Author Topic: Need some expert help with this recording.....please (Read 5510 times)

pepper · « **on:** February 03, 2006, 05:03:17 AM »

I recorded a gig on saturday,and have a couple of problems.The first problem is the banter between songs cant be heard really unless i turn up my stereo loud.The second problem is,there were two sets to this gig and the second is quite a bit quiter than the first,even though i was in the same seat and the mic was more or less in the same place.I have no experience with boosting and audio enhancment and would like it if someone with experience might have a look at the recording to see if they can do anything with it.If anyone would be up to the challenge of improving this recording then id be eternally grateful.
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keepongoin · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2006, 06:39:45 AM »

what software do you have for audio editting? You can add gain or lower signal strength in almost all of the decent software packages.

pepper · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2006, 07:23:14 AM »

This recording needs serious attention by someone who knows what theyre doing really.I dont know what im doing that is why im asking for help from someone who has some some experience.

Humbug · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2006, 09:30:51 AM »

Without wanting to be at all rude, this sort of basic editing should be in every tapers arsenal, you shouldn't need to be asking for others to do this for you.

Let me know what editing program you have and I'll talk you through it. If you don't have one, download Audacity. Its free, and easy to use.

pepper · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2006, 10:15:38 AM »

Sorry for not knowing what im doing.Ive noticed on here with some people,they try and make others with less knowledge inadequate.There was a time when every single person on here didnt know what they know today.All i was asking for was help with one recording,i wasnt asking for the world.I expect there are loads of things i have yet to learn,and audio cleaning/enhancing is one of them.I just dont like this "you should know" attitude,why should i know?if i dont know i dont know.

Roving Sign · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2006, 10:20:38 AM »

Step 1 - Download Audacity

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Step 2. Tell us more...is the recording on your computer, disc, MD, cassette? -

You'll need to transfer your recording to your computer...

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2006, 10:24:07 AM »

Quote from: pepper on February 03, 2006, 10:15:38 AM

Sorry for not knowing what im doing.Ive noticed on here with some people,they try and make others with less knowledge inadequate.There was a time when every single person on here didnt know what they know today.All i was asking for was help with one recording,i wasnt asking for the world.I expect there are loads of things i have yet to learn,and audio cleaning/enhancing is one of them.I just dont like this "you should know" attitude,why should i know?if i dont know i dont know.

No need to apologize for not knowing what you're doing. You're absolutely right that at some point we all were less knowledgeable. But I think Humbug's central message is spot on. I read his message not as "I can't believe you don't know this stuff, you should know it", but rather as "you will run into these issues again, and you're better off learning how to perform these functions yourself". Yes, it will take time to learn how to do it properly, and that probably means you won't be in a position to seed the recording instantly. But learning the skill set yourself will prove far more useful in the long run than having someone else do it for you.

That's how must we've all made the transition from not-knowing to knowing - by doing, not by having others do for us.

Humbug · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2006, 10:42:41 AM »

Brian, thanks for explaining that. I come across as a little blunt sometimes, and I'm really just trying to help.

Its scary starting stuff sometimes, but often once you get going easier than you think. I personally would love to be able to work on DVDs, and the very thought of starting daunts me. But I guess its not too hard!

pepper · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2006, 03:47:29 AM »

I understand what youre saying humbug.

Here is a sample of the concert with major hiss problems.I was told there was nothing i could do about it .So if anyone would be kind enough to listen to the sample,and let me know if anything can be done with this recording id be very grateful.Just click where it says"play the song" in blue.Opinions,suggestions welcome.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3446245&q=hi

Humbug · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2006, 05:28:10 AM »

Quote from: pepper on February 04, 2006, 03:47:29 AM

I understand what youre saying humbug.

Here is a sample of the concert with major hiss problems.I was told there was nothing i could do about it .

Actually, you can do something with it. I downloaded part of the song (bloody difficult, I ended up "recording" it to my pc). I then ran a few seconds through Vinyl restoration in Soundforge. Just a quick playabout, I'm not pretending I'm a Soundforge or editing expert. Listen to the clip, the bit I modified is around 6 seconds in and lasts 4 seconds.

So someone with a bit more know-how than me should be able to help clean it up.

A question you should also be asking is whats causing the hiss?

pepper · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2006, 05:33:47 AM »

Thanks humbug,i really appreciate your time listening to the sample.Even what you did seems a big improvment,so im grateful.

pepper · « **Reply #11 on:** February 04, 2006, 05:43:27 AM »

Well the main reason for the hiss is the amount i raised the recording when putting it onto my pc.The first set of this concert seems fine,but still needs a bit of a attention.For some reason the second set seems quite a bit quieter in comparison,i was seated in the same palce,and the mic was clipped to me in the same place on my jacket.Maybe the levels have a lot ot answer for,im really not 100% sure.

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #12 on:** February 04, 2006, 12:27:28 PM »

Quote from: pepper on February 04, 2006, 05:43:27 AM

Well the main reason for the hiss is the amount i raised the recording when putting it onto my pc.

