Deleting extra background sound from video

antzpompeii · Post by **antzpompeii** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:17 am

Good-evening everyone,

Just wondering if anyone knows how to delete a background sound. You see i recorded my video footage which includes voice etc.... but there is a very annoying mowing sound in the background!

Apparently my neighbour was mowing the backyard when i was recording and at the time i didn't think it would be heard so loudly on my video

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank-you
Regards,
Antz

PS: Oh - by the way, i've captured my video footage as AVI/DV Type 1.

Post by **lancecarr** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:33 am

I personally use the Nero wave file editor that comes with Nero packages. It allows you to take a sample of the offending sound (provided you have a small segment that has only that sound) and then using that it reduces the sound you don't want. There is a free program called Audacity that many use as well and I think it has a similar function.
Neither of these programs will actually interact with VS so first you have to get the project to completion. I mean TOTAL completion, then, go to the share tab and select Create Sound File. Use whatever program to clean the sound file then import the finshed file back into you project. Then mute eveything in the timeline. If you do it this way do not change the duration of your soundtrack as it will not be in sync with the vid when you put it back.

siwyboss · Post by **siwyboss** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:52 am

I think lancecarr's idea is the only one if we talk about Video Studio.
I would also, using VirtualDub for example, export audio from your video, then edit the audio in any good sound editor (GoldWave, CoolEdit, Nero, Audacity etc) thus removing the unnecessary noise (use filtering, equalizers).
Then simply mute your video's audio track and add the one you have just edited/filtered.

Both ideas are similar and require third party applications but should work

Post by **lancecarr** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:57 am

Ummmm...I "thought" that's what I just said.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 11:37 am

...And Antz, if the thought of separating your audio from your video, editing it, and then re-connecting it is too daunting, which I know it could seem, then an alternative, if the actual chit-chat of the original sound is really not too important, then you can of course use the VS8/9 rubber band to totally diminish the original audio for that part of the video, and prepare some totally new chit-chat/voice-over and substitute that in that part of the video... Beats worrying about the old Victa doesn't it??? (And for those of you not in Australia, a Victa is the archetypical motor mower here in the great downunder!)

Post by **lancecarr** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:05 pm

Ah Ken, I may be living in Taiwan but I for one still know it turns grass into lawn!

antzpompeii · Post by **antzpompeii** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:06 pm

if the actual chit-chat of the original sound is really not too important, then you can of course use the VS8/9 rubber band to totally diminish the original audio for that part of the video, and prepare some totally new chit-chat/voice-over and substitute that in that part of the video...

That seems to be an excellent idea - except my newborn's quirks and burps will not be heard and i would really love to keep this

Beats worrying about the old Victa doesn't it??? (And for those of you not in Australia, a Victa is the archetypical motor mower here in the great downunder!)[/

antzpompeii · Post by **antzpompeii** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:15 pm

Ooops i forgot to change the settings when capturing with WinDV and have captured everything in AVI/DV Type 2!!!! >>> does this matter? or do i recapture all again?

antzpompeii · Post by **antzpompeii** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 12:43 pm

There is a free program called Audacity that many use as well and I think it has a similar function.

Just downloaded it and checking it out.

I mean TOTAL completion, then, go to the share tab and select Create Sound File.

When you say total completion.... i have all the captured AVI files and opened the video that needs changing in VS8 (this is the one that i want to take the background mower sound) > because my home video has been broken into AVI parts i am guessing that i can edit one at a time in terms of audio. So i opened the video and then went to Share/Create Sound File and it does just that 'wav' file ofcourse. Now i think i need to open/import it into Audacity and take it from there.... when finished i will open up the same avi file and then delete all audio and bring back the m;odified wav from audacity.... does this make any sense? am i doing it right?

Then mute eveything in the timeline. If you do it this way do not change the duration of your soundtrack as it will not be in sync with the vid when you put it back.

so mute the audio and replace or should i just delete the audio and put the new one in?

antzpompeii · Post by **antzpompeii** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:19 pm

I am trying to work out Audacity - geeessss this is going to be a very long project.... i don't think its a very simple program

I personally use the Nero wave file editor that comes with Nero packages. It allows you to take a sample of the offending sound (provided you have a small segment that has only that sound) and then using that it reduces the sound you don't want.

I haven't tried Nero Wave Editor - though i do have it.... do you think its a pretty easy program to use? do you have very basic instructions for what i'm trying to do? i would soooooooo appreciate it if you did

Post by **lancecarr** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 1:51 pm

Yeah you have the idea. If you want to do it in small sections just load the avi in to the timeline. Then output the wav file and adjust it. Then put it back in the timeline under "sound track" and mute the clip then output to a new avi that now has the cleaned up sound.
I'm no good for Audacity but in Nero Wave Editor it is simple. Load the file then go to "Enhancement / Noise analysis. Select a small piece of the file that has only the offending noise. If you get a successful sample the program will tell you. Select the section of the file you want to apply the noise reduction to and highlight it. Then go back to "Enhancement" and select "Noise reduction." A dialogue box opens and you will see that the sample you took is selected as the model it will use to reduce the noise. Click ok and check the result. If you are happy then save the file to put back into VS. Don't expect miracles for two reasons:
1 These are free programs that cannot match the capabilities of expensive high end software, and;
2. You can't polish a turd

Good luck.

antzpompeii · Post by **antzpompeii** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 2:02 pm

Load the file then go to "Enhancement / Noise analysis. Select a small piece of the file that has only the offending noise. If you get a successful sample the program will tell you. Select the section of the file you want to apply the noise reduction to and highlight it. Then go back to "Enhancement" and select "Noise reduction." A dialogue box opens and you will see that the sample you took is selected as the model it will use to reduce the noise. Click ok and check the result. If you are happy then save the file to put back into VS.

This is exactly what i was after.... thank-you.....

I will give it a go tomorrow though,,, it is now 1:20am and i've been at it since 5am this morning not to mention taking care of my 6mth old daughter!

My eyes just can't keep up with the monitor right now.... so as soon as i get up tomorrow i will install Nero Wave Editor and give your instructions a go.

Thanks a mil and will definately report back.

Regards,
Antz

Calver · Post by **Calver** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 3:10 pm

antzpompeii wrote:Ooops i forgot to change the settings when capturing with WinDV and have captured everything in AVI/DV Type 2!!!! >>> does this matter? or do i recapture all again?

Hello Antz,

I capture Type 2 all the time and haven't had any problems with it yet.

Regards,
John

Eileanbeag · Post by **Eileanbeag** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 3:32 pm

I am very new to video and just wondered what you were talking about when you said to use the rubber band to delete sound

Calver · Post by **Calver** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:04 pm

Eileanbeag wrote:I am very new to video and just wondered what you were talking about when you said to use the rubber band to delete sound

I'll try and give you an introduction to it...

Select one of your clips in the Timeline. Make sure 'Fade-in' is selected in the Video panel. Click on Audio View in the Timeline and you will see the black 'rubber band' line. It starts at the bottom (no volume) and shortly rises to join the red line (normal volume).

Hover the mouse over the small white square marker until it changes to a hand. Then drag to the left or right to reduce or increase the length of the fade-in.

You can create more markers by clicking on the rubber band when the cursor changes to a black arrow. Move them up or down to increase or decrease the volume at that point.

To remove a marker just drag it down off the bottom of the Timeline.

If I need to do anything complex here it can get a bit too fiddly. I prefer to split the audio and use an audio editor to process it.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
John