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Gear / Technical Help => Ask The Tapers => Topic started by: marksk on July 16, 2008, 01:53:13 PM

Title: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: marksk on July 16, 2008, 01:53:13 PM
i recorded my first show last week and there were some very enthusiastic concertgoers next to me. i'd like to decrease the volume of their excitement in the recording, but do not know how. i have cool edit pro 2.0 at my disposal. could some of the experts please give me some tips?

thanks!
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: sygdwm on July 16, 2008, 01:53:58 PM
during music or in between songs?
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: nameloc01 on July 16, 2008, 02:20:20 PM
Keep your mics as high as possible.use cards vs.omnis. get in the "sweet spot". Keep your levels up. Dirty looks works well for me. Tear gas,ect.
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: marksk on July 16, 2008, 02:30:11 PM
thanks for the tips. i was stealthing, so they were on my glasses. i really just did it for the experience, but my daughter wants to keep the show, so i'd like to make it a little more pleasurable for her to listen to.

most of the screaming was between songs, occasionally i'll get one shriek in the middle that i would like to try to knock down a bit.
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: Dede2002 on July 16, 2008, 02:48:35 PM
thanks for the tips. i was stealthing, so they were on my glasses. i really just did it for the experience, but my daughter wants to keep the show, so i'd like to make it a little more pleasurable for her to listen to.

most of the screaming was between songs, occasionally i'll get one shriek in the middle that i would like to try to knock down a bit.

For screaming between songs you can use Compression or Volume reduction. You have to highlight the screaming area on your waveform and apply the desired effect. Plus, the fades at the beggining/end of the tracks are going to reduce the screamers big time. I usually leave 1 second of fade in and 3 seconds of fade out.
Hope that helps  ;)
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: marksk on July 16, 2008, 03:15:28 PM
thanks! i'll look for those on the menu and give them a try tonight.
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: jerryfreak on July 16, 2008, 04:24:10 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: Dede2002 on July 16, 2008, 04:26:25 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: marksk on July 16, 2008, 04:59:01 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
i agree but when they're 13 year old girls at a jonas brothers concert, it might not be a good idea.
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: Liquid Drum on July 16, 2008, 05:02:17 PM
The easy way is to hard limit those peaks.

Effects > Amplitude > Hard Limiting.

Just highlight the bit where its too loud and limit the db level it can reach. I normally try to make the crowd parts a similar level to the music and then normalize the whole thing to -0.1 db.

Just remember, don't limit the peaks too much as it can start sounding 'funny'. By that I mean if you flatten it too much, the sound quality will suffer. Experiment with the hard limit feature.
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: yousef on July 16, 2008, 05:11:31 PM
I've had some success using Izotope to reduce annoying noises such as coughs, squeaky chairs etc.

It does seem able to take the edge off enthusiastic screeches and whistles but not as well as with shorter noises.

Of course, it doesn't get rid of the noises completely and you have to be careful not to overdo it and spoil the music itself, but having played around with the program for a couple of hours, I'm encouraged by the results.

An impressive, if not entirely relevant, demo video is here (marked "Spectral Repair Attenuate Mode"):

http://www.izotope.com/support/videos.asp
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: intpseeker on July 16, 2008, 06:22:38 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
i agree but when they're 13 year old girls at a jonas brothers concert, it might not be a good idea.

Fixed that for ya.  ;D
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: marksk on July 17, 2008, 01:58:35 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
i agree but when they're 13 year old girls at a jonas brothers concert, it might not be a good idea.

Fixed that for ya.  ;D
the things we do for our kids
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: morst on July 20, 2008, 11:14:55 AM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
i agree but when they're 13 year old girls at a jonas brothers concert, it might not be a good idea.

Ah, yes- the Anti-Yelling medicine is not recommended for youngsters.  :hmmm:
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: intpseeker on July 21, 2008, 05:56:34 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
i agree but when they're 13 year old girls at a jonas brothers concert, it might not be a good idea.

Fixed that for ya.  ;D
the things we do for our kids

I know. You're a good dad. I have four daughters and it was a Hanson concert for me...and I liked them. There, I said it.  :-X
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: Dede2002 on July 21, 2008, 06:03:49 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
i agree but when they're 13 year old girls at a jonas brothers concert, it might not be a good idea.

Fixed that for ya.  ;D
the things we do for our kids

I know. You're a good dad. I have four daughters and it was a Hanson concert for me...and I liked them. There, I said it.  :-X

Samples?  ;D
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: wklitz on July 21, 2008, 06:22:27 PM
when Schoepsnbox recorded the Jonas Brothers/ Hannah