Filtering out wind effect on sound track

[Davidk]

I have a number of clips containing voice commentary, in which there is wind effect (like blowing over the open mouth of a bottle) in the sound track - despite the camcorder having wind filter turned on. And I've never been able to find any combination which removes that effect, or at least removes it substantially.
Does anyone have similar experience and been able to find a filter or combination that alleviates the wind effect?

[lata]

Yes wind noise can be a problem with most camcorders.
Fortunately I do not record many voices just holiday footage.
I would certainly invest in an external mic with a good wind baffle if I were recording voice.

Audacity would be the best option, Although I am sure you have tried that, Robyn may be your best person with experience, who works extensively with video and audio. I know she tried using the VS audio filters and audacity

[tletter]

Does anyone have similar experience and been able to find a filter or combination that alleviates the wind effect?

The only satisfactory way to alleviate wind noise is on the front end by using a properly equipped furry mic when recording the video clip. However, if the wind noise is reasonably consistent or if you have a few seconds of recording which just has the background wind noise, without the sound that you want then sampling this may allow you to remove some of the unwanted sound using an audio program such as Audacity.

tletter
https://www.youtube.com/user/tletter

[asik1]

I use this setup

I bought (Black Winter Soft Gloves Fingerless Mitten Knitting Wool Faux Fur ) in aliX for 2$ cut it to size and double taped it on the mic.
Not super perfect but OK.
** Recently I got this
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Marsnas ... 4c4dQclXTN

[RobertOZ]

This is my noise reduction setup

[Davidk]

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. This seems to be a periennial problem . . and I'd hoped someone would have found a filter or combination thereof that worked in reducing the effect of wind noise. As to why pursue this - convenience in use mostly. I have a small camera bag that is just big enough and light enough for a compact still camera and my panasonic HD unit, plus a few spares of the small batteries. External mic - would not fit without a bigger bag, and that's what I bought the current one to avoid, and a muffled mic approach - would probably pull off when putting camera in bag.
Of the things suggested:
asik - that method does work. I used it in frustration with my old JVC (DVD) camcorder: a milk bottle top, hole cutout in the top to hold a small amount of airconditioning dust filter material - and it covered both the microphones on the face/front of the camcorder. Worked fine but the problem was making it stay in place (hat elastic served - if I remembered in time to fit it before recording). But since getting an HD camcorder 4 years ago (Panasonic V770M, looks similar to yours) that approach may still work but I'd like something that could be left in place. Looks like I'll have to experiment a bit.

Robert - the V770 has a provision for external mic, plug accessible when the screen is open and the device is "on"; but again, a lot of fumbling around to plug it in before use. I do use a telecoms headset mic combo when recording at home when time is not an issue, and the boom mic does have a pop muffler, but its impracticable to use when out travelling when it's mostly a case of whip out the camera and record something as it goes by..

Trevor - my success in using audacity has been fairly limited - mainly, to cut off the breathy pop of a voiceover at various parts if not using a muffled mic. Attempts to use audacity and filters generally have been abject failures, which I mainly ascribe to me not being all that familiar with using the program.

I guess I'm being a bit picky, but had really hoped there may be an electronic fix for this.

[Davidk]

Over the last week I spent a good bit of time experimenting with VS and audacity filters to try and remove wind noise. The best (??) result I got was with the high-pass filter in audacity, and altho that removed the low-frequency flutters that wind gives, it took a lot of the voice audio too, and the result was quite squeaky, some wind noise was still evident and a much reduced volume.

So, on clips that I have to use that already have wind noise, a work around - separately recorded voiceover substituted, and a low clip audio setting.

For the camera as it is, a lot of trial and error came up with something very similar to asik's effort, it looks reasonable and can be left in-place when the camera is in the bag. For those who might want to emulate/do their own, two pics illustrate:

First issue was attachment (talked about that in prior posts) - used sticky-back black velcro, stuck in thin strips on either side of the camera microphone, and on the side pieces of the filter material (shown with arrows in this image). The side pieces were made from short lengths of plastic shower curtain runner railing (essentially a U-section with claws on the final side to allow the curtain clips to run in the slot), spray painted black from a handy tin of model paint. The surface where the velcro was to stick was masked off for the paint operation.

Second issue was the actual filter material. From past experience the sort of stiff expanded plastic filter material you find as dust filters in vacuum cleaners, usually black and only about 10mm thick. Cut to size - basically, wide enough to fit between the velcro strips on the camera when laid over the top-mounted camera microphones. The filter material is carefully fed into the slots in the side pieces, and the claws will ensure it is not easily pulled out.

Both these things shown in the pic above.

The final assembly shown in this pic:

Tested on a windy afternoon - in a mild breeze and later a more gusty, stronger wind. No wind noises esp the low freq flutters, and in the latter case could even hear the rustling noises of the leaves in the trees as the wind moved them around. So, success.