Any fix for my corrupted audio file? crackles, pops and some weird buzzing noise

[nickcb]

This is the first time we've encountered this, so I'm not sure how to go about describing the problem or fixing it.

In summary:  we received an audio file from our presenter, and the audio has a lot of corruption throughout. I don't know the right words to describe all the issues, but there's crackles and pops, and also big portions of what sounds like electric interference or buzzing, combined with a high pitched tone.

The presenter records into a H1 Zoom Mic with SD Card. Then transfers the file from there to her pc, and from there to a file host where we pull it down.

We've tested the file on two different machines, and asked the presenter to re-transfer and re-upload the file, but without any change. Obviously we hoped it was an issue with the file transfer process.

I've uploaded a quick MP3 export here Audio Corruption help - MP3.mp3 - Google Drive

If you do check out the file, there's a few long pauses so bear with it.

Our questions are:

1. What happened here?
2. Can anything be done to fix it in Audition?
3. How can we prevent this in the future?
   1. Can the mic be trusted?

Thanks for your help.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

I think that this is on the original file, I'm afraid. Several reasons: it starts okay, so there's nothing wrong with the format. If there was a transfer error, it would corrupt the file completely, and you wouldn't get listenable audio in it at all.

What this actually sounds like is external interference, breaking into the Zoom (they aren't exactly well screened, after all...). As for a fix, forget it, I'm afraid - this is broadband noise, and not even continuous. No software can fix that - whatever you did with this would affect the voice as well, rendering it effectively useless. I used to work across the road from a hospital, which had all sorts of large equipment (mainly scanners) and the interference we got from those went a long way; I've had to trash several recordings with similar noises on - we just had to stop and start again when they'd switched whatever it was off.

[nickcb]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the response.

Could the interference have come more locally - phones or laptops nearby, or plugged in wires or power cables?

Thanks,

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Unlikely to be a laptop. Phones can certainly do this, but it doesn't sound quite like the interference you get from a phone...