Re: [slightly off] Noise reduction plug-ins for Sound Forge

In article <mKlIwmhivPtGFwfJ@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Bill <me@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes
In message <slrnfb9p7n.hf.pm@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Paul Martin <pm@xxxxxxxxxx> writes
The problem with these DSP-based noise removal systems is that the result is often very synthetic-sounding. You'll never remove the interference completely without affecting the desired material.

A buzz is going to be rich in harmonics, covering most of the audio spectrum. It's easier to remove than white noise. After noise removal you're going to end up with audio that's been through the DSP equivalent of a comb filter. It might not be any more pleasant to listen to than the original, flawed recording.

Don't let me put you off trying, though.

The thing about Adobe Audition, if you haven't tried it, is that you get so many alternative noise reduction options.
Things like being able to Lasso areas or frequency ranges, and then apply selective processes.

It's not for the faint hearted, though. You do need to be serious and prepared to spend a reasonable amount of time on a trial and error basis.

Often a combination of subtle processes will work wonders without too many side effects.

Thanks for all the considered replies folks - really kind and much appreciated.

Interim update:

I bit the bullet and upgraded to Sound Forge 9 over the week-end (Friday, about £100). It's re-enabled my noise reduction plug-in, which was a paid-for add-on to SF6, but broken by SF7 (needed for XP, fume, fume, etc.), and I've jumped a release to get R9 with the NR plug-in now bundled. If I wasn't in software marketing myself, I'd be really rude about marketers at this point!

Given it's a memorial concert, there are quite a few chunks of atmos/interference that I can get 'noiseprints' from to seed the algorithm. The help file recommends multiple gentle passes, doing a fresh noise capture each time, and I'll try this approach, since I've paid for it in the upgrade. I've got a section where the noise is particularly nasty (French Horn solo, organ accompaniment) to experiment on, but I'm nervous about some of the choral stuff.

The good news is that the interference isn't on the mic channels, so it's constant and masked fairly well by loud mod, (but I think the fault caused clipping, which is another problem to address).

The bad news is that it is modulated by something every few seconds. It really does sound like mobile 'phone transmissions, albeit not the usual "I'm here!" buzzes from the 'phone itself. I've never had to cope with cell base station interference before, but it's what I'd expect it to sound like. It was recorded in a very small Cotswold town, and I have a nasty feeling a cell base TX was either very close by or actually on the church tower - should've looked, but didn't (I'm getting old!).

Samples before/after to follow when I get a moment.

One bit of amazing news: unusually, I paid for physical product from Sony, as well as the downloads - CD/DVD plus manuals (us fogeys need something to hold on to!). I paid over the web on Friday night, and was amazed that it arrived via FedEx this morning, even though I'd only paid for standard rate delivery. It really was a transatlantic shipment, they didn't use a fulfilment house in the EU even though I pre-paid the VAT. So kudos to Sony for their business processes!


Regards,

Simonm.

--
simonm|at|muircom|dot|demon|.|c|oh|dot|u|kay
SIMON MUIR, BRISTOL UK
EUROPEANS AGAINST THE EU http://www.eurofaq.freeuk.com/
GT250A'76 R80/RT'86 110CSW TDi'88 www.kc3ltd.co.uk/profile/eurofollie/
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