Removing echo from sound recorded with a camcorder

Post by **jparnold** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:52 am

Recently when on holidays at a historical site I recorded some recorded sound (voice - narration) using my video camera hoping that I could use it when editing the video scenes I recorded. Unfortunately the sound has turned out with a degree of echo (there were few soft furnishings in the room where I recorded the sound).

Using a search engine I have read that it is virtually impossible to remove echo from recorded sound HOWEVER I have found that the AC97 CONFIGURATION software (part of the software which came with my motherboard for the on-board Realtek sound) allows me to change the SOUND EFFECT - ENVIRONMENT which IMPROVES the sound for some of the settings (eg Padded Cell, Living Room, City etc).

I have tried a freeware program which records any sound which passes through a sound card however the resulting output file is rubbish.
Are there any audio editors which would allow me to change the 'sound effect' of an existing sound file in a way similar to AC97 CONFIGURATION does?

Trevor Andrew · Post by **Trevor Andrew** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 3:52 pm

Hi

I do not think you will find any program that will auto correct the faults within the sound file not for home use that is. A professional recording studio may have this capability.
Yes there are programs that will distort a good file to sound like Padded Cell, Living Room, City etc.
Easy to add, but to remove these effects may need a manual approach to the wave form.

As a thought --- if its stereo you could try muting one of the tracks. Mono may and I say may be cleaner.
You could also try Audacity.

Other than that you may end up doing a voice over.

I'm sure others on the forum will recommend a program

DVDDoug · Post by **DVDDoug** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:44 pm

I have tried a freeware program which records any sound which passes through a sound card however the resulting output file is rubbish.

What's going wrong? Noise? Distortion? ...I would expect the usual (slight) analog degradation, but that should be insignificant compared the original problem.

I'm surprised to learn that you can reduce echo/reverb! I would have told you it can't be fixed!

Other than that you may end up doing a voice over.

Or, subtitles.

BTW - Most soundcards/drivers have the ability to record the sound coming out of the soundcard. (Of course, you need some recording software.) You just have to select "What-U-Hear" or "Stereo Mix" as your source. If your hardware doesn't support this, you can use a loopback cable from line-out to line-in. And, I think this feature is "hidden" in Vista, by default.

There are also programs like Total Recorder ($18 USD) that use a "virtual sound card" to bypass the analog step. (Again, I wouldn't be too worried about that in this situation, since you're not trying to preserve a "perfect" digital signal.)

david_k_jordan · Post by **david_k_jordan** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:10 pm

There are some programs out there that will allow you to remove most of the "bad" effects you are speaking of, but they are quite spendy. I know that Adobe has a product "Soundbooth", but it is $200.00 for it...so prett spendy, but certainly the AC 97 tools you mentioned will remove some of the "bad" sounds for free...so i would say that you use those tools, or perhaps split the sound track out and remove the sound and re-record the narration. Of course there may be sound that you want to preserve in that audio track, which would mean that you would have to suffice with the free tools you spoke of. VS 12 allows you to adjust the sound in the split out sound track and you could "rubber band" the sound where you want less echo, while this won't resolve the echo issue, at least you could somewhat mitigate it. VS 12 also has audio filters that are available as well.
I know that the Adobe product I mentioned previously does havea free trial that you could use to see if it helps at all. Good luck with it.

Post by **jparnold** » Thu Mar 12, 2009 9:22 pm

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions.

In answer to one or two 'questions'.
The sound recorded just has that "recorded in a bathroom" (or similar) sound about it.
When I use the AC97 tool and set the SOUND EFFECT ENVIRONMENT to some other 'environments' the output sound is by no means perfect but it is improved from the original quite a bit and that is what I was attempting to try and do.
Loop back, use one channel of the stereo, trialware etc sound (sorry about the pun) worthwhile and I will try them.
Thanks

Clevo · Post by **Clevo** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:45 pm

I think it's going to be near impossible but...

Have you tried using Audacity and using the noise limiter setting it to register sound using a threshold above the reverb? or using the EQ settings...but you'll need to experiment trying to find the frequency...but once you do you can turn it down and cancel out that particular problem...noy ideal but might do it

I'm finding it hard to explain cause I don't really know what I am going on about LOL!

sjj1805 · Post by **sjj1805** » Sun Mar 15, 2009 2:44 am

Just a suggestion.
It is often difficult or impossible to remove unwanted sounds and so instead try one of two things.

1. Mask the unwanted noise by adding some "background music"
2. Replace the unwanted sounds with something else - probably music.