NEED AN AUDIO PRO

DavidBird wrote on 8/5/2003, 8:13 AM

I've shot/edited 60 seconds of footage for a client....unfortunately, I did not have the gain adjusted properly on my new wireless mic and the audio needs a substantial boost in volume. I've tried increasing the master but am getting a lot of hiss...tried a number of filters and effects in SF but unsatisfactory results. (not SF, but my ability)
Can anyone suggest a "professional" they have worked with that can "fix" my audio.
Thanks - David

Comments

Rednroll wrote on 8/5/2003, 8:40 AM

David,
The best way you can try to save this, is to use sound forge or Vegas with the Sonic Foundry Noise reduction plugin. Here's the steps.

1. Convert the file to the highest bit resolution possible...(ie 24bit/32bit float)
2. Now raise the gain, to where you think it needs to be.
3. Now select a small area where there is only noise present
4. Use the SF Noise Reduction plugin and capture the noise print.
5. Select All>reduce the noise you should be safe up to -30 to -40dB of noise reduction until you start to hear artifacts
6. Set the "overlap to around 88% for best results.
7. Set FFT size to at least 2048
8. Set the attack speed closer to FAST
9. Set the release speed closer to SLOW
10. Try the different "Reduction Type" modes, to see which gives you the best Result. MODE 2 I've found is my favorite for Voice stuff.

If you don't have the Noise reduction plugin.....you can always send your stuff off to someone like me that does.

mcgeedo wrote on 8/5/2003, 9:33 AM

How much boost do you need (in dB)?

DavidBird wrote on 8/5/2003, 9:51 AM

Quite honestly, I don't know. I have the audio running through a tuner/amp...I'm switching back and forth between the audio and an fm radio signal for comparison and it seems that the audio is about half as loud as the comparision sound

DavidBird wrote on 8/5/2003, 9:55 AM

Rednroll....I need to discuss this with you....can you provide me with your email address.
db

mcgeedo wrote on 8/5/2003, 9:56 AM

Well that shouldn't be too hard. If the audio file is small enough, why don't you send it to Rednroll, who I think volunteered to take a look at it. I will also give it a go, if you like.

DavidBird wrote on 8/5/2003, 10:24 AM

mcgeedo....I'd love to send it to rednroll AND you...how do I contact you?
David Bird

mcgeedo wrote on 8/5/2003, 11:00 AM

No sweat. If Red agrees, then we'll have a competition :-)

Send to me at don-mcgee@att.net. Also send a copy of it to mcgeedo@tycoelectronics.com.

Regards,

-Don

Cold wrote on 8/5/2003, 11:08 AM

I'll be happy to take a look. You can contact Steve at saltwater studios. My address is all small letters and no space. it's also com. I'm not giving you a copyable email due to spam crawlers.
Steve S.

Rednroll wrote on 8/5/2003, 11:20 AM

David,
Contact me at rednroll@hotmail.com and I'll let you know where to send it.

midigod wrote on 8/5/2003, 3:01 PM

I was part of an audio restoration experiment a year or so ago with other members of the newsgroup rec.audio.pro. Many techniques for restoration were used (along with noise reduction, which is why it's relevant) with varying degrees of success. There's an overview of it here:

http://www.pmerecords.com/AudioRestore.htm

and if anyone lets me know they're interested, I'll get off my butt and post the notes from each submitter. To be completely useful, you'd still need the CD (which is still available), but even without it the different viewpoints and actions taken are interesting and educational.

midigod wrote on 8/6/2003, 10:45 AM

Due to the overwhelming response </sarcasm> I've posted all the liner notes at

http://www.pmerecords.com/AudioRestore.htm

-Craig

DavidBird wrote on 8/6/2003, 12:43 PM

Hey Craig....CONSIDER THIS RESPONSE! (although not terribly overwhelming)
and thanks for your input...
David

midigod wrote on 8/6/2003, 3:16 PM

You're quite welcome - I hope it's of some use. The sarcasm was with a smirk, not a sneer.

-Craig