Help with poorly-recorded audio... at DVinfo.net

Matthew Ingram · May 2nd, 2007, 11:05 AM

...ok, ok! I know! I did my best! It's not *all* bad, but worse in some parts.

I've got some distortion in the voice I recorded using a Sennheiser Wireless Mic.

Using something like Peak Pro on the Mac how would you reccommend I try and make the best of this?

Here's a link to a section of the clip:

http://www.hollowearth.org/sound.aif.zip

Constructive suggestions GREATLY appreciated.

Matthew Ingram · May 3rd, 2007, 04:17 AM

Can anyone help with this? Thanks.

Ervin Farkas · May 3rd, 2007, 06:02 AM

I would try playing with the equalizer and find some frequencies to cut (low), others to amplify (mid high, around 3-5 KHz) in order to boost the intelligibility. Other than that you will pretty much have to live with the distortion, there is no way to revert that.

Matthew Ingram · May 3rd, 2007, 06:14 AM

Thanks Eric. EQ, I gotcha.

Eric Shepherd · May 3rd, 2007, 11:01 AM

If you can, try cutting all/as much of the garbage as you can, without boosting anything. Boosting generally adds distortion, which would be magnified by the fact that it's already distorted. :)

-Eric

Matthew Ingram · May 3rd, 2007, 11:08 AM

:( tell me about it. ok. so in my FreQ interface I should "drag down" essentially. Apologies to Ervin for not reading his name properly.

Eric Shepherd · May 3rd, 2007, 11:19 AM

Yes, that's the idea.

I just listened to your audio, it doesn't sound *that* bad. With the proper tools and skills, I think this can be salvaged.

A parametric equalizer will work better than a graphic equalizer, as it creates a smoother change. The Q setting will adjust how wide of a frequency range it covers, the frequency is the center of that range, and then gain would be similar to the faders on a graphic equalizer.

Here's a quick primer on EQ:

Turn your speakers down a bit first, then turn the gain in the parametric EQ all the way up. Then move the frequency slowly while playing back the audio. At certain frequencies, you'll notice it sounds HORRIBLE. The distortion will jump out at you way worse than during regular playback of this file. Try to find the absolute worst frequency with the frequency knob, then drop the gain to a negative number and it should clear up some of the distortion.

Then adjust the Q setting, higher numbers = narrower range, lower = wider... Try to make it as narrow as possible, while still removing as much distortion as possible, but not eating into the voice very much. Play with the gain and Q together, once you've narrowed down the frequency and you should have good results.

You *may* find it needs a few parametric EQ filters at different frequencies to really do the job properly. The important thing to remember here is use as narrow of a range as possible (high Q number), you want to retain as much of the voice as possible. And try not to drop the gain too far. It may be that several frequencies sound bad, but only a little bad in each one. So dropping one frequency by 12dB won't sound as good as dropping 3 or 4 frequencies by 4 or 5dB (just an example).

This should get you started, or at least give you something to do for the next hour or two. :)

Eric

May 2nd, 2007, 11:05 AM	#1
Matthew Ingram New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 8	Help with poorly-recorded audio... ...ok, ok! I know! I did my best! It's not all bad, but worse in some parts. I've got some distortion in the voice I recorded using a Sennheiser Wireless Mic. Using something like Peak Pro on the Mac how would you reccommend I try and make the best of this? Here's a link to a section of the clip: http://www.hollowearth.org/sound.aif.zip Constructive suggestions GREATLY appreciated.

May 3rd, 2007, 06:02 AM	#3
Ervin Farkas Inner Circle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta/USA Posts: 2,515	Equalizer I would try playing with the equalizer and find some frequencies to cut (low), others to amplify (mid high, around 3-5 KHz) in order to boost the intelligibility. Other than that you will pretty much have to live with the distortion, there is no way to revert that. __________________ Ervin Farkas www.AtlantaLegalVideo.com

May 3rd, 2007, 04:17 AM	#2
Matthew Ingram New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 8	Can anyone help with this? Thanks.

May 3rd, 2007, 06:14 AM	#4
Matthew Ingram New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 8	Thanks Eric. EQ, I gotcha.

May 3rd, 2007, 11:01 AM	#5
Eric Shepherd Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 404	If you can, try cutting all/as much of the garbage as you can, without boosting anything. Boosting generally adds distortion, which would be magnified by the fact that it's already distorted. :) -Eric

May 3rd, 2007, 11:08 AM	#6
Matthew Ingram New Boot Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 8	:( tell me about it. ok. so in my FreQ interface I should "drag down" essentially. Apologies to Ervin for not reading his name properly.

May 3rd, 2007, 11:19 AM	#7
Eric Shepherd Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 404	Yes, that's the idea. I just listened to your audio, it doesn't sound that bad. With the proper tools and skills, I think this can be salvaged. A parametric equalizer will work better than a graphic equalizer, as it creates a smoother change. The Q setting will adjust how wide of a frequency range it covers, the frequency is the center of that range, and then gain would be similar to the faders on a graphic equalizer. Here's a quick primer on EQ: Turn your speakers down a bit first, then turn the gain in the parametric EQ all the way up. Then move the frequency slowly while playing back the audio. At certain frequencies, you'll notice it sounds HORRIBLE. The distortion will jump out at you way worse than during regular playback of this file. Try to find the absolute worst frequency with the frequency knob, then drop the gain to a negative number and it should clear up some of the distortion. Then adjust the Q setting, higher numbers = narrower range, lower = wider... Try to make it as narrow as possible, while still removing as much distortion as possible, but not eating into the voice very much. Play with the gain and Q together, once you've narrowed down the frequency and you should have good results. You may find it needs a few parametric EQ filters at different frequencies to really do the job properly. The important thing to remember here is use as narrow of a range as possible (high Q number), you want to retain as much of the voice as possible. And try not to drop the gain too far. It may be that several frequencies sound bad, but only a little bad in each one. So dropping one frequency by 12dB won't sound as good as dropping 3 or 4 frequencies by 4 or 5dB (just an example). This should get you started, or at least give you something to do for the next hour or two. :) Eric