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Audio hum removal
Greetings…..that nasty old gremlin “Hum” crept into my audio track while recording a live concert. In fact, I think it may be Hum’s older smelly uncle, “Buzz The Audio Destroyer”, because it is rather loud. I believe it is from a bad XLR mic cable linked into the chain at the last minute. Nevertheless, it is there for the entire 90 minute show, only occasionally buried during singing or louder narration points. I have tried FCP audio filters for Hum removal and Notch filter, not having success there, I just seem to make the male voice narration sound worse. I exported the audio clip to Sound Track Pro and attempted a fix with “Denoiser”. Lets just say my skills at STP are beginner and I am wandering a bit clueless. This is the first time I have tackled a hum removal problem in either editor, so any advice will need to come from an editor with the patience of Job and the wisdom of Solomon, posessing good explanation skills. Thank you.
G-4 Power Mac, Dual 1.0 Ghz, 2.0 gb RAM
FCP 5.0.4
STP 1.0.3 -
8 Replies
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Since you are in Soundtrack Pro I suggest you try the noise reduction tool found in Process/Noise Reduction.
Highlight an area in your audio track that has the buzz as isolated as possible. Then go Process/Noise Reduction/Set Noise Print.
Then highlight all the audio you want to effect and select Process/Noise Reduction/Reduce Noise. You’ll have a widow where you can control the threshold, amount and pitch of the noise all while you are hearing the results in RT. You can also check noise only to hear what is being taken out.
Matt
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If you have a BUZZ, rather than a HUM you are in very serious trouble. A BUZZ contains loads of harmonics and is pretty much impossible to remove. A HUM with no BUZZINESS is closer to a sine wave and easier to isolate and remove.
You have, according to your post, done everything I can think of to cure your problem.
The next stage is to try specialized programs which you won’t know how to work like Soundsoap Pro ($600) – and since you’ve already farted around in SoundTrack Pro it sounds like you’ve hit the wall.
You are probably not going to be able to cure this problem in a truly satisfactory manner. I’m sorry.
Why don’t you throw yourself on the mercy of an audio post house with a really top reputation? Plead poverty … play them your stuff and ask for an assessment of the problem. Perhaps they’ll do a test for you for free. Most audio places are pretty cool about this kind of thing and tend to be generous in attitude … more so than video houses because their gear is less expensive.
My bleakness stems from being truthful. You are, I think, pretty much buggered.
Best
Harry.
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Rather than play with software that you don’t know, find a sound studio with CEDAR. They have the best debuzz algorithms, but you need to be skilled to drive it.
CEDAR sorts the harmonics as well as the fundamental frequency. STP is a toy by comparison.
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Thank you Matt and Harry. It is always great to have the community respond with help!
Matt, I have been tweaking it in STP with your suggestions, results are o.k. but not perfectly clean without distorting the narrators voice. I may have to settle for what sounds the best.
Harry, I know a very generous audio post house pro here in town. His answering machine continues to take my calls! I fear he may be gone for the holiday, but I am going to keep trying.
Again thanks to both of you. I wish you a Merry Christmas and zero problems editing this holiday season!
Larry
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I am hopeful to connect with the local audio post house in town here and get a satisfactory resolution. Thank you for your tip!
Larry
Larry
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This CEDAR thing suggested by a responder sounds terrific. I didn’t know of this program.
Go West, young man, and find it.
Best of luck
Harry
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https://www.cedaraudio.com/products/cambridge/camdebuzz.html
CEDAR audio restoration gear is the choice for audio pros & forensic science.
Check out their other modules. I don’t work for them but have used there gear for years on Operas & docos
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This is an awesome tip. Saved a news story I was cutting with sound from the NATO ambassador speaking at a podium. The audio feed they gave us through their sound system had a serious buzz. This tip eliminated all of it, and he still sounded human.
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