Improve audio file from VHS conversion

[MikeM]

Hi everyone,
I converted a VHS tape to digital and the audio part is very faint with some hissing sound too. What is the best way to improve the audio file to normal level sound? How go about it? Im still using a windows 7 for the work so not sure best option out there?

Thanks!!

[The Elf]

Firstly, I would re-convert with increased audio level, if possible. The better-captured audio you have to work with, the easier the following steps become.

Then I would look at one of the audio restoration tools that works by sampling a noise-print and using this to mask the residual noise. Don't over-do this.

After that a spot of EQ is often helpful.

I've done this myself with some old cassette recordings, and the results can be very good indeed.

[MikeM]

Thank you for the advise! I ​converted the file with the best or maximum sound possible
1) could you recommend audio restoration tool that works for the sampling of a noise-print and using this to mask the residual noise?
2) what is meant with a spot of EQ?
Thanks

[Tomás Mulcahy]

Good advice from the Elf. If you're just starting out with this stuff I think Reaper is your best bet, for learning and for facilities.
https://www.reaper.fm/download.php
The video tutorials on the Reaper website are second to none.
https://www.reaper.fm/videos.php
Reaper has a noise reduction plugin just like The Elf described. It's called ReaFIR, and it is very good. Video tutorial:
https://www.reaper.fm/videos.php#31phzT7pxkk

If you want something with better sound quality, Izotope RX 9 is excellent and not expensive to buy in to. You could consider a short subscription to get the job done. It works the same way as the Reaper one, but has less artefacts if the material is very difficult.

[Tim Gillett]

If you want a better transfer and you still have the tape, the VHS machine itself may need a little attention including skilfully cleaning the audio head if it's dirty, or even trying another VHS machine for playback of the same tape. A dirty and/or worn audio head on this slow tape speed format can really muffle the sound, so that other background noise will be louder than normal by comparison.

For the very best result, a skilled transfer engineer can often do more, extracting as much as possible from the tape track, but it depends on how good a result you are wanting. The thing is, we dont always know how much the VCR playback can be improved until a skilled person with a good VCR (yes the playback equipment and its condition and adjustments can make a great difference) actually makes their own transfer of a section of the same tape and provides an audio sample for comparison with what you have managed to achieve so far.

Any chance of a link to an uploaded audio sample?

[James Perrett]

As Tim says, it is always best to adjust the playback machine to match the tape but this may involve opening up the machine and adjusting things internally so it will be beyond the skills of most people.

The next thing to check is that your computer hardware is set up properly. A proper audio interface will have adjustable level controls but most video capture devices rely on software controls or even no controls at all. It would be worth exploring your video capture software to see if there are any adjustments that you could make to the sound settings and, if there are, try transferring the tape again.

Once you have transferred the tape then you should be able to open and process the file in Reaper as Tomás suggests. However, I'm not a big fan of ReaFIR for noise reduction - it works to a certain extent and is as good as most of the budget alternatives but there are better options if you want to make the effort. I'd suggest using the Voice Denoise module in Izotope's RX Elements. This is nearly always available on special offer for $29 from somewhere if you search for it.

[MikeM]

Hi Tim, how can I send a sample audio on this thread?

If you want a better transfer and you still have the tape, the VHS machine itself may need a little attention including skilfully cleaning the audio head if it's dirty, or even trying another VHS machine for playback of the same tape. A dirty and/or worn audio head on this slow tape speed format can really muffle the sound, so that other background noise will be louder than normal by comparison.

For the very best result, a skilled transfer engineer can often do more, extracting as much as possible from the tape track, but it depends on how good a result you are wanting. The thing is, we dont always know how much the VCR playback can be improved until a skilled person with a good VCR (yes the playback equipment and its condition and adjustments can make a great difference) actually makes their own transfer of a section of the same tape and provides an audio sample for comparison with what you have managed to achieve so far.

Any chance of a link to an uploaded audio sample?

[MikeM]

Thanks everyone for the help thus far. I will have a look at Reaper option.

[Drew Stephenson]

Hi Tim, how can I send a sample audio on this thread?

The forum doesn't host any content so you'll need to store it elsewhere and share a link. SoundCloud, dropbox and googledocs tend to be the most common ways of doing this.

