LOUDTUBE (or known as Noise Removal) is a subgenre of Ear Rape with a small twist. The audio is loudened alongside being put through noise reduction software. The robotic nature of the effect is amplified and thus creating a more chaotic sound than the standard Ear Rape video.

Origins

While it is unclear the exact origins of the trend, there were early examples of it's usage which caught on over the years.

In 2007, a user named LOUDTUBELOLOL posted a video titled 'LOUDTUBE: Amazing fuel saving additive'. This video has achieved only about 1,200 views, but the videos soon became popular with other users. These first videos used bass-boost effects.

A user named Master Barf then coined the term "Noise Removal" to refer to videos which have been passed through Audacity's noise reduction software at maximum settings (hence the name) and then amplified in audio to sound similar to an 8-bit NES system.

"Hotel Noise Removal" was the very first Noise Removal video to be created. LOUDTUBE itself was also using this effect before Master Barf coined it, but it was never made clear until he did.

Even though most noise removal videos use deep brightness and contrast effects, eventually Master Barf started using seizure-inducing flashing colors or lights to go with his later videos, which other users started incorporating into their own. Therefore, noise removal videos for this reason are slightly controversial.

Popularity

LOUDTUBE was first popular in 2007. There were videos that got a fair amount of views. They weren't quite as famous as normal Ear Rape videos but they generally had a fanbase of their own. The meme started to die out in 2011 with videos and comments slowing down.

Resurgence In 2020s

While it seems like it was completely forgotten, suddenly LOUDTUBE and Noise Removal memes made a tremendous comeback in 2021. A username Rivervial created some new Noise Removal videos including one of the Grubhub commercial, which was the first Noise Removal video in over 10 years.

People then began commenting on the old videos and even creating their own Noise Removal and LOUDTUBE videos as the result of many finally releasing tutorials on how to make them. Some of the new videos even pay homage to old creators such as Master Barf (or WickedSouls as he was in the time). LOUDTUBE and Noise Removal essentially came back alive and well. Some recall these videos being an early example of Analog Horror, a type of horror genre that revolves around glitched and broken technology. The videos being disturbing in nature may have influenced this.

Variations

In addition to the standard 'LOUDTUBE' videos, other variations, such as 'Noise Removal' videos, in which the audio uses Noise Reduction effects alongside Ear Rape to amplify it's natural robotic effect. This type of ear rape was popular mostly in 2007 but became popular again in 2021 along with LOUDTUBE.

Process Reveal

After a long time of confusion, and due to very few users knowing how to make these videos, Rivervial finally created a tutorial on how they are created. Thus leading to more users creating them now. This has led to many others enjoying Noise Removal themselves and creating new videos.

Noise Removal and LOUDTUBE is still alive and active but many recall their heydey which was in the 2000s.