Basic audio touchups through Vegas/SoundForge

[Jim Andrada]

Exactly - apply the negative distraction filter!!! Can't quite remember what menu it's in though.

Point is that all noise is not created equal. A little soft running water noise is less distracting (at least to me) than keys jangling in a pocket, so if I can cover up the key noise with a little rushing water noise I think I'm winning. Ideal might be no noise of course.

[Jon Fairhurst]

Originally Posted by Jim Andrada

I've sometimes been able to make things sound better by actually ADDING noise - done judiciously it can mask some low level problems. ...

Very true. In general, one would want to add a smooth rumble, rather than a crackling hiss.

This is similar to discussions on film grain vs. digital video noise. Some noise styles are attractive and some definitely aren't. :)

[Greg Miller]

Originally Posted by Jim Andrada

A little soft running water noise is less distracting (at least to me) than keys jangling in a pocket

Jim, with all due respect, from one old codger to another... I always find that the "soft running water noise" makes me cross my legs and squirm.

Correction: I should have said "with all due respect and tongue firmly in cheek."

Happy Trails!

[Greg Miller]

Originally Posted by Jon Fairhurst

This is similar to discussions on film grain vs. digital video noise

I've always thought of grain as high frequency noise. You lessen it by reducing the high frequency response; i.e. by softening the focus. Especially in the blue channel.

[Dave Haynie]

Originally Posted by Phil Gosselin

Well we shot the footage in a convention so the background noise is constant. Take a look at the screenshot attached, it shows a list of all plugins available with my version of Vegas, which is 10a.

If you have SoundForge 10, you have Sony's latest noise reduction. It may have come with earlier versions, but it's definitely in Forge 10.

A couple of things. For one, it will not show up in 64-bit Vegas... it's a 32-bit Plug-in. Secondly, I'm not entirely sure the version bundled with Forge 10 is actually a normal plug-in anymore. It shows up in the "Tools" menu, not the plug-ins menu. I do see Sony's NR in Vegas 9 32-bit (I use Vegas 10, but have not installed the 32-bit version), but I also do own the stand-alone version, so I'm not sure if that's there.

Sony NR is good for regular background noise, like crowd noise, as many have said here. There are better version of this from other companies, but Sony's works ok.

If the noise is simpler and very specific, you can use simpler tools to help out. The first is to figure out just what you're looking for. If you have Forge, you can run a spectrum analysis of the audio, and hopefully find a peak for specific noise sources, like a machine, motor, hum, etc. This can be removed by setting a notch filter at the errant frequency. Try Sony's Parametric or Paragraphic EQ, or something similar (I think I have two dozen EQs as plug-ins, but anything along these lines works).

[Jim Andrada]

Hi Greg

Yes, I think I remember a long time ago some company piped the sound of running water into the office - and people went to the bathroom more frequently.