Audio clean-up: rain noise at DVinfo.net

Mark Stavar · September 4th, 2007, 12:55 AM

I am editing together a wedding video using footage shot by someone else.

The footage was initially in .MOD format. When I finally realised that this was mpeg2 and I rerendered to DV/AVI, I couldn't believe the performance improvement in Vegas!

But now, I am dealling with some serious rain-noise problems in the audio. I think that camera was being held under and umbrella, so the rain noise is comparabel to the crackling of a fire.

My question: what would be the best way to try and reduce this noise. I am not an audiophile, so I have not done any serious analysis work on this problem. I initially tried using the default track effects (noise gate, EQ and compressor), and had a little success there, but I imagine the real solution may lie in identifying "rain drop/pock" frequencies and attempted to minimise them.

What do people suggest?

All help greatly appreciated.

Ciao,

marks

---
Vegas 7.0e/SF 8.0/AMD64 3500+

Joe Busch · September 4th, 2007, 02:05 AM

Do you need the audio from the camera? Or can you just put music ontop... :)

John Cline · September 4th, 2007, 02:45 AM

Rain noise consists of a wide range of frequencies and varying levels. It will be virtually impossible to fix this.

Mark Stavar · September 4th, 2007, 06:26 AM

For a good deal of it I can fudge out the rain, but there are a couple of segments where poems are read and vows are spoken - really want to keep those.

I realise that it can't be fully removed, but if I can reduce its impact.

I'll fiddle about and see what I can do.

Many thanks,

marks

Tim OBrien · September 5th, 2007, 12:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Cline

Rain noise consists of a wide range of frequencies and varying levels. It will be virtually impossible to fix this.

Yup. Garbage In = Garbage Out.

You cant take out a broad band of sound.

Jon Fairhurst · September 5th, 2007, 01:49 PM

Download the demo from GoldWave.com and try out its noise reduction. As mentioned, rain is tough, but it's worth a shot...

Mark Stavar · September 5th, 2007, 05:44 PM

Thanks Jon,

I'll give the goldwave product a go.

Appreciate the suggestion.

marks

Hugh Mobley · September 5th, 2007, 07:52 PM

Try Audacity

Jon Fairhurst · September 5th, 2007, 11:56 PM

I haven't used Audacity, but GoldWave is very good. It has a very liberal demo policy, and only costs $50. I recently purchased Sound Forge 9, and to be honest, I think GoldWave's noise reduction compares favorably with SF9's NR. I keep using SF9 though, just because it cost more. Silly me! (I should really do a head to head test next time I have a tough NR job.)

Hugh Mobley · September 6th, 2007, 11:00 AM

Audacity is a free program, you will have to play with the noise removal settings, but it does do it.

September 4th, 2007, 12:55 AM	#1
Mark Stavar Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 95	Audio clean-up: rain noise I am editing together a wedding video using footage shot by someone else. The footage was initially in .MOD format. When I finally realised that this was mpeg2 and I rerendered to DV/AVI, I couldn't believe the performance improvement in Vegas! But now, I am dealling with some serious rain-noise problems in the audio. I think that camera was being held under and umbrella, so the rain noise is comparabel to the crackling of a fire. My question: what would be the best way to try and reduce this noise. I am not an audiophile, so I have not done any serious analysis work on this problem. I initially tried using the default track effects (noise gate, EQ and compressor), and had a little success there, but I imagine the real solution may lie in identifying "rain drop/pock" frequencies and attempted to minimise them. What do people suggest? All help greatly appreciated. Ciao, marks --- Vegas 7.0e/SF 8.0/AMD64 3500+

September 5th, 2007, 01:49 PM	#6
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Download the demo from GoldWave.com and try out its noise reduction. As mentioned, rain is tough, but it's worth a shot... __________________ Jon Fairhurst

September 5th, 2007, 07:52 PM	#8
Hugh Mobley Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Placentia, Calif Posts: 549	Try Audacity __________________ Hugh Mobley www.petplanetvideos.com http://exposureroom.com/members/hmobley.aspx/

September 5th, 2007, 11:56 PM	#9
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	I haven't used Audacity, but GoldWave is very good. It has a very liberal demo policy, and only costs $50. I recently purchased Sound Forge 9, and to be honest, I think GoldWave's noise reduction compares favorably with SF9's NR. I keep using SF9 though, just because it cost more. Silly me! (I should really do a head to head test next time I have a tough NR job.) __________________ Jon Fairhurst

September 6th, 2007, 11:00 AM	#10
Hugh Mobley Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Placentia, Calif Posts: 549	Audacity is a free program, you will have to play with the noise removal settings, but it does do it. __________________ Hugh Mobley www.petplanetvideos.com http://exposureroom.com/members/hmobley.aspx/

September 4th, 2007, 02:05 AM	#2
Joe Busch Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 398	Do you need the audio from the camera? Or can you just put music ontop... :)

September 4th, 2007, 02:45 AM	#3
John Cline Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Posts: 333	Rain noise consists of a wide range of frequencies and varying levels. It will be virtually impossible to fix this.

September 4th, 2007, 06:26 AM	#4
Mark Stavar Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 95	For a good deal of it I can fudge out the rain, but there are a couple of segments where poems are read and vows are spoken - really want to keep those. I realise that it can't be fully removed, but if I can reduce its impact. I'll fiddle about and see what I can do. Many thanks, marks

September 5th, 2007, 05:44 PM	#7
Mark Stavar Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 95	Thanks Jon, I'll give the goldwave product a go. Appreciate the suggestion. marks