A set of guidelines - editing a really bad audio interview lots of clicks and fade away

Report · Nov 10, 2020

Hi Adobe community I was wondering if someone can help me! I have a really poor and long (2.5hrs) interview that I Have to edit. Just moved over from audacity. I have just started in audition and I'm completely overwhelmed. I have been watching lots of tutorials but none of them just give a step by step guide. ( the into/ outro i have managed to add on the multi track with the long interview ) now I need to ad quickly as possible

-batch edit this file

-getting rid of lots of clicks/ and a short shape repetitive buzzing before he speaks

-bad voice levels between myself and the guest

-the guest voice also being of really poor quality and fades away from a bad signal on his zoom internet connection from time to time .
so looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks rgs Jen

Report · Nov 11, 2020

There is generally no magic button or plugin to solve these various issues

BUT

1. "batch edit this file"

I don't know what that means but refer to 'no magic bullet'

2. "getting rid of lots of clicks/ and a short shape repetitive buzzing before he speaks "

You can try capturing a noise print of the offending sound and try using noise reduction - this would be in the Waveform view

3. "bad voice levels between myself and the guest"

A compressor is probably where I would start experimenting

4. "the guest voice also being of really poor quality and fades away from a bad signal on his zoom internet connection from time to time"

Again a compressor and/or automation keyframes

None of what you have said indicates the best course of action to be press a button and go have a coffee

All of this smacks of detailed attention to each and every issue

Mike Russell has many good tutorials on the things I have mentioned - they would be good starting points

Report · Nov 11, 2020

Appreciate your help! I'm going to try what you said thank you !!
just for clarification the noise reduction- can this action delete constant clicks throughout? I thought it was more for a constant hissing noise / background noise?
This click I'm referring to is technical either from zoom or internet the connection so its short sharp and repetitive throughout ?

Report · Nov 11, 2020

If you could provide a sample of it, it would be easier to make suggestions...

Report · Nov 11, 2020

Hi Stevem thank you I am trying to send you a little sample, can i only send a link, not a small MP3 file?

Report · Nov 11, 2020

Thank you Steve please find attached: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ea70QYWWrOXS_i4aMc7bdS6SGAxUTlyZ/view?usp=drivesdk

it took me a whole half day to figure out how to load this for jou!! Going all the way - appreciate it !

Report · Nov 11, 2020

So far, it's denied me access to it. Apparently you have to approve the request. This is one of the reasons that I don't like Google drive, and only use Dropbox. At least Dropbox lets you generate a public link to a file - seems to be more than Google is capable of!

Report · Nov 12, 2020

I gave permission did receive a notification? thanks Steve

Report · Nov 12, 2020

Well I've listened to it, and unfortunately there's nothing you can do about the external link, because the transmission path was either very low bandwidth or corrupted. So the signal isn't actually there in a lot of places, and it has all sorts of artifacts at the points that it breaks down - that's the buzzing noises. I'm sorry, but I don't think that there's any treatement at all that will make this materially better.

The best way around this in the future is to record the link as you have it now, but get the contributor to record their end of it locally and cleanly at the same time, and email the file of this to you. You then replace their broken-up version with the file, and it sounds like you're in the room with them, rather than the other end of a piece of wet string, or whatever.

Report · Nov 12, 2020

Thank you so much! You have no idea what a nightmare this episode has been causing me! Looking at the cup half full! Its made me change my game plan! Your message has given me so much hope and clarity. I will bin this interview. I have spoken to the guest already after seeing your message. He is happy to interview again, this time face to face, and as you say, for the other guests who i can not interview face to face, i will get the recording from their side from now on.

Thank you again so so much! Just the fact that you took the time to listen to the audio, and give your feedback has given me certainty and wings. so grateful. thank you Steve!