Audio Editting/Filtering

[BobS@PI]

I am currently considering what video editing software to purchase. I have narrowed my choices to Pinnacle, Adobe Elements, and VideoStudio. I downloaded the trial for VideoStudio and like the layout. However, I can not determine if it has any noise filtering capabilities. Does it now, or is it planned in the hear future? Any other prejudices would be nice too.

Thanks,
Bob Showalter
PackerIntl@gmail.com

[Black Lab]

Version 10+ is a fine video editor (I have not upgraded to v11), but not the greatest audio editor. It does offer some audio filters. Many on this board use the free Audacity for more audio editing capabilities.

[Ken Berry]

And if your personal emphasis is on audio rather than video quality, you should also include Vegas Movie Studio 8 Platinum, which is in the same price range. Vegas has always been great on the audio side and apparently that continues in the recently released version 8.

Personally, though, I have never had an problems with the audio facilities in VS since version 7, though I would agree that they are basic. Anything fancy in any case I use a third party audio editor, though in my case, I use the Nero Wave Editor...

[sjj1805]

Don't forget you can also add audio filters - there are plenty available many of which are free. You will find several in our Free Stuff for use with Ulead Products

[BobS@PI]

Thanks for the quick replies. I downloaded Audacity and will play with it. If there is anyone who has tried it, what is the best way to get rid of backgroud wind noise. My son's wedding was my first shot with the camera and I didn't know it had a "wind filter". If anyone has something simple to try I would appreciate it.

BobS

[bob733]

Youtube.com has some tutorials on Audacity. Try that
Bob

[DVDDoug]

...what is the best way to get rid of backgroud wind noise.

This is going to be difficult or impossible. It depends on your current signal-to-noise ratio. If the wind noise is in the background, you may be able to improve it. But, if it is drowning-out the voices, you don't stand a chance. Noise reduction works best when you have a constant low-level background noise... In other words, it works best when you don't really need it. Of, course wind noise is not constant, and your camera's automatic gain control, will crank-up the background noise when no one is talking. (Assuming you have the AGC turned on.)

Your best option may be subtitles!

I don't use Audacity, but most audio editors have a noise reduction filter, that you feed a sample of the noise-only. It then it attempts to separate the signal from the noise. In addition (or alternatively), you can use a "noisegate" to kill the sound completely when the sound drops below a preset level.

And, you may be able to improve the sound somewhat by cutting the low frequencies and/or boosting the mid to high "voice" frequencies.

Noise is the biggest issue/challenge with audio recording. Because noise is so difficult (or impossible) to remove, most movie dialog is re-recorded and lip-synced in a soundproof recording studio!

For amateur work, the best solution is to prevent the noise as much as possible. The most important factor is getting the microphone close to the speaker. That gives you a good signal-to-noise ratio. i.e. When you watch a newscast, the microphone is within inches of the speaker's mouth, and when they go out "on-location" they speak directly into the microphone, which might have a wind-sock. Still, you often hear quite a bit of background noise with on location news reports.

- An excellent recording doesn't need any processing.

- Digital processing can turn a good recording into an excellent recording.

- If you have a bad recording, the cure can be worse than the disease.