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Audio Restoration: Tips,

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Techniques, and Software

By Sweetwater on Aug 8, 8:08 AM

Whether its dialog marred by distracting background noise, a live recording with maddening 60-cycle GET THE E-MAIL!
hum, or a vocal track that assails your ears with digital clipping, trying to resurrect substandard
recordings can be a nightmare. And transfers from analog media (vinyl records, magnetic tape, etc.)
present their own challenges. The process of removing imperfections is known as audio restoration. In
this article, well discuss the audio restoration tools that professionals use, how they are used, and how
you can optimize your own projects.

Words of wisdom before we start

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No two audio restoration projects are alike, so a technique that works on one may not be effective on weekly roundup email
another. This makes audio restoration a time-intensive endeavor. So how do you speed up the process?
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Our advice is to not try. As cliche as it may sound, patience is a virtue. Take your time, and youll be
rewarded. Finally and this cant be stressed enough be gentle. A heavy-handed approach often Your E-mail Address
results in a finished product that sounds worse than the original.
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Basic restoration can be performed with the typical tools you already have in your studio:
gates/expanders, EQ/filters, and multiband compressors. More complex projects require specialized
processors, such as de-clickers, spectral editors, or dialog noise suppressors. On top of that, a top-notch
spectrum analyzer is a must.

Noise types and what to do about them

FabFilter Pro-Q 2

Different types of noise require different tools and techniques. Some techniques are near-universal for
each type of noise (working most of the time), but remember that audio restoration isnt an exact science
there are often several ways to solve a problem. Thats why its best to tackle your project from
multiple directions, then decide which process renders the best sound. Surprisingly, sometimes the
simplest solution yields the best outcome. Even if you have an arsenal of advanced processors at your
disposal, simply slapping a noise gate on the offending track may achieve your desired result.

Tonal and broadband noise

Tonal noise
Tonal noise is constant and exhibits a fixed frequency. Electrical buzz and 60-cycle hum are examples of
tonal noise. Because it occupies a single frequency band, tonal noise is an easy sonic obstacle to
conquer. A notch filter is your first line of defense. Youll need two plug-ins for this: a spectrum analyzer
and a linear phase EQ (or an EQ plug-in with a spectrum analyzer such as FabFilters Pro-Q 2). First, you
need to identify the frequency of the noise. Then, create a notch filter with your EQ that corresponds to
the problem frequency. Start with a narrow Q, then widen it until you achieve your desired result. FYI:
you may need to repeat this process with the harmonics generated by the original fundamental
frequency.

Broadband noise
Broadband noise is a steady-state sound that occupies more than one audio frequency. Continuous
background chatter and tape hiss are common types of broadband noise. Because it occupies multiple
frequencies, broadband noise is trickier to deal with than tonal noise. Sometimes, you can solve these
nuisances with an EQ. For example, if youre dealing with high-frequency hiss, try using a lowpass filter
set at about 8kHz. Adjust the slope until you achieve a natural-sounding result. If youre dealing with
low-frequency rumble, do the same thing with a highpass filter at around 50Hz.

Waves Z-Noise

De-noisers for when EQ wont cut it

Sometimes you cant achieve acceptable results with EQ the final product sounds muddy, thin, or
unnatural. Thats when its time to break out the big guns. A de-noiser plug-in, such as Waves Z-Noise or
Sonnox DeNoiser, takes a snapshot of the problem sound then uses advanced algorithms to separate
the offending noise from your program material. If youre dealing with hum, Waves X-Hum and Sonnox
DeBuzzer are easy-to-use solutions. And in addition to the plug-ins already mentioned, Waves WNS
Noise Suppressor is a stellar choice for cleaning up dialog, voice-overs, and interviews. Subtlety is the
key when using any de-noiser plug-in. Brute force techniques will create unpleasant underwater
effects. Youre better off making multiple gentle passes rather than a single aggressive one.

Impulse noises
Snaps, crackles, and pops
Its common for audio restoration professionals to transfer analog media onto a digital medium. Like any
recording task, you should try to make it right at the source. For example, if youre working with a vinyl
record, disc-wash the physical disc thoroughly using a dedicated cleaning solution and record cleaning
apparatus. You should also use a high-quality turntable, stylus, and preamp. That being said, due to their
physical limitations, vinyl records generate audible artifacts. Even if you take great pains to create a clean
transfer, youre going to have clicks, crackle, pops, and possibly rumble. Thats where de-clicker and de-
crackler plug-ins come into play. De-clickers, such as Waves X-Click and Sonnox DeClicker, eliminate
clicks and pops, while De-cracklers, such as Waves X-Crackle, remove rumble and rapid, continuous
clicks. Remember, making multiple gentle passes will produce a better result than one forceful pass.