[Tomás Mulcahy]

...I'm not a big fan of ReaFIR for noise reduction - it works to a certain extent and is as good as most of the budget alternatives but there are better options if you want to make the effort. I'd suggest using the Voice Denoise module in Izotope's RX Elements. This is nearly always available on special offer for $29 from somewhere if you search for it.

This is true. I recommended Reaper mainly because, along with Kenny's video tutorials, it is the easiest way in for a beginner. More than the easiest- his tutorials are exemplary. Getting a noise profile and applying the right amount is surprisingly challenging for the inexperienced. OP could "graduate" to RX.

That said, I'm sure one can find a good video tutorial on how to do NR and EQ in RX (oh dear that is a lot of jargon).

[Tim Gillett]

VHS carried two types of sound tracks, normal and later HiFi. It's just possible your tape has both track types but for whatever reason your current VCR only plays the normal track. Does your VCR play HiFi sound? Often HiFi is written on the front panel of the machine.

[Mike Stranks]

MikeM: I've sent you an email...

[ef37a]

VHS carried two types of sound tracks, normal and later HiFi. It's just possible your tape has both track types but for whatever reason your current VCR only plays the normal track. Does your VCR play HiFi sound? Often HiFi is written on the front panel of the machine.

Yes, if the OP's machine is a very old one it might not have Hi Fi sound. Equally possible of course is that the tape was not recorded as Hi Fi.

Not as good as current digital sound of course, not even 16 bit but HFi VHS was a massive jump in sound quality, comparable to CD. No doubt Hugh can give us the specifications (once the hangover has gone!)

Dave.

[Wonks]

That could be some time. It will be one long non-stop alcohol and Hammond-fueled knees-up in the Robjohns' household until well after the New Year.

[Tim Gillett]

Yes, if the OP's machine is a very old one it might not have Hi Fi sound.

Yes or perhaps a HiFi track is on the tape but for whatever reason played back so poorly that he may have switched to the linear track (if his deck has that feature).

Equally possible of course is that the tape was not recorded as Hi Fi.

Yes. eg: many VHS camcorder tapes were recorded solely in normal linear audio. No luxury of a HiFi track so we can only try and make the most of the linear track. Many camcorders used AGC which at least kept average recorded audio levels up, mostly a good thing for the average family video where audio levels were often all over the place.

Not as good as current digital sound of course, not even 16 bit but HFi VHS was a massive jump in sound quality, comparable to CD.

Yes when everything was working well. HiFi audio was recorded in alternating segments like the picture but unlike the picture the audio has to be a continuous stream so any problems in the "joins" cant be easily concealed. In half speed recordings (LP) the picture suffered but so did both linear and HiFi audio. The linear was noisier and lost the top octave, while the HiFi became more vulnerable to clicks and pops. Sometimes it can be a tossup which of the two faulty audio tracks to use.

[Hugh Robjohns]

Not as good as current digital sound of course, not even 16 bit but HFi VHS was a massive jump in sound quality, comparable to CD. No doubt Hugh can give us the specifications (once the hangover has gone!)

As I recall, the hi-fi tracks on VHS (and betamax) used quite a clever technology. The two audio channels were encoded on separate FM carriers that sat between the video luminance and chrominance signals, and it was recorded deeper into the magnetic layer of the tape with the higher frequency video carriers effectively wiping over it but to a shallower depth. The details elude me now, but the figure of 70dB has stuck in my mind as the nominal signal-to-noise ratio.

[FrankF]

As I recall, the hi-fi tracks on VHS (and betamax) used quite a clever technology. The two audio channels were encoded on separate FM carriers that sat between the video luminance and chrominance signals, and it was recorded deeper into the magnetic layer of the tape with the higher frequency video carriers effectively wiping over it but to a shallower depth. The details elude me now, but the figure of 70dB has stuck in my mind as the nominal signal-to-noise ratio.

"Luminance and chrominance", what a poetic term! Sounds like an old John Foxx single...

According to the manual for my 24-year old AKAI VCR, its s/n ratio in Hi-fi mode is "more than 90dB", which is impressive.
Wow and flutter is quoted as "less than 0.005 %" - Mel Smith would be impressed.
I hooked it up to the TV and amp recently, and lo and behold, it still works, which means that the extended warranty I purchased from Dixon's wasn't needed after all. Well, I never...