Audio Editing Package Recommendations?

RWatts wrote on 7/16/2002, 5:07 PM

First, THANKS to whoever suggested bypassing the dazzle box. I connected my Canon ZR 35 directly via DV/Firewire to the "Dell" card and captured nicely in VF2 with scene detection.
Now, I would like to do more audio editing than I can with VF2, any suggestions? I really need to remove some background stuff, add effects, etc.
Reg

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 7/16/2002, 10:18 PM

Sonic Foundry's SoundForge is the best ;)

There is an awful lot you can do right in VideoFactory though. It has some pretty impressive audio editing capabilities built in.

RWatts wrote on 7/16/2002, 11:27 PM

Ok, thanks, I will play around a bit more. We video beach weddings and there are many types of audio artifacts, wind noise, sea, people, and I'd like to see if a bit of filtering here and there could rescue some of the 'tender moments" when the voices tend to drop. We have tried lapel mikes but it is messy and intrusive. I may have to go to wireless.
Thanks again

JimClark wrote on 7/17/2002, 1:18 AM

ne of the list members recently reccomended MAGIX's Audio Cleaning Lab
to me to get rid of unwanted noise in audio.
Jim clark

RWatts wrote on 7/17/2002, 8:14 AM

Jim:
Thanks, I'll check it out!
Reg W

Grazie wrote on 7/18/2002, 3:40 AM

Jim, have you tried it yet? There's a deluxe version just come out. Can I make it the Default Sound editor within VF? Yeah I know better to record "good" sound in the first place. Doah!

Grazie

discdude wrote on 7/18/2002, 7:24 AM

I own Magix Cleaning Lab 1.0. Magix Cleaning Lab 3.0 just came out (as far as I know there was never a 2.0).

Personally, I thought Syntrillium's Cool Edit 2000 (with audio cleanup plugin) or Aconas's Acoustica did a better job. However, Cool Edit 2000 (<$100 with all the plugins)is significantly more expensive than Magix Audio Cleaning Lab (I spent $20) and Acoustica is significantly slower than Audio Cleaning Lab.

I also tried Audacity, which is free and open source. I wasn't impressed with its results (too easy to introduce distortion) but it shows promise.

I found Audio Cleaning Lab's editing capabilities are rather limited and its interface too "cute" for its own good. It's interface is supposed to resemble a stereo, complete with silver-colored backgrounds, buttons and "knobs". It doesn't work as good as it looks.

Bottom line, if all you are looking for is affordable noise reduction, Magix will fit your bill. However, if you have greater aspirations, I would try something else.

Of course, don't take my work for it (I'm a video guy first). All of the above programs come with free demos, spend some time downloading and get what YOU like.

Audio Cleaning Lab - http://www.magix.com
Cool Edit 2000 - http://www.syntrillium.com
Acoustica - http://www.aconas.com
Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net

Don't forget Sonic Foundry's own Sound Forge XP Studio

RWatts wrote on 7/18/2002, 9:12 AM

Thanks, discdude, I'm on it!
Reg

JimClark wrote on 7/18/2002, 1:14 PM

No Grazie I have not but I am going to download the demo. I just got my camera today. i am just beginning to learn.
Jim Clark

Grazie wrote on 7/18/2002, 2:37 PM

Brilliant! I wait with baited breath!...

Grazie