If you outline all your recording and transferring gear and the exact process by which you get the music from your recording gear onto your PC, maybe someone will identify the gear or process that's introducing the hiss. That's the ideal solution - prevent the hiss from occurringon future recordings.

pepper · « **Reply #13 on:** February 04, 2006, 12:53:57 PM »

Well i recorded it with a sony mz-nh700 md,and used a sony ecm-719 mic.I recorded in lp2 mode as i usually do,and went line in as usual.As far as any other settings on my md are concerned i dont know,i just have it set in lp2 mode and go line in.When transferring from md to pc this is what i do.I connect my md to pc using a lead that plugs into my md headphone socket.Then the other end of the lead plugs into my pc's mic socket.I save it in magix audio and save as wav.Thats all i do with the recordings i make as i dont have any experience with de hissing them,which seems to be the biggest problem.I dont know if that info will be helpful.

Roving Sign · « **Reply #14 on:** February 04, 2006, 01:10:17 PM »

When you do the transfer - make sure you have the headphone volume set at least 80% of max. Keep it a set level. If you run it too quiet - that can increase hiss. Also - make sure any "Bass Boost" or Loudness/EQ switches are off.

Be sure to be using the the Line Input on your computer - sometimes this is the same as the mic in - double check.

Perhaps open the Windows volume control and mute anything you arent using...

If you are ok making wavs with Magix Audio - good...you might want to try recording them in Audacity - since you will end up there anyway...

If you havent yet - just open a wav in Audacity - and play around a bit..

Brian Skalinder · « **Reply #15 on:** February 04, 2006, 01:44:04 PM »

Quote from: pepper on February 04, 2006, 12:53:57 PM

I connect my md to pc using a lead that plugs into my md headphone socket.Then the other end of the lead plugs into my pc's mic socket.

This is the source of the hiss.

Ideally, you want to send the data from your MD to your PC purely in the digital realm, for example an optical connection between MD and PC. Though odds are your MD doesn't support this, and you'd likely need a soundcard on the PC side.

In the case you outlined above, you're taking the digital signal stored on your MD, converting it to analog through the headphpone output (which may or may not be decent quality), then sending it in through your PCs definitely crappy mic-in and re-converting to digital with the PC's crappy analog-to-digital converter. The mic- and line-in and the analog-to-digital converter built into stock PCs generally stink, hence the hiss.

If you don't have the budget to pick up an MD recorder that outputs optical, and a soundcard that will receive the optical signal - and not everyone does, no biggie - Roving Sign made some good suggestions on how to maximize your quality using the gear available to you.

pepper · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2006, 01:53:17 PM »

Thanks for pointing a few things out brian

pepper · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:30:43 PM »

Here is a sample song from the first set of this gig,imo its better than the second.Im hoping with a bit of work, the first set of the gig will be quite nice.It might fall short for a lot of peoples ears,but i used to use a walkman for recording and this sound a lot better to me.

http://www.soundclick.com/util/getplayer.m3u?id=3447771&q=hi

Roving Sign · « **Reply #18 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:46:31 PM »

Very nice - who is the artist? You?

pepper · « **Reply #19 on:** February 04, 2006, 02:58:39 PM »

I know it aint perfect but its better than some ive done.The artist is called amy wadge( pronounced wodge).She a singer from the uk.

pepper · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2006, 06:20:02 AM »

I have redone it again using magix audio,and it sounds better now as i had plenty of vol on my md when transferring.I dont think the second set can be saved as its still too low even with full vol on my md.Guess il just have to put this down to a bit of a bad experience.

M · « **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2006, 07:59:45 AM »

I have encountered this problem before while using the line in on my mz-nh700 at a quiet acoustic concert. I'm pretty sure the problem that both of us encountered was the music was not loud enough to drive the line in at an acceptable level.

I believe the md unit you have is the mz-r700 the unit that came before the mz-nh700. The latter is a hi-md that records in a different format, has optical usb output & a lowsens mic pre that would eliminate your problem. I own both units. I have made analogue transfers from my mz-r700 that sounded very much like the master (with no sign of hiss) although I was using the line in on my soundcard instead of mic.

If you are using the mz-r700 I would recommend getting a recorder that has a mic pre that has a low sens option so you would have this option when the music source is not loud enough to drive the line. When I was using this recorder I used a low sens mic to make up for the lack of a low sens mic pre.

But other than for quiet concerts go line in.

pepper · « **Reply #22 on:** February 05, 2006, 08:05:10 AM »

Nice ( in a way) to hear from someone whos been there and had the same problem.I was about 15 feet from the speaker,so im assuming the distance wasnt the problem.Anyway il know better next time if i record anymore acoustic shows.

M · « **Reply #23 on:** February 05, 2006, 08:27:06 AM »

I was very close aswell. My tape dosen't sound quite as damaged as yours but I did use the next gen recorder and I suspect the music was a bit louder.

Here is a sample of what I got on my tape.

at943o > spsb6 > mz-nh700@pcm > digi transfer

pepper · « **Reply #24 on:** February 05, 2006, 08:35:02 AM »

Yep,yours still sounds better than mine.

M · « **Reply #25 on:** February 05, 2006, 09:14:31 AM »

Does the master md sound signifigantly better than the recording transferred to your pc?

Try using sp some time. Your recordings will sound more full.

pepper · « **Reply #26 on:** February 05, 2006, 10:09:23 AM »

Ok i might just try sp,i normally use lp2 so i can fit all of it on one disc.Yes the master md does sound a bit better.