traffic noise
 

I have recorded an indoor conversation that has low but noticeable traffic noise in the background (heard through a closed window). If I preceed this scene with an outdoor street scene with comparatively loud traffic noise, would it desensitize the listener to the low traffic noise in the quieter scene to follow?

I don't think it would desensitize me. But if a connection between the street location and the indoor setting or to one of the participants is established during the lead-in, then the sense of setting would cause me to accept the noise as part of the feature.

If there is no such connection then the lead-in would be effective initially, but might wear off after a few minutes and leave me annoyed with the noise.

It would not desensitize the viewer, it would prepare him. Just good continuity, in my view.

Jim,

Sometimes I put some light music in (when appropriate) to cover low noise levels.

I also use a gate (built into my NLE) but it can be difficult to cut out noise and not cut off the beginning of words or make them "electronic".

Emre, prepare is probably a better word. When I used the word desensitize I was thinking of the way a worker in a noisy factory hears those noises less after a time. More likely, if I'm lucky, the noises in the office will sound less significant and annoying when compared to those on the street.

Fred, the added street scene will introduce one of the characters entering the building. Now the interesting task will be cutting between two shots recorded an hour apart without getting instantly appearing and disappearing specific traffic noises.

Thanks, everyone, for the input.

Another approach would be to remove the traffic noise.

In general, I find traffic noise especially difficult to remove.

I use Sony Noise Reduction 2.0, from within Vegas to remove the traffic noise. Sometimes I am able to remove the noise. It all depends on the noise and the nature of the sounds that you need to keep.

Dan, if you remove the traffic noise than occurs while someone speaks, what do you lose from the speech?

Use a high-pass filter, which takes out all the lower frequencies. I think you can run the cut-off frequency up to 100 or 120 Hz and cut out most of the traffic without impacting the voices at all. Play around with it until you find the frequency that works for you.

Good luck.

With Sony Noise Reduction 2, you can take a "Noise Print" of the noise. This tool captures the frequences inherent in your noise.

Then you can reduce the levels of just these frequencies.

If these frequencies are also used in your vocals, then you may have a problem.

Since traffic noises generally cover a wide range of frequencies, removing traffic noises is sometimes very difficult.