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Post by sandy on Aug 3, 2020 14:35:44 GMT
Hi all, just wanted to ask if any of you plays around with Audacity or Wavepad or such programs for cleaning up sound on files?
I am dabbling but not proving as successful as I would wish? Have a couple of nice short bits to clean up? Any advice would be gratefully received 😊
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Post by Mevrouw Bee on Aug 3, 2020 16:59:08 GMT
The Dude uses a really old program called Cool Edit. But he has Audacity; just never uses it much. Not sure that he can help. Got a specific question? Because he knows HOW to use Audacity...
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Post by The Dude on Aug 3, 2020 17:07:13 GMT
The Dude uses a really old program called Cool Edit. But he has Audacity; just never uses it much. Not sure that he can help. Got a specific question? Because he knows HOW to use Audacity... I use Cool Edit 2000 for digitalising vinyl and have been using it since 1998. It still works under Windows 10 (much to my surprise). I use Audacity only for recording and only when Cool Edit is busy declicking recordings. To record my own music I have a studio program installed, called MAGIX Music Maker |
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Post by sandy on Aug 3, 2020 18:16:38 GMT
The Dude uses a really old program called Cool Edit. But he has Audacity; just never uses it much. Not sure that he can help. Got a specific question? Because he knows HOW to use Audacity... I use Cool Edit 2000 for digitalising vinyl and have been using it since 1998. It still works under Windows 10 (much to my surprise). I use Audacity only for recording and only when Cool Edit is busy declicking recordings. To record my own music I have a studio program installed, called MAGIX Music Maker Hiya! Thanks for that.I had a quick look.. Maybe these programs are more for fresh recordings rather than rubbish quality tapes😂 I'll try re recording them on a hifi with graphic equaliser maybe? I'll give it a go again😉Thanks😊 |
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Post by baz on Aug 3, 2020 22:20:46 GMT
Sound restoration is a complex issue and one of my specialities!
The best advice I can give is to experiment. Just make sure you have at least 2 backups of the file you're working on, and ensure you do not wipe that original file. Then, tinker away, play with and adjust the settings of declickers, denoisers etc and listen carefully to the result. If you don't like it, you can simply undo it and tweak it a little. One major problem many have is when they use automated settings, sure they get rid of the tape noise but if the settings are too high, you can end up with a file that is full of new artefacts, often sounding like it was recorded underwater. Subtlety is the key - a little less noise is definitely preferable to all the noise gone but the music or speech sounds worse for it.
What is crucial is capturing a good playback of the original tape. Unfortunately on a seemingly random basis, some tapes will play back better than others and it's a pro-active process too requiring you to listen as you transfer. Before you start, wind the entire tape through - fast forward then rewind. Loosen it up because some tapes can get "sticky" and get jammed or worse, snap. When playing back, you may find within a few minutes, the audio signal will go dull and sound crappy. If and when that happens, the solution is simple - stop the tape, remove it then clean the playback head. Just use a cotton bud soaked in alcohol based solution and rub it over the head until the dirt is removed. Once dried out, you'll immediately notice a difference. So regular cleaning of the tape heads is important. DON'T mess with graphic EQ... just capture the tape as raw as possible. If it means recording a tape in several sections and edit them together later, so be it. Once it's digitised then you can play around with the software EQ and effects to enhance the recording.
I learnt the hard way and I use several different - and expensive - pieces of software for different methods and tweaks learnt by the method described above. My earliest efforts were heavy-handed and gradually learnt to use it more subtly for the best results. Never ever get rid of the original sound files because in time, your techniques may improve and then you can go back and try it and get better results. It may sound a little daunting but just experiment, play around, make notes, save settings that work for you. Some tapes will require more work than others but once you get a better feel and more comfortable with what you're doing, you'll be fine. Practice definitely makes perfect.
Hope this helps.
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Post by dirtyfaz on Aug 4, 2020 2:17:23 GMT
I use Audacity, Audio Audition 1.5 and 3. I basically only record vinyl and use Audition. I will record a whole side of an album and use audition to cut the tracks up, edit the starts and ends of tracks and declick. That is all the processing I do outside of maybe increasing the volume but not over the top.
I have never tried with a tape. Never got into them.
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Post by cameron on Aug 4, 2020 7:09:25 GMT
I used Audacity for years but have now moved to LogicPro, which is what they use in recording studios. It's been such a leap forward, that I've been going back and re-doing a particular audio restoration project that I was working on.
It's a case of 'how long is a piece of string' when it comes to audio restoration.
What exactly are you trying to repair with the sound files?
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Post by The Dude on Aug 4, 2020 9:57:43 GMT
Sound restoration is a complex issue and one of my specialities! The best advice I can give is to experiment. Just make sure you have at least 2 backups of the file you're working on, and ensure you do not wipe that original file. Then, tinker away, play with and adjust the settings of declickers, denoisers etc and listen carefully to the result. If you don't like it, you can simply undo it and tweak it a little. One major problem many have is when they use automated settings, sure they get rid of the tape noise but if the settings are too high, you can end up with a file that is full of new artefacts, often sounding like it was recorded underwater. Subtlety is the key - a little less noise is definitely preferable to all the noise gone but the music or speech sounds worse for it. What is crucial is capturing a good playback of the original tape. Unfortunately on a seemingly random basis, some tapes will play back better than others and it's a pro-active process too requiring you to listen as you transfer. Before you start, wind the entire tape through - fast forward then rewind. Loosen it up because some tapes can get "sticky" and get jammed or worse, snap. When playing back, you may find within a few minutes, the audio signal will go dull and sound crappy. If and when that happens, the solution is simple - stop the tape, remove it then clean the playback head. Just use a cotton bud soaked in alcohol based solution and rub it over the head until the dirt is removed. Once dried out, you'll immediately notice a difference. So regular cleaning of the tape heads is important. DON'T mess with graphic EQ... just capture the tape as raw as possible. If it means recording a tape in several sections and edit them together later, so be it. Once it's digitised then you can play around with the software EQ and effects to enhance the recording. I learnt the hard way and I use several different - and expensive - pieces of software for different methods and tweaks learnt by the method described above. My earliest efforts were heavy-handed and gradually learnt to use it more subtly for the best results. Never ever get rid of the original sound files because in time, your techniques may improve and then you can go back and try it and get better results. It may sound a little daunting but just experiment, play around, make notes, save settings that work for you. Some tapes will require more work than others but once you get a better feel and more comfortable with what you're doing, you'll be fine. Practice definitely makes perfect. Hope this helps. The above is my working method too... acquired over 22 years of digitalising my vinyl collection of 1000+ 45s and 1300+ albums... |
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Post by sandy on Aug 4, 2020 16:03:39 GMT
Thankyou all for that, it's really helpful. I get what you say about automatic settings being too high and sound being worse off....that was my last attempt...god, you need patience, don't you?? It's just a bit of a live tape, not great quality, but it has the guys doing ' Dance with me', by Orleans, one of my favourite songs, and 'Please please me' too!! I used to love it when they threw in stuff like that .And the banter was always so funny... Good old northern bluff humour!!! I'll keep at it, and let you know 😊Welcome to share or hear it eventually 😊
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