How might one improve audio?

spinner

spinner

I have some footage where, because of the chaos of the event, I screwed up and did not use my good mic, only the one on the camera. I could kick myself for it, however, since what is done is done, my question is:

Is it possible to improve the audio recorded from the built in camera mic?

I might be able to use the audio from my small camera, but if I can get my primary camera audio to sound better, I would rather use that.... I realize I may be S.O.L. but I should at least try....

-- spinner :cool:
 
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A few things I can reccomend.

- There is a program called Audacity. You upload your music/sound files and clean them up . Its a free program. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

- When you upload your clips in your video editing program, increase the gain of the volume.

I think with the combination of audacity, then turning up the gain of the audio in your editing program... you will have louder, clearer audio.
 
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No.. just cut out a small section of it and upload it to one of the free file hosting services so I can check it out, see if noise can be removed, see if some eqing will fix it up. Chances are probably good that it'll work out fine.

All the audio in this clip was caught with the internal mic on my little panasonic -- I wasn't terribly concerned with the quality, so I didn't do any extra work, a bit of EQing would sweeten it up nicely... if that link won't work for you I think I might be able to find the clip somewhere else online too...

For live music, I've been really impressed with what those internal mics will capture when a live feed isn't available or logistically plausible.
 
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Hi Spinner. I've worked in the music biz for quite a few years and have had to try to doctor up some poor audio before. A few ideas to try:

1. Most software I've worked with allows you to adjust hi and low wave thresholds. This allows you to cut off any noise that's louder or softer than the actual music. I can't recall a standard name for this feature, so you'll have to search around a little for it in whatever softare you're using. Identify the highest peaks and lowest troughs of the music and set the thresholds just above and below them.

2. Most software I've worked with also has a feature to remove white noise. Do that as well.

3. From here, you can then try to change the quality settings of the recording itself. Some programs go by file size vs. quality, others go by radio vs. CD quality and so on.

Don't worry too much about the EQ until you can get something clean first. Use those first 3 options to work out the unwanted noise the best you can, then save it in high quality as a new file (don't save over the old one. You may need it again).

4. At this point, you can then pull up the cleaner file and try to EQ the music into a fuller sound so that some unwanted mid-range noise that still remains can be blended into the bass and treble of the music. I would aslo save this as a new file too.

Too much doctoring will probably tank your volume quality, so you're better off aiming for good enough and not perfect.

Hope that helps.

~Xav
 
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