What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

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smithy20
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What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by smithy20 »

Hello

I have been given a recording of a friends husbands band from the 1970's (nobody famous just a friend). It was recorded on a little hand held recorder of some sort (no idea which but it will have been pretty basic and inexpensive) in a pub in the 1970's , so you can imagine it is pretty dire but it is the ONLY recording she has of her late husband.

I have ripped it onto my PC and can put it straight onto a CD for her but i would like to improve it somehow and wondered what programmes there are that would help me clean it up a little.

I am a complete novice at this sort of thing so wouldn't know where to start looking.

Any ideas would be a great help.

many thanks
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Lord Reith
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Re: What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by Lord Reith »

Well you could run it through demucs over at mvsep.com It might make it possible to adjust the instrument balance assuming the recording is okay.
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smithy20
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Re: What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by smithy20 »

Thanks Lord Reith i'll give it a go
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csnyfan
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Re: What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by csnyfan »

It really depends on what's wrong with the recording. You need some expertise to correctly identify the actual issues, and only then can you try to fix them.
Audacity can be used to fix a lot of these issues. For some of the more difficult issues, you need advanced software.
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Re: What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by zaval80 »

smithy20 wrote: Sat Apr 29, 2023 11:52 am Any ideas would be a great help.
Don't forget to preserve your original rip "as is" and the working files at all times.
smithy20
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Re: What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by smithy20 »

csnyfan wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 1:04 pm For some of the more difficult issues, you need advanced software.
Hi thanks for the reply. The recording is pretty dire to say the least, muffled and a lot of background noise etc . It was after all the 1970's in a busy pub and a very basic cassette recorder (one of the ordinary cassette recorders that were very cheap- just push down the "play and record buttons)

What advanced software do you reccommend up to proffessional standards ? price no object .
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csnyfan
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Re: What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by csnyfan »

smithy20 wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 12:31 pm
csnyfan wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 1:04 pm For some of the more difficult issues, you need advanced software.
Hi thanks for the reply. The recording is pretty dire to say the least, muffled and a lot of background noise etc . It was after all the 1970's in a busy pub and a very basic cassette recorder (one of the ordinary cassette recorders that were very cheap- just push down the "play and record buttons)

What advanced software do you reccommend up to proffessional standards ? price no object .
iZotope rx is probably the best all round restoration tool. If you upload a short sample of the recording, i can tell you if there's anything you can do to clean it up.
smithy20
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Re: What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by smithy20 »

csnyfan wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 1:05 pm
smithy20 wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 12:31 pm
csnyfan wrote: Mon May 01, 2023 1:04 pm For some of the more difficult issues, you need advanced software.
Hi thanks for the reply. The recording is pretty dire to say the least, muffled and a lot of background noise etc . It was after all the 1970's in a busy pub and a very basic cassette recorder (one of the ordinary cassette recorders that were very cheap- just push down the "play and record buttons)

What advanced software do you reccommend up to proffessional standards ? price no object .
iZotope rx is probably the best all round restoration tool. If you upload a short sample of the recording, i can tell you if there's anything you can do to clean it up.
thanks csnyfan i've sent a pm (i'm doubtful there is anything that can be done though)
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Re: What's the best programme to clean up audio ?

Post by sunnylew »

If money is no object, it might be an idea to hire someone who specialises in audio restoration to clean it up.

Even with the right software, a lot depends on know how, experience, and the right speaker set up.
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