Improve Speech

[Major38341518su3w]

Hi, can anyone point to a tutorial or discussion on how to improve speech using premiere pro (or even audition / after effects, etc). We work in a air-gap /offline /secure network, so sending files to online ai services is out of the question. we've been trying the Essential Sound, Enhance Speech, Clarity options, but after hours of trying all combinations we havent improved the speech.
It is typical male voices, on the vids, that are a bit too low and rough... (zero background noise!) but all settings make it worse: dropouts, more 'gravel', wider volumes/frequencies/etc... 
Its all very disappointing and difficult. 
Any suggestions?

pp 24.4.1

[Major38341518su3w]

update. we've got an "adobe expert" in the office, who says there seems to be something very wrong with this version of premiere, as even the older individual effects are not behaving as they do on his v23. Can this be? after all he is a many years expert on this stuff?!

[Rag and Bone]

I don't think that sound has been broken in the latest versions,, but something may be in your installation. We'd certainly need more details on what the unexpected behavior is, exactly.

First step might be to post a sample of the untreated audio, and then a processed sample with the details of the effect you applied.

You might have better response in the Audition forum.

[Major38341518su3w]

numerous new PCs (different makes and models) having the same issues? 
interestingly i watched our expert take the sequence from prem over to audition, and applied a preset (i forget which - some voice improvement) - it added 4 effects (a noise leveller, parametric equalizer, loudness, deEss???) and the sound was much better. why premiere cant achieve these results, using the same effects (they are in there), is surprising. and disappointing.

[Rag and Bone]

Sorry, no idea why this could be happening. Certainly doesn't sound normal, and I can't help but think others would have noticed this if it was a widespread problem. Perhaps someone else will offer some insights.

Frankly, I almost always process my sound in Audition, but I'm usually adding music and sound effects, and I find the editing easier there.

[Rag and Bone]

It might help if you could post a screen shot of your settings. in case someone can spot something amiss.

Are these effects being added to the track or the clips? If to the tracks, try applying them to a clip. If they work on the clip that might give someone here a clue.

[Major38341518su3w]

thanks for the idea. i will pass it on...