, on the other hand, is unwanted visual distortion typically caused by low-light shooting or heavy compression.