soundsoap vs noise reduction 2.0 or anything else

auggybendoggy wrote on 5/18/2003, 12:58 PM

Does anyone have some wisdom on noise reduction 2.0 vs 1.0 vs soundsoap

I really like the Idea of my noise reduction being a dX plugin so it can be done right from the program. I did read someone who uses 2.0 and says it's worthless. I d/l the trial version and it does remove hiss but it does affect the audio. I put it on a balance of threshold and I get a mildly altered wav file with a well reduced noise signal ratio.

Can anyone point me in another direction from 2.0? Is it worthless? Is it a matter of learning it?

Soundsoap is great but only xp compatible and I'm trying to avoid XP due to costly upgrades of all my software (EXPENSIVE)!

Any advice would be appreciated.

Gene

Also is CD Architect any good?

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jbrawn wrote on 8/28/2003, 11:01 PM

The opposite of a compressor is an expander or noise gate. The idea is that when the signal is above the threshhold level, it is unchanged, but when it falls below the threshhold level, it is made even quieter.

Sonic Foundry's Noise Reduction 2.0 uses this expander principle, but does it seperately for each of hundreds of narrow frequency ranges across the entire audio spectrum.

You select a section of the audio track that contains only noise (between words or between tracks on an LP or something) and allow NR2 to analyse that part of the track to find the average level in each of hundreds of frequency ranges (max 2048 I think). Then you tell it where you want the threshhold level set compared to the average noise level in each of those frequency ranges. And finally you set the expansion amount -- i.e how many dB should the signal in each range be lowered if the input level is below the threshhold.

Done right, the end result is that any signal of any frequency which is louder than the noise will come through unhindered, but the noise will be reduced.

I've found it very helpful in LP restoration and also cassette hiss reduction.

John.

AudioIvan wrote on 8/29/2003, 12:05 AM

Very well explained BillyBoy,I agree with you.If you try to remove all the noise you will end up with not crisp sound,flat,"behind curtain"clean sound,that's why I preffer to do noise reduction & cleaning with Steinberg Clean+Plug-ins.However SoundSoap it is too far away from good reliable noise reduction app(that is my opinion anyway).
AudioIvan

JakeHannam wrote on 8/29/2003, 3:09 PM

AudioIvan,

So, you've actually used Soundsoap? I'm looking for someone who can give an objective reason(s) to use or not to use SoundSoap.

From the screen shots, it certainly looks like it has less powerful options (e.g., not many buttons or sliders to tweak) but this can be misleading. Why do you prefer your app over SoundSoap or SF Noise Reduction? And, how much is it?

Thanks.
Jake

BillyBoy wrote on 8/29/2003, 3:31 PM

Applications like Soundsoap are more along the line of a slam bang, quickie fix. Fine... if that's all you need. At the other end of the sprectum are things like SF's Noise Reduction and a couple of the others mentioned in this thread that allow you to more fine tune how the filter works.

Lets state it this way... You know what a "nut" I am about color correction. Many have discovered the benefits of going the extra mile for that kind of improvement. OK, if you're that kind of fussy about audio, then the cheaper noise reduction tools probably won't make the grade for what you're trying to do.

Again what are your needs? If you're just trying to fix one bad project, you probably don't want to invest hundreds of dollars for a tool you won't get much use out of. However if you run into noisy clips all the time, you may.

Those extra button and sliders do stuff. Again, you can make some really good video if you never use color corrector or color curves. However if you do use them you'll notice the difference which can be striking.

JakeHannam wrote on 8/29/2003, 9:33 PM

Thanks, Billyboy. Yeah, I'm like you in that respect and I like to have the extra power even if I don't use it all the time. I have the original Canon Elura (moderate camera noise) plus lots of old VHS-C tapes (very noisy) so I need something of the caliber of SF Noise Reduction. I had pretty much come to the conclusion that SoundSoap was a 'lite' app and figured I would quickly outgrow it if I bought it.

I know you can eliminate a lot of noise with Noise Gate and EQ and probably others and I have been doing that. I also have a 'lite' noise cleaner in Roxio Easy CD that works okay for some projects.

In the meantime, I will wait for SF/Sony to make their price more reasonable. What SF/Sony should really do to make themselves more competitive, is to include Noise Reduction in the next version of Sound Forge or Vegas (or at least include it as part of well-priced bundle).

Thanks to everyone for the input.

Jake

MyST wrote on 8/29/2003, 10:27 PM

"Those extra button and sliders do stuff."

LOL! I don't think I've ever seen a point made so well, with so few words! Seriously...well put!

The difference between you, Billyboy, and myself (a hobbyist) is you know which button to push and how much to slide the slider so you get the results you want.

Myself, after pushing the buttons and sliding the sliders, I'll usually say "That's NOT what I wanted!" :)

M

MJhig wrote on 8/30/2003, 10:27 AM

>>>What SF/Sony should really do to make themselves more competitive, is to include Noise Reduction in the next version of Sound Forge or Vegas (or at least include it as part of well-priced bundle).<<<

They already do, just doing a quick search;

SOUND FORGE v6.0 w/NOISE REDUCTION v2 Lowest Price: $ 234.95

MJ

BillyBoy wrote on 8/30/2003, 11:33 AM

The point is you should not have to buy software "packages" to get one special purpose application, especially when its really something that's "missing" and should have been included within Vegas at least in a limited version to begin with.

Its curious that Vegas is sold as something you can use for both "professional" video and audio editing and while there are many standard video tools to fix the picture quality, there is a glaring absense of any tool to fix the most annoying fault in audio...unwanted noise.

Sure, you can buy SoFo's excellent noise reduction filter. However...

Many of us already had/ have have some type of audio package priot to using Vegas, be it Sound Forge, Cool Edit, several others. My point is I shouldn't be forced to buy a whole another suite just to get a noise reduction filter.

And as presently offered as a seperate application by SoFo the noise reduction filter is way over priced for its limited funcitonality... why I went elsewhere. So in my opinion, penny wise and pound foolish marketing just like lumping together DVD-A with Vegas instead of offering it seperately.

As it should be plainly obvious, to anyone following this forum I like and use several SoFo products. Then again I'm not stupid. I'm not going to pay $250 for something that should cost about $50. Not when for another $50 or so I can get something that offers not only decent noise reduction, but many other audio tools as well for about half the price. Here's hoping... in fact I know Sony is far more clever at marketing then SoFo ever was.

AudioIvan wrote on 8/30/2003, 1:12 PM

@ JakeHannam
Sorry for the late reply,I was too busy Jake.I did download demo SoundSoap
& to be honnest with you first time I heard about this app on this forum I was supprised that there is such app.Not judging by the interface but by the quality that this app can give you all I can say is BIG NO!
Why I preffer Steinberg Clean+Plug-Ins?If it's about buying plug-ins there is at least 5 or more that can do perfect noise reduction combined with Clean,if you don't want to spend money do a search on Google "VST Plug-ins FREEWARE".I know what kind of quality freeware apps can give you but what you pay that you get.That doesn't mean I don't respect freeware, in fact there are plenty of exellent programs out there.About Clean have look here
http://www.pinnaclesys.com/ProductPage_n.asp?Product_ID=1359&Langue_ID=7 and here Waves Platinum Bundle
http://www.waves.com/
Too Good Combination

JakeHannam wrote on 8/30/2003, 1:57 PM

Thanks, AudioIvan, for the link. Clean or Clean Plus looks to have some nice features for a pretty good price. I like the idea of a phono preamp with Clean Plus which allows you to record directly from your turntable to PC without having to lug the whole stereo system down to the computer.

I didn't see any mention, though, of tools for the removal of camera noise.

Jake

JohnnyRoy wrote on 8/30/2003, 2:10 PM

> do a search on Google "VST Plug-ins FREEWARE".

One of the finest sites for finding VST’s is K-v-R (www.KvR-vst.com.) You can limit your search to just effects or just instruments, etc. They also have ratings and reviews. It’s a great resource. Click on the Instruments, Effects, etc. link on the left under News. (not the Search link)

> I didn't see any mention, though, of tools for the removal of camera noise

Vegas has these built in. Open the effects on your audio track and select the Track EQ and try one of the Presets: for a notch filter. There are presets for low rumble, 60 Hz hums, etc. Start with a preset and fine tune for the frequency of your camera noise. Perhaps not as good as a noise print as with noise reduction but it will work in a pinch.

~jr