Corrupted Sound on HDV Capture

jonathan-kenefec wrote on 7/14/2008, 1:24 PM

Hi,

I captured files from the camera (HV20) and have corruptions in the sound. The amplitude of the sound on the timeline is very high - virtually a solid block of red on the timeline. I've not changed any settings in Vegas and have never come across this problem before.

The sound is listenable (just) but the bass and drum beats sound like they're coming from loose speakers in a 17 year olds tricked out Vauxhaull Nova.

Could it be due to a bad portion of tape? I use new JCV HD tapes each time. However, I did have one drop out of video (approx. 1 second) in addition to the sound problem with this tape.

Can the audio be rescued? There are that many options in Vegas that I could spend a year playing and still not correct it. Any pointers?

BTW - also captured this same tape in VMS with same results so I'm guessing it must be a problem with the tape? Don't think any camera settings have been altered.

Thanks

Jon.

Comments

JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/14/2008, 1:30 PM

It sounds like your audio was clipping when it was recorded. There is not much you can do about it now. You can try audio restoration plug-ins like iZotope RX but sometimes the audio is too far gone. I'm not sure if the Canon HV20 gives you much control over the audio but the sound pressure levels (SPL) were probably too high for the microphone you used.

Download the trail of iZotope RX (but only if you can afford to buy it) and see if the DeClipper can help.

~jr

jonathan-kenefec wrote on 7/14/2008, 2:04 PM

Thanks for that.

Other clips filmed moments before with the same music in the same room are fine. As are all the other clips I've recorded in that room over the past few months. No sophistocated audio / microphones here - just the HV20 running on its own capturing video and sound.

So although I take your point re clipping I have no idea how that can have occurred as no settings were changed in camera.

I'm stumped and worried in case it happens again!

jonathan-kenefec wrote on 7/14/2008, 2:12 PM

Ah, you're right.

Just captured it again in Pinnacle as a final test and it's still got corrupted audio.

I must have unwittingly changed a camera setting...

Thanks for your help mate.

JohnnyRoy wrote on 7/14/2008, 2:46 PM

Maybe you turned Auto Gain Control (AGC) off or something for that one clip. Sorry to hear it was clipping but glad you confirmed it wasn't anything else.

~jr

jonathan-kenefec wrote on 7/14/2008, 2:54 PM

Thanks mate - will check that out.

I just looked at that program you suggested and yikes that's a lot of cash. Out of my price range I'm afraid. I was hoping Audacity had a declipper but can't seem to find one.

Bugger!