Clicking noise

Mommawones wrote on 2/12/2011, 3:31 PM

My camera makes a clicking noise because it's really old. I'm making a movie and the clicking noise is irking the crud out of me. So...what should I do about it? I have messed around with the audio effects, and I have even done the tutorial on the audio, but nothing is working out. I want to soften this clicking noise.....any ideas?

Comments

Steve Grisetti wrote on 2/13/2011, 6:33 AM

Unfortunately, it's virtually impossible to remove this kind of noise in post production. At least short of going down your timeline and muting the sound every time the sound comes in.

You don't say what kind of camcorder you've got, but used miniDVs can be had online for $100 or less on sites like eBay. They're the ideal standard def format for editing on your computer!

Tape-based HDV is the ideal format for high-def -- although, if you've got a fast computer, AVCHD is the new wave to ride.

And stick with Sony and Canon if you can. You'll be a lot less likely to get clicking in your videos in the future.

Mommawones wrote on 2/17/2011, 1:10 PM

Thanks! that's helpful. I have a camcorder now that will work better. But how do you mute those sounds? You said something like muting it every time it comes up....how would you do that? Thanks!

Rainer wrote on 2/17/2011, 9:23 PM

Momma, have a look at Audacity from http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ (free). It's got a click remover filter (which isn't that reliable, depends how clicky your clicks are) and a noise remover which is a bit more complicated to use but if your clicks sound the same can work really well.

amendegw wrote on 2/18/2011, 2:51 AM

You might consider an external mic with a shockmount or possibly a separate digital recorder such as the Zoom H1

Barring that, you'll probably have to get the camera repaired.

Good Luck!
...Jerry

richard-amirault wrote on 2/18/2011, 10:21 AM

But how do you mute those sounds? You said something like muting it every time it comes up....how would you do that? Thanks!

You can do that MANUALLY (a *lot* of work) by putting an audio envelope on your sound track timeline. When initially placed it will be in the middle (from top to bottom).

To use it click on it with the mouse to put points on it. Once you have points you can click and drag these (and the line will come with it) up and down ... thus bringing the volume up or down.

If you expand the timeline considerably (left to right) you can put three points on the volume envelope, drag the middle one down, and reduce the volume of a single click (or bad word, or whatever).

However .. as I said .. this is a LOT of work for a constant, repeating noise.