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A
adamn48309146
Participant
March 8, 2017
Question

Damaged/Distorted Audio Recording

  • March 8, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 4723 views

Hello,

I have some interview audio recordings that really need a fix. They were damaged by a faulty Tascam recorder and now I need to fix them in post.

NOTE: THESE ARE NOT CLIPPED FILES.

I tried diagnostics DeClipper but that was impertinent because they were recorded with perfect levels. The problem is not background noise, hiss, or anything like that, it is hard for me to identify. I don't have the language to describe the problem, but attempting to describe it I would say it sounds like a robotic/digitize sound effect was applied to the original file. I hear blips of high pitched "artifacts" in the file. It is almost as if the original bit rate of the file was too low.

The best way to diagnose this would be if I send the a sample file to anyone who would like to help. I just need an email address.

Thank you so much for helping me!

(P.S. I am using the latest Adobe Audition)

This topic has been closed for replies.

1 reply

Bob Howes
Bob Howes
Inspiring
March 9, 2017

It's probably best if you post a short sample of the problem to something like Dropbox or box.net so several of us can download it and have a listen.

My instinct is that a total fix is unlikely but there may be things you can do to minimise the problem at least.

A
adamn48309146Author
Participant
March 10, 2017

Hello Bob,

Thank you for replying to my plea for help! I have uploaded a sample to my Google drive which I believe can be downloaded by anyone with a link. Here it is:

DAMAGED_SAMPLE.mp3 - Google Drive

E
emmrecs
Legend
March 11, 2017

The file you supplied, although nominally stereo, has audio only on the left channel.  That may be deliberate but the problem of the "robotic" sound you refer to is very evident.

In my experience, this is caused by excessive use of Noise Reduction.  You mention using diagnostics>declipper, but that would not create the effect you are hearing, IMO.  Do you still have the original file, i.e. before you applied the declipper?  If so, can you post a sample of that somewhere?  Unless you do have the unaltered original, I fear those artifacts are "baked in" to your audio.

Jeff

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