Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/18/2005, 7:19 AM
It's quite possible the AGC on the DVX allowed the signal to overdrive/clip, even though it's not over zero DB. It's also possible that the mic was overdriven, depending on the recording situation. It could also potentially be just the way you're monitoring, and how your audio monitors are set up.
When you zoom in deep on the waveform, do you see straight tops on the waves, or are they smooth and rounded?
You might post a few seconds of audio somewhere, we can take a listen/look at it. If it is distorted, Sony has some tools that will help restore it, but if it's badly distorted, there is little to be done with it past making it as good as it can be.
Chienworks wrote on 3/18/2005, 7:24 AM
Also, clipped peaks is only one small type of distortion. There are lots of types of distortion that cannot be discerned by looking at the waveform.
Dan Sherman wrote on 3/18/2005, 9:33 AM
Sorry,---try this link to have a listen to my distorted audio.

http://www.shermanproductions.ca/Wiseman.wav
Spot|DSE wrote on 3/18/2005, 9:43 AM
That's distortion induced at some other point in the signal chain other than the camera, and while it's definitely troublesome, you can clean it up reasonably well. I applied Noise Reduction to it to get rid of the room, used a DeEsser to smooth out the distortion on her sibilance, and an EQ to clean up the muffled sound of the low mids, and it's quite usable, albeit still distorted.
How was this recorded?
Dan Sherman wrote on 3/18/2005, 9:51 AM
Wireless.
But headphones were not functioning,---my problem.
So relied on meter rather than ear,---bad gamble.
Even though peaking slightly in red on meter.
Meantime found ALC was off and channel for wireless was set to 60db rather than default 50db.

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/18/2005, 10:18 AM
Ah....The wireless could have easily caused this. It could also be induced by a weak battery, could have been induced by overdriving the reciever from the transmitter....
Ouch.
Those headphones are pretty handy...For onsite, I use either the Sony 7506 or the Etymotic ER6's. I hate wearing them, but every time I see a post like this...I'm glad I do.
Lemme know if I can help further. I can save off a veg if it helps. If you have the WAVES tools, you can do a much better job of salvaging this, or if you have the iZotope tools, same story.
Dan Sherman wrote on 3/18/2005, 10:27 AM
Thanks Douglas.
This is good learning experience,---though somewhat humiliting as I worked in radio for more than 30 years.
Back in the analog days VU meter levels tended to be gospel.
No excuse,---been working with digital sound for lots of years.
Still learning,---again.
WAVES or iZOTOPE something I can get from VASST site?

Spot|DSE wrote on 3/18/2005, 10:45 AM
We don't sell the WAVES or iZotope tools, you can get them from either WAVES.com or iZotope.com

For less money...I think iZotope gives you just a bit more bang for the buck. They don't have noise reduction tools, but I use the Sony tools for that. Email me privately if you need noise reduction help.
logiquem wrote on 3/18/2005, 11:08 AM
Looks like a weak battery on your wireless indeed. A grossely oversaturated preamp stage can also sound like this, but i doubt it is in cause here.

About unsable and impossible to rescue, IMHO, sorry...