Sonnox Restore Collection

Zynaptiq UNFILTER Adaptive Tonal Contour Linearization Processor Overview

Other common audio irritants
Intermittent background noises
So far, weve covered the easy stuff. But with todays technology, audio restoration professionals can do
so much more. We can clean up a dialog track with a dog barking in the background, and we can erase
a ringing cell phone in the middle of a quiet acoustic performance. When it comes to tackling
unexpected sonic complications, iZotopes RX is the industry standard. In addition to top-shelf de-noise,
de-click, and de-hum processors (and just about every other noise-reduction tool available), RX features
a spectrogram that allows you to visually paint away unwanted sounds with a single mouse gesture its
like having a photo editor for audio!

RX 6 Spectral Repair

Zynaptiq UNVEIL De-Reverberation and Signal Focusing: Applications For Po

Clipped, badly encoded, and overprocessed recordings

As recording engineers, we know how important gain staging is. Setting the levels too hot can result in
clipping and distortion, which (until now) has rendered recordings unusable. iZotope RXs De-clip
module is able to magically remove digital and analog clipping artifacts and restore distorted audio.
Along those same lines, proper digital encoding is also vital to achieving optimal sound. Overprocessing,
bad sample rate conversion, and poor lossy audio encoding lead to annoying comb filtering, high-
frequency chirping, and other unpleasant artifacts. When youre dealing with these issues, you need
Zynaptiqs Unfilter and Unchirp plug-ins. Unfilter undoes improper filtering, resonance, or excessive
equalization, while Unchirp suppresses grating high-pitched artifacts, fixes transient smearing, and
restores lost high frequencies.

Zynaptiq Unfilter

Zynaptiq UNFILTER Adaptive Tonal Contour Linearization Processor Overview

Mic bleed and bad acoustics

In the studio, we work hard to isolate instruments properly and create an optimal acoustical
environment. Thats what makes a pro recording sound professional. But as any engineer will tell you,
not everything is recorded by pros in a professional studio. We often deal with bleed problems from
multi-miked sources, bad acoustics, and more. iZotope RXs De-bleed module effectively separates your
main source from the leaked source, resolving mic leakage, click track bleed, and similar issues. When
something is captured in a poor-sounding room, the bad acoustics can overpower the recording. Thats
when you need RXs De-reverb module or Zynaptiqs Unveil plug-in. These processors mitigate bad
acoustics, removing unwanted reverberation and bringing your source material into focus.

Zynaptiq Unveil

Zynaptiq UNVEIL De-Reverberation and Signal Focusing: Applications For Po

More useful tips

Whether youre performing simple vinyl-to-CD digital transfers, cleaning up dialog for movies or
broadcast, or committing yourself to serious forensic audio work, audio restoration is grueling. It requires
a lot of time and serious attention to detail. Here are a few more things to be mindful of:

This work is exhausting! Take frequent breaks to give your brain and ears a rest.
Back up your work frequently. Well say it again back up your work frequently!
Keep multiple versions and name your files intuitively youre going to be hitting every project from
a million different directions.
If youre performing forensic work, maintain a detailed record of the edits you made to a file and be
able to provide a written report upon request. Doing forensic audio restoration may result in you
needing to be a professional expert witness in court.
Dont assume that you know how a project will turn out even similar ones will yield unpredictable
results.

If youre just getting into audio restoration, youll find that you need a collection of specialized tools to
deal with all the audio issues that youll face. Having a wide assortment of plug-ins is essential so you
might consider buying these bundles, such as the Waves Restoration Bundle, Sonnox Restore Collection,
or Zynaptiq Repair Bundle. These are the easiest and most cost-effective way to get the tools you need!

If you have any other questions about audio restoration, give your Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-
4700. Theyll be happy to help you out!

IN THIS ARTICLE
 iZotope RX 6 Advanced Zynaptiq Repair Bundle Waves Restoration Plug-in Zynaptiq Unchirp Plug-in
Audio Editor (Download) Bundle
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(1 review)

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Zynaptiq Unveil Real-time Zynaptiq Unfilter Real-time Sonnox Restore Collection - FabFilter Pro-Q 2 EQ and
Signal Focusing Plug-in Tonal Linearization Plug-in Native Filter Plug-in
11111 11111
(2 reviews) (34 reviews)

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Sonnox Oxford DeBuzzer Sonnox Oxford DeNoiser Sonnox Oxford DeClicker Waves WNS Noise
Plug-in - Native Plug-in - Native Plug-in - Native Suppressor Plug-in

$118.00 $118.00 $118.00 $99.00

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- TAGS ZNOISE XHUM XCRACKLE XCLICK WNSNOISESUP UNVEIL UNFILTER UNCHIRP RX6ADV

RESTORABUN REPAIRBUN OXRESTORE OXDENOISE OXDECLICK OXDEBUZZ FFPROQ2 RECORDING NEWS

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