Its possible to reduce noise in this audio? at DVinfo.net
DV Info Net

Go Back   DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > All Things Audio

All Things Audio
Everything Audio, from acquisition to postproduction.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old October 12th, 2012, 02:08 PM   #1
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 136
Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?
LeteckaPosta.cz Sdílejte Posílejte soubory leteckou poštou - Poslání souboru - Zde nahrajte svůj soubor
Thanks for any help or tips!
Peter Berger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 12th, 2012, 05:04 PM   #2
Trustee
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,786
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

The simplest solution is to apply a small amount (6dB) of noise reduction followed by an additional small amount (6dB) of hiss reduction. You can apply more reduction, but then you eventually produce objectionable audio artifacts.
Attached Files
File Type: wav VO.WAV-NR+HR.wav (4.58 MB, 110 views)
Greg Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 12th, 2012, 05:29 PM   #3
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 136
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

Wow! What software did you use?
I tried to use noise reduction in Sony Vegas, but there are still some kind of occasional screaking sounds.

Last edited by Peter Berger; October 12th, 2012 at 07:06 PM.
Peter Berger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 12th, 2012, 09:45 PM   #4
Trustee
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,786
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

I used Cool Edit Pro, which has been replaced by Adobe Audition (unfortunately with a very large price increase).

Luckily, you included some significant intervals of just noise (I was careful to avoid breathing, mouth clicks, or anything else except the pure background noise). I combined a few of those together, sequentially, then used that whole assemblage to get a noise sample. And finally I applied that noise sample to the entire file. I used an NR amount of just -6dB, pretty gentle, so as to avoid "metallic" or "robotic" artifacts. Happily, this lowered the lower-frequency noise quite nicely.

Even after doing that, though, there was a bit more hiss remaining than I liked to hear. So then I used the Hiss Reduction tool, again using the same noise assemblage for a sample, and again using a very modest -6dB NR figure. That produced the file that I uploaded.

Of course there are more settings that I didn't mention within each tool... just giving you a simplified idea of what I did. But it certainly took very little fiddling and probably no more than 15 minutes of time, including converting the file to mono (hey, it's half as much data), and trying a few different settings before settling on my final processing.

CoolEdit / Audition is a good audio package, if you don't mind being held up by Adobe. Frankly, I'm glad I bought it when it was its own company, but that's no longer an option. And, admittedly, Audition has gone through a few versions and has added some features that would be nice to have.

There are a few other programs that attempt to have similar tools. One -- Audacity -- is open source freeware, and you might take a look at that. I gave it a short try a year or so ago, but quickly went back to Cool Edit. My feeling was that Audacity wasn't as good, but I am admittedly biased after using CE for over ten years, and I didn't really relish another learning curve for a program (Audacity) with no apparently advantages. But in your case, the cost (zero for Audacity) might be an incentive.
Greg Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 13th, 2012, 09:32 AM   #5
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 136
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

Thanks for the help! My friend have Audition, so I will try to remove the noise from all my audios with it. I hope I will manage to do it as good as you did :)
Peter Berger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 13th, 2012, 10:10 AM   #6
Trustee
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,786
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

Of course it depends on the type of noise. If there is a very pronounced, steady hum (motor, power line hum, etc.) that is just one or two specific frequencies, I sometimes the parametric filter first, to notch out those frequencies. I like to have the hiss filter start with a file that is pretty clean, so I use the hiss filter last. Before that I use the noise filter, but it, too, should be presented with a reasonably clean file; that's why I would notch out steady tones first.

And listen closely at each step. Too much filtering will make voices sound artificial and "robotic" and will completely destroy music. So filter just the least amount that you can.

If your friends have experience using these filters, they can help you with the various settings. Good luck!
Greg Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 13th, 2012, 11:41 AM   #7
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 136
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

Thanks. BTW, could you recommend me some book or DVD where you can learn all these things?
Peter Berger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 13th, 2012, 09:43 PM   #8
Trustee
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,786
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

Jay Rose has written a few good books about recording sound for video, and audio postproduction. I highly recommend them for general knowlege about audio.

As far as noise reduction tricks, I've acquired a basic knowledge by working with broadcast and other audio for the better part of 45 years, and then using Cool Edit in various versions over at least ten years.

(I've also used Diamond Cut Audio for some more difficult noise reduction work, but in general I find Cool Edit Pro quite adequate and much more intuitive to use... but, as I said, that may be a personal bias because CEP has become second nature to me.)

Of course by next summer I might be ready for a vacation in Czech Republic, if my friends don't convince me to visit Ukraine first. ;-)

(By the way, Peter, don't forget to give us an update about the low levels with your H1.)
Greg Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 14th, 2012, 03:10 PM   #9
Regular Crew
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Czech Republic
Posts: 136
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

:-)
BTW, this recording was taken by H1 with Rode NTG2.... the speaker had to be really close to the mic (because of the low leves).
Peter Berger is offline   Reply With Quote
Old October 14th, 2012, 11:31 PM   #10
Inner Circle
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Tucson AZ
Posts: 2,211
Re: Its possible to reduce noise in this audio?

By the way, you might want to look into the Izotope package - I've had very good luck with it.
Jim Andrada is offline   Reply
Reply

DV Info Net refers all where-to-buy and where-to-rent questions exclusively to these trusted full line dealers and rental houses...

B&H Photo Video
(866) 521-7381
New York, NY USA

Scan Computers Int. Ltd.
+44 0871-472-4747
Bolton, Lancashire UK


DV Info Net also encourages you to support local businesses and buy from an authorized dealer in your neighborhood.
  You are here: DV Info Net > The Tools of DV and HD Production > All Things Audio

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

 



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:47 PM.


DV Info Net -- Real Names, Real People, Real Info!
1998-2024 The Digital Video Information Network