Super noob - audio issue

[redhatcode29]

hi guys, sorry if i am posting at the incorrect section.
I would like to know if this bad mic sound can be reduced in post - such as in Davincci Resolve. I made a recording and screwed up with the mic. https://youtu.be/h51IdegY15g

Many Thanks

[James Perrett]

Sounds like your mic has been exposed to damp or a dirty atmosphere. It needs to be dried out and possibly the diaphragm needs expert cleaning. Try putting it in a warm airing cupboard for a few days.

Was there any wanted audio in that clip? It just sounded like a noisy mic to me. Izotope RX is pretty much a standard tool for removing unwanted noises. It seems to be better for noise reduction than all the alternatives apart from maybe Cedar. Many of the RX processes are available as VST plug-ins which will work in Resolve but some need to be run from the RX editor.

[Drew Stephenson]

You might be able to clean up some of the crackle with tools from Izotope or similar but we'd need a sample with some actual wanted dialogue as well to make a guess. If the brief mumble at the very beginning of that sample is typical then you're pretty stuffed, but at the end of the clip it sounds like a much louder signal is coming in - which changes the picture significantly.

But a general rule of thumb with these things is that if you have the opportunity to re-record it will be a far better job than trying to fix it in post.

[redhatcode29]

Sounds like your mic has been exposed to damp or a dirty atmosphere. It needs to be dried out and possibly the diaphragm needs expert cleaning. Try putting it in a warm airing cupboard for a few days.

Was there any wanted audio in that clip? It just sounded like a noisy mic to me. Izotope RX is pretty much a standard tool for removing unwanted noises. It seems to be better for noise reduction than all the alternatives apart from maybe Cedar. Many of the RX processes are available as VST plug-ins which will work in Resolve but some need to be run from the RX editor.

Thanks for your reply.

It was a lavalier, been not in use for a few months, moisture got to it i guess. I’ll try to put it in dry place.

Oh yes, there is more on that clip, 20 mins of speech after that mumble. The crackle appears and disappears thought the speech.

Izotope RX, Do i need to purchase this or is it a freeware ? I dont quite get by what you mean - RX Editor.

I will try to google it. Hope there is some way !

[redhatcode29]

You might be able to clean up some of the crackle with tools from Izotope or similar but we'd need a sample with some actual wanted dialogue as well to make a guess. If the brief mumble at the very beginning of that sample is typical then you're pretty stuffed, but at the end of the clip it sounds like a much louder signal is coming in - which changes the picture significantly.

But a general rule of thumb with these things is that if you have the opportunity to re-record it will be a far better job than trying to fix it in post.

Thanks for the reply. I would have posted a longer clip, but the clip is a sermon. I dont want to get warnings for posting religious stuff. Perhaps i could just cut the part where it crackle is bad. Will post later.

I

[Drew Stephenson]

Just a few words to determine the signal to noise ratio would help.

Izotope RX isn't free but the basic version can frequently be found on sale for as little as $29.

[redhatcode29]

Just a few words to determine the signal to noise ratio would help.

Izotope RX isn't free but the basic version can frequently be found on sale for as little as $29.

Wow that was fast. Herre is a longer clip, i cut it here and there ! https://youtu.be/TtFmgL3ec28

Any other freeware can do it ? I am from Asia, $29 is a couple of hundred for me ! That is if i can find a basic version

[James Perrett]

As Drew says, RX Elements is often available for $29. It includes Voice Denoise which may well work for you but for really serious noise you would need Dialogue Isolate which is only included with the Advanced version of RX.

If you find that Voice Denoise doesn't work well enough but don't want to splash out on RX Advanced then it may be worth trying the Ultimate Vocal Remover (UVR) which is free. The UVR includes various algorithms to separate voice from other sounds similar to those used by Dialogue Isolate but it is more music oriented and I've not really tried it on speech.

[James Perrett]

RX is available as a time limited demo which might work for you if you only have one speech to denoise although Izotope make it difficult to save your work in the demo. Another program that is available as a time limited demo is Acon Acoustica and I seem to remember that you can save files from the demo version of Acoustica.

There are other free programs like Audacity which have noise reduction but I've never been very impressed with them. UVR is possibly your best bet for a free program.

[merlyn]

I saw GOYO voice separator the other day, which is in beta at the moment. I haven't tried it, but it could be worth a look.

[redhatcode29]

As Drew says, RX Elements is often available for $29. It includes Voice Denoise which may well work for you but for really serious noise you would need Dialogue Isolate which is only included with the Advanced version of RX.

If you find that Voice Denoise doesn't work well enough but don't want to splash out on RX Advanced then it may be worth trying the Ultimate Vocal Remover (UVR) which is free. The UVR includes various algorithms to separate voice from other sounds similar to those used by Dialogue Isolate but it is more music oriented and I've not really tried it on speech.

Thanks. RX is not for me ! Will google UVR

edit: I tried Audacity but does not seem to work !

[redhatcode29]

I saw GOYO voice separator the other day, which is in beta at the moment. I haven't tried it, but it could be worth a look.

Thank you. Will google goyo

[Drew Stephenson]

Wow that was fast. Herre is a longer clip, i cut it here and there ! https://youtu.be/TtFmgL3ec28

Hmmm. That is pretty heavy distortion. Can it be improved? Almost certainly. Will it be 'good'? Very unlikely I think.

[ef37a]

The chap should be able to download the 30day trial of Samplitude ProX 8 suite.
That comes with Sound Forge and has a pretty good noise reduction system in it.

Re the difficulty in saving with some demos? This was common several years ago and we got around it by linking two computers via S/PDIF (2496 cards). Could only save in real time of course but even so, nice to stick up two digits!

But, no such trouble with Sam or SF.

Dave.

[redhatcode29]

Wow that was fast. Herre is a longer clip, i cut it here and there ! https://youtu.be/TtFmgL3ec28

Hmmm. That is pretty heavy distortion. Can it be improved? Almost certainly. Will it be 'good'? Very unlikely I think.

That’s what i wanted to know - the end result. No point going thru all the hassle and in the end the outcome is not good.

Thank you.

[redhatcode29]

The chap should be able to download the 30day trial of Samplitude ProX 8 suite.
That comes with Sound Forge and has a pretty good noise reduction system in it.

Re the difficulty in saving with some demos? This was common several years ago and we got around it by linking two computers via S/PDIF (2496 cards). Could only save in real time of course but even so, nice to stick up two digits!

But, no such trouble with Sam or SF.

Dave.

That was neat. Save in real time.