Removing bad mic/audio static from video

[JayNewWeb]

I have no idea what caused all the static in this video. I have used the same exact setup for some time and never had anything like this before. (Full disclosure, though: I had a very difficult day this past week and literally punched out my Yeti mic and knocked it across the desk. Hopefully, that was it and the replacement mic I bought is the fix for the future. Otherwise, I'll be on a challenging hunt to figure out what the heck the cause is here.)

Either way, this video was done impromptu with no preparation or notes and the content came out priceless for my purposes. It won't be easy to reshoot it. I don't expect any gurus here know of a way to cleanly remove all this darned static, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask and if anyone would know how they'd be found here.

Here's the full video with time markers for two samples in the video:

https://evolvedinfluence.com/ei-main-video-7-16-22-orig

And I attached an mp3 file with those two samples from the video. It's prominent in this short samples file at about 1:50 and at the very end.

Thanks so much!

[Rag and Bone]

This does sound like a cable or connection issue.

I think it's going to be hard to completely eliminate this, but some of it can be fixed using the healing brush in spectral view. Spectral view will allow you to see the static, and at least when there's no dialogue, paint it out.

Make sure you are working on a copy of the file. 

Some of this might be removed with the some of the noise reduction effects in Audition, especially the click and pop remover. 

Switch to the spectral view and select just the affected area to apply the effect to. Start with minimal settings—mutiple passes are usually better.

[JayNewWeb]

I appreciate it. This is a bit above my pay grade. And since I don't get paid much, I can't afford to pay much -- but, having said that, I'd love to find a qualified person I can pay to tackle this for me. Any suggestions? 😉

[Rag and Bone]

Sorry, no idea. Maybe someone else will chime in.

[JayNewWeb]

I'll try to tackle this based on your guidance.

When you say to switch to spectral view and select the affected area to apply the effect, are you referring to applying the healing brush, or the click and pop remover, or both?

Same question for using minimal settings and multiple passes: regarding using the healing brush, or the click and pop remover, or both?

Thanks again!

[Rag and Bone]

I meant the effects.

But, incremental steps with the healing brush would be best too.

[SteveG_AudioMasters_]

Well, that's not a cable fault at all - that has all the hallmarks of external airborne interference. That's why it comes and goes - if it was a cable fault, then firstly it would be louder, and secondly it would be obvious that it happened when the mic was moved. But the mic hasn't moved where the interference is, so it's pretty safe to assume it's not a cable fault. It doesn't take much to produce this sort of interference - these days a passing police car or ambulance could do it, but just as importantly so could a cell phone...

Because it's relatively quiet but pulse-like, it might be worth running Effects>Diagnostics>DeClicker on it, and see if you can find a setting that improves it at all - that's relatively easy to do, but you may well have to experiment with the settings.

[Rag and Bone]

Ah, good point Steve...and good idea for repair.

(Jay: Steve has  far more experience than me.)

[JayNewWeb · Accepted solution]

I have expert advice that I agree with that says it was interference from the cell phone (etc?) due to physical damage to the shielding.

I found an audio engineering pro on a freelancer forum who was able to clean it up reasonably well with minimal detriment.

Thanks!