ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

10 years, 2 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Yes - however, it depends upon the type of distortion, amount, etc. If you don't have your own audio editing software/hardware, I would suggest a trip to a friendly audio suite. To my way of thinking, the sound needs to be 'heard' in order to determine how to fix it.

Could you elaborate on the sort of distortion?

Wozy

10 years, 2 months ago - Richard Connew

You can try using both a high pass and low pass filter (Premiere Pro, Vegas editing packs etc all have this) and tweaking both to reduce the distortion if the sound is around one area of the spectrum but as was said above if its clipped you are most likely going to have to film it again or if possible do voice overs and tape a background wild track to replace the original.

10 years, 2 months ago - Alève Mine

There is a noise reduction functionality in Audacity.
And as others said above, you will inevitably lose from the stuff you want to hear.

10 years, 2 months ago - Holly Wilkinson

Thank you. You can still hear everything that is going on, but its like the bass is a too loud on the speakers, and its effected the sound recording, if that makes it any clear? Just kind of makes the whole sound a bit blurry and fuzzy.

Thanks so much for your help!

10 years, 2 months ago - Andy Lee

iZotope RX is fantastic software for dealing with all sorts of audio issues. It can even repair clipped recording where the levels were set too high, as long as it's not completely inaudible. If you want to send me a clip I can see if there's anything I can easily do for you. Is this a personal or commercial project? dropbox andy@andylee.tv

10 years, 2 months ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

An obvious question, but did you have the audio levels set correctly when the recording happened? I remember a long time ago a shoot I was line producing and the audio levels weren't set correctly and the sound came out similar to what you describe - but can be sure unless I hear it...

How are you listening to it? Headphones, studio speakers or a normal tv?

Maybe someone on SP could help out with running it through an audio suite to check it for you? Anyone?

Wozy

10 years, 1 month ago - Chris Bogle

Hi Holly. Adobe Audition has a good adaptive NR filter but it depends on how bad the noise is. The more you have to pull out the more the audio you want to keep will be distorted. Wozy's right - try and get an audio person on here to look at it for you.

10 years, 2 months ago - Marlom Tander

Given the context - live performance, so loud? Sounds like you got clipping (hard clipping), which means the loss of top of the waveform and resultant distortion due to the levels being set too sensitive.

AND/OR original sound quality was rubbish due to the shape of the room and position of the mic. I know from experience that the ear is a lot more forgiving of sound quality in the room than the mic, and most performance spaces (unless properly designed auditoria) have crap acoustics away from the small suite spot. For the camera stuck at the back or sides the sound is usually awful, but your ear lies to you, esp if you are enjoying the performance.

Chances are you have both issues. I'm not much of an audio edit guy, but maybe the pointers will help.

10 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

As Marlom suggests, sounds like it might have clipped. It's the audio equivalent of pointing a camera at the sun and expecting good resolution - the sensor is overloaded and there's no way back, the information is lost (if it is clipping)