Easy sound treatment? at DVinfo.net

Rafael Lopes · September 5th, 2012, 12:15 PM

Guys, please don´t start throwing rocks yet....but is there some sort of moderately effective AUTOMATED sound cleaner software out there? Preferably free. I don´t really have the ear to distinguish all the small subtleties required for a good manual sound treatment and due to my projects' dimensions I don´t think hiring a post production sound technician is really necessary.

P.S - I work with Premiere

Jon Fairhurst · September 5th, 2012, 01:05 PM

Check out GoldWave. You sample some quiet audio from the clip and the software estimates the noise. Then apply it to the whole clip. There is one control where you can adjust the amount of sound reduction that you want. It's pretty easy. When the voices sound "underwater", you have too much NR. When you hear too much noise, you have too little NR.

Rafael Lopes · September 5th, 2012, 01:07 PM

Thanks, bud. I´ll give it a try :)

Richard Crowley · September 5th, 2012, 02:21 PM

A great deal depends on exactly what sort of problem(s) you are trying to mitigate. Your question is so vague that it seems unlikely you will get any response that you will find really useful.

Consider at least posting a sample of the problem recording so that we can hear it.

Rafael Lopes · September 5th, 2012, 02:32 PM

You´re right, my question is very vague as I have next to no knowledge at all about audio.
What I can do is a come up with a metaphor using photography. Even though there isn´t a button that will make the RAW image perfect the way you want there is the AUTO option on most RAW developers that will get the image at least closer to what a perfectly exposed image should be...and then you can take from there towards your personal style. Is there such a thing for sound?

Greg Miller · September 5th, 2012, 02:57 PM

Don't worry about coming up with the right metaphor. Just post a sample of the audio.

Geoffrey Cox · September 5th, 2012, 03:21 PM

Taking your metaphor I don't think there is a product that does for sound what you describe for photography. And how you chose to deal with the problem really does depend on the nature of the problem.

The software Jon suggests can work in some situations. It can also be useless. Judicious use of audio filters (that come with all NLEs and audio software) is often helpful.

Tom Gresham · September 6th, 2012, 11:37 AM

Soundsoap?

Rick Reineke · September 6th, 2012, 12:21 PM

SoundSoap? Maybe but BIAS, Inc "ceased operation" recently. (a month or two ago)

"BIAS, Inc. has ceased operations. We would like to thank all the BIAS customers and friends for the opportunity to have served the audio community for over 16 amazing years.
The BIAS Authorization Manager Server is functioning for authorizing and de-authorizing BIAS products at this time."

Richard Crowley · September 6th, 2012, 12:40 PM

We are doing a disservice to Mr. Lopes suggesting audio applications at random. It seems VERY likely (at least IMHO) that he can NOT do what he wants to do with ANY of the suggested software apps. Until he posts a sample somewhere where we can hear it, we are all shooting in the dark and wasting everyone's time.

Mr. Lopes. There is no practical comparison between what you can do with images (still or moving) and what you can do with audio. Nothing but hearing an actual sample of the problem track will allow us to give you any useful advice. By your own admission you are unable to describe exactly what the problem is. Fortunately it is easy to post a sample somewhere so we can hear it and give you the benefit not only of our evaluation of the problem, but also practical advice on what you can do about it.

September 5th, 2012, 12:15 PM	#1
Rafael Lopes Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 1,240	Easy sound treatment? Guys, please don´t start throwing rocks yet....but is there some sort of moderately effective AUTOMATED sound cleaner software out there? Preferably free. I don´t really have the ear to distinguish all the small subtleties required for a good manual sound treatment and due to my projects' dimensions I don´t think hiring a post production sound technician is really necessary. P.S - I work with Premiere __________________ www.rafael-lopes.com

September 5th, 2012, 01:05 PM	#2
Jon Fairhurst Inner Circle Join Date: May 2006 Location: Camas, WA, USA Posts: 5,513	Re: Easy sound treatment? Check out GoldWave. You sample some quiet audio from the clip and the software estimates the noise. Then apply it to the whole clip. There is one control where you can adjust the amount of sound reduction that you want. It's pretty easy. When the voices sound "underwater", you have too much NR. When you hear too much noise, you have too little NR. __________________ Jon Fairhurst

September 5th, 2012, 01:07 PM	#3
Rafael Lopes Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 1,240	Re: Easy sound treatment? Thanks, bud. I´ll give it a try :) __________________ www.rafael-lopes.com

September 5th, 2012, 02:21 PM	#4
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	Re: Easy sound treatment? A great deal depends on exactly what sort of problem(s) you are trying to mitigate. Your question is so vague that it seems unlikely you will get any response that you will find really useful. Consider at least posting a sample of the problem recording so that we can hear it.

September 5th, 2012, 02:32 PM	#5
Rafael Lopes Trustee Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Rio de Janeiro Posts: 1,240	Re: Easy sound treatment? You´re right, my question is very vague as I have next to no knowledge at all about audio. What I can do is a come up with a metaphor using photography. Even though there isn´t a button that will make the RAW image perfect the way you want there is the AUTO option on most RAW developers that will get the image at least closer to what a perfectly exposed image should be...and then you can take from there towards your personal style. Is there such a thing for sound? __________________ www.rafael-lopes.com

September 5th, 2012, 02:57 PM	#6
Greg Miller Trustee Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,791	Re: Easy sound treatment? Don't worry about coming up with the right metaphor. Just post a sample of the audio.

September 5th, 2012, 03:21 PM	#7
Geoffrey Cox Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Huddersfield, UK Posts: 469	Re: Easy sound treatment? Taking your metaphor I don't think there is a product that does for sound what you describe for photography. And how you chose to deal with the problem really does depend on the nature of the problem. The software Jon suggests can work in some situations. It can also be useless. Judicious use of audio filters (that come with all NLEs and audio software) is often helpful.

September 6th, 2012, 11:37 AM	#8
Tom Gresham Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Covington, Louisiana Posts: 179	Re: Easy sound treatment? Soundsoap?

September 6th, 2012, 12:21 PM	#9
Rick Reineke Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: New York Posts: 2,039	Re: Easy sound treatment? SoundSoap? Maybe but BIAS, Inc "ceased operation" recently. (a month or two ago) "BIAS, Inc. has ceased operations. We would like to thank all the BIAS customers and friends for the opportunity to have served the audio community for over 16 amazing years. The BIAS Authorization Manager Server is functioning for authorizing and de-authorizing BIAS products at this time."

September 6th, 2012, 12:40 PM	#10
Richard Crowley Trustee Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 1,238	Re: Easy sound treatment? We are doing a disservice to Mr. Lopes suggesting audio applications at random. It seems VERY likely (at least IMHO) that he can NOT do what he wants to do with ANY of the suggested software apps. Until he posts a sample somewhere where we can hear it, we are all shooting in the dark and wasting everyone's time. Mr. Lopes. There is no practical comparison between what you can do with images (still or moving) and what you can do with audio. Nothing but hearing an actual sample of the problem track will allow us to give you any useful advice. By your own admission you are unable to describe exactly what the problem is. Fortunately it is easy to post a sample somewhere so we can hear it and give you the benefit not only of our evaluation of the problem, but also practical advice on what you can do about it.