repairing original distortion

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Arnoscopy
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 2:18 pm

repairing original distortion

Post by Arnoscopy »

I have an hour and a half of court-recorded audio that is terribly distorted, does Amadeus have the ability to repair?

CDJonah
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:10 am

repairing original distortion

Post by CDJonah »

It depends on what the distortion is and how good a repair job you need.

Chuck
On 9/26/14 10:22 AM, Arnoscopy wrote:
I have an hour and a half of court-recorded audio that is terribly distorted, does Amadeus have the ability to repair?




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Arnoscopy
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Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 2:18 pm

audio distortion

Post by Arnoscopy »

i was given the recording to fix, i wasn't there but it sounds to me like over-modulation and it's throughout the recording. i suppose i could repair each sound wave, seems painstaking...i don't need studio-quality, just to be a lot more discernible than it is now.

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Jim Edgar
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repairing original distortion

Post by Jim Edgar »

Can you post a sentence or two somewhere?  It's hard to guess without really hearing what you've got.

Generally, I'd look at levels first, then use a 31 band graphic EQ to emphasize the usable bands.  If it was recorded on a self-leveling microphone in a "live" space, you're going to have fluctuating levels, white noise and resonances impacting the sound, which may be what you are describing. 


Multiband compression can be helpful as well. (the AU Multiband Compressor)


hope that helps!


- Jim



Jim Edgar / Voice Actor

@jimedgarvoices
http://www.jimedgarvoices.com  -  http://about.me/jimedgar

CDJonah
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:10 am

repairing original distortion

Post by CDJonah »

Look at it on the screen -- select a section that is typical and do
waveform statistics. If there are a lot of clipped samples and if you
zoom in on them, they are flat-topped, you probably have a file filled
with junk. I did once write a program to remove clipping; unfortunately
it was in a scientific data analysis program and not a stand alone
program (Igor), so it probably wouldn't do you any good. It could handle
mild clipping.

There might not be any real clipped samples but still have it clipped --
see if there are flat spots at the maxima. I have seen hardware that had
maximum values that are less than full scale.

Chuck
On 9/26/14 12:29 PM, Arnoscopy wrote:
i was given the recording to fix, i wasn't there but it sounds to me like over-modulation and it's throughout the recording. i suppose i could repair each sound wave, seems painstaking...i don't need studio-quality, just to be a lot more discernible than it is now.




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Arnoscopy
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Post by Arnoscopy »

there is no clipping however waveform is very jagged. i have an mp3 sample how do i provide it here?

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Jim Edgar
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repairing original distortion

Post by Jim Edgar »

Probably best to post a link to a box.com or dropbox file.
Jim Edgar

Arnoscopy
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2014 2:18 pm

Post by Arnoscopy »

here's just a taste but you get the idea...
https://app.box.com/s/0itjlv2n7cqr5t9vh3kl

CDJonah
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:10 am

repairing original distortion

Post by CDJonah »

Can you convince the CIA that filtering the audio out is of National
Interest? Probably the only way to get much out of it. Maybe someone
with more experience can guess how one can get such a horrible sound
recording. It might be interesting to know so as to avoid it.

Chuck
On 9/27/14 9:45 AM, Arnoscopy wrote:
here's just a taste but you get the idea...
https://app.box.com/s/0itjlv2n7cqr5t9vh3kl




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Arnoscopy
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Post by Arnoscopy »

seriously...how hard is it to record a court hearing? i'm trying to fix stupid but it's so bad i don't know what i can do

CDJonah
Posts: 119
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 12:10 am

repairing original distortion

Post by CDJonah »

Ears are remarkable -- I remember recording a meeting once where the
sound seemed quite reasonable but the recording wasn't that great
because of the sound of the air blowing -- it was however understandable.

With the wrong mikes where background noise is dominant, it can be hard.

The simplest thing to do is say -- sorry I can't work on it.
Conceivably a professional level noise killing program such as sound
soap might help.

Chuck
On 9/27/14 12:15 PM, Arnoscopy wrote:
seriously...how hard is it to record a court hearing? i'm trying to fix stupid but it's so bad i don't know what i can do




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MrEes
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repairing original distortion

Post by MrEes »

FWIW, that sounds like a shorting mic or cable to me. And/or inadvertent reception of alien transmissions. Unless I was feeling especially masochistic, I think I would plead "beyond my area of expertise" or "insufficient time" on trying to restore that.

On the other hand, you might be able to get somewhere, eventually, with +spectralcompand from http://www.soundhack.com/spectral-shapers/ I have had some luck in sort of restoring some pretty awful (recorded by others!) stuff with it after spending a lot of time, but not to the point that I was ever truly happy with the results as timbres were always out of whack.

Doesn't anyone believe in Ohm meters and maintenance and testing anymore?

m.
--
All generalizations are dangerous… – Alexandre Dumas



On 27 Sep 2014, at 13:01, Charles Jonah <Chuck@charlesjonah.org> wrote:
Maybe someone with more experience can guess how one can get such a horrible sound recording.
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JEGG
Posts: 122
Joined: Sat Feb 24, 2007 6:33 pm

Analogue distortion?

Post by JEGG »

EDIT:
I've deleted my previous post here.

I downloaded the sample audio, and listened and looked at it. I agree - it doesn't look or sound like digital clipping.

Sounds and looks like analogue distortion.

Some inputs and outputs mismatched or wrongly switched, grounded, faulty cable, etc.?

RF a possibility, as Mr Ees mentioned.

I don't think this file can be rescued. (I rescue lots of files!) Give them the news. It has nothing to do with you.

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