How to minimalise audio ‘spikes’

[Frank Nolan]

It seems they maybe RF interference which you are pretty much stuck with. Did you have a boom recording as well that you can cut to? If not maybe somewhere else in the recording he says the same word that you could edit in place.

[Olly Lawer]

Can’t do either really, it wouldn’t fit.

I guess this must be a common problem? G2 mics are very popular and there is no rhyme or reason for the spikes, so maybe this happens a lot?

Surely there is a way of editing out the spike? You can still hear him under the spike, so maybe adjusting the frequencies in some way?

Olly Lawer

[Eric Toline]

What you experienced were RF hits. Cause usually unknown. After 1 or two hits a frequency scan on the receiver would be in order to find a clear path although that is no guarentee but it would get you off the frequency with the hits.

Eric

[Olly Lawer]

Thanks, but couldn’t do a frequency scan as it was a live recording.

Is there any way of getting rid of them?

Thanks

Olly Lawer

[Frank Nolan]

[Olly Lawer] “Is there any way of getting rid of them?”

You can edit them out but if he is talking right where they happen then you are stuck with them. If you want to post a small file with one spike I will take a listen and see what I can do.

[Olly Lawer]

Thank you. Very much appreciated. I’ll do that tomorrow as it’s late here.

Olly Lawer

[Peter Groom]

Yes post a link to a bit and well have a listen.
If theres a 1hr+ recording and only 10 or so spikes, cant you can find wthe affected words elsewhere and chop them in? You get a lot of words in an hour!
Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Olly Lawer]

Possibly, but he varies his speech so often that I think it will sound odd. Can test it.

Olly Lawer

[Peter Groom]

Have you uploaded a file (or can you email me one as an mp3 or similar.

Peter

Post Production Dubbing Mixer

[Ty Ford]

Hello Oliy and welcome to the Cow Audio Forum.

You have received good information in this thread. Since this seems to be something new for you, I will add the following. Wireless mics are more vulnerable than hardwired mics, but RF disruption can happen on hardwired mics as well. We just have too many RF-based toys.

In addition to actual noise, wireless mics may also suffer from reduced range due to interference. I try to fight that by hanging my receiver bag as close to the person wearing the transmitter as possible and cabling back to my mixer. I can usually find a light stand near the shooting area to hang the bag on, or I use one I bring with me. You want an spot that’ll provide you an unobstructed “view” from the transmitter to the receiver. I usually try to get my receiver bag waist high or higher, so if someone walks or stands between the transmitter and receiver, they won’t present as much of an obstruction.

Directional receiver antennae are also helpful, but require additional mounting and cables.

Regardless of what CSI may show on TV, don’t expect similar results. Some noises can be reduced. Others can’t. The success usually hinges on how broad spectrum the noise is. The wider the spectrum, the more difficult it is to remove the noise. By spectrum, I mean the spread of low to high frequencies. There are software and hardware filters that can pull 60 cycle hum out pretty well. HVAC noise is broader spectrum. It has noise across a wider range of audio frequencies. Pulling that noise out without compromising the voice (or whatever you’re trying to record) is more difficult.

Regards,

Ty Ford

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