Getting rid of an echo

[Carl Walters]

We recently shot a church wedding, used on camera shotgun mics and an Edirol with lavalier mic clipped to groom, got a decent recording of bride and groom. However there were a couple of readings done by guests and the P.A. speaker was used to amplify there voices. This has left an echo (similar to a big Hall sound). Can anyone recommend a way of reducing the echo?
Regards, Carl

[Greg Boston]

If it's a distinct echo, you might have limited success. If it's reverb, you can pretty much forget getting rid of it. There are just way too many acoustic variables taking place with the shorter reverb reflections for software to deal with.


-gb-

[Carl Walters]

Thanks Greg, It's not reverb, it's more of an echo, the mic was picking up the speaker but the P.A was a fraction later which was also picked up as ambient noise. I guess i'll just try and filter what I can using an EQ.
Carl.

[Perrone Ford]

You might try this:

Make a clone of the original audio on a different track, make a mirror image of it (i.e. change polarity) mask off the section with good audio, and sum the tracks together.

We used to use a similar trick for pulling vocals out of mixes when all we had was that and an acapella. Not perfect, but can be made to work better than just filtering.