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Topic: How to remove noise from tape records (Read 3216 times) previous topic - next topic
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How to remove noise from tape records

Hi, I tried to find any topic on this forum, but I didn't found
How to remove noise from tape records? I have files on hd and I need any software which can do that? What should I use?
Please help!
Thanks a lot.

How to remove noise from tape records

Reply #1 –
I interpret this to mean you have recorded tapes, either cassette or open real, to your computer. You want to remove noise from the recordings.

Is this noise on the tapes or did it appear after recording to the computer?
Is it something other than general broadband tape hiss?
Does it perhaps sound like 50 or 60 Hz hum (depending upon your geographic location -- probably)?
Is it intermittent and/or of variable intensity?

Tape hiss and general broadband noise can be significantly reduced with noise reduction software. There are also hiss reduction transforms but most people have better results with noise reduction than with hiss reduction. These transforms are found in most audio editors.
Audacity -- freeware -- has NR (noise reduction) but I don't use Audacity so I can't tell you about configuring it or how good it is.
Audition has good NR, once you get all the parameters correct.
The Sonic Foundry NR DX plugin is also quite good. It works with any editor supporting DX plugins.

NR can make major improvements or badly destroy your audio, depending on how well you use it. Also, beyond a certain amount of NR there will be a noticeable reduction of high frequency content along with the hiss/noise removal.

Hum is much more reasonably filtered. There are notch filters specifically meant for this, but other filters can be configured to be very useful -- parametric equalizers, FFT filters, the "Scientific Filters" in Audition. The filters I'm familiar with all work with audio editors, just like NR.

Intermittent and variable intensity noises are much more difficult. Again you need an audio editor but you may have to become adept with a greater variety of its functions. Sometime this kind of noise is pretty much a lost cause unless you want to just do as best you can (not expecting great results), sometimes spending perhaps an hour of work for a few seconds of audio.

How to remove noise from tape records

Reply #2 –
I use Audacity. Sometimes tapes have been badly recorded or the tape is simply old and out of shape.

Using Audacity 1.3, go to Menu: Effect->Noise Removal...
 

How to remove noise from tape records

Reply #3 –
Thanks guys!
I'll try Audacity, I have it installed but I forget about this software. Tape quality is good but I don't have Dolby in my cassette player so I need to use computer to remove noise. After that I have to burn an audio cd with this record.

Once more, big thanks!

How to remove noise from tape records

Reply #4 –
Quote
Thanks guys!
I'll try Audacity, I have it installed but I forget about this software. Tape quality is good but I don't have Dolby in my cassette player so I need to use computer to remove noise. After that I have to burn an audio cd with this record.

Once more, big thanks!
[{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Magix Audio Cleaning Lab 2005 has Dolby-B decode in software.  It is available for $18.99

[a href="http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3994035]http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product=3994035[/url]

This is the only version of the Cleaning Lab that has Dobly in software.  Older/newer versions do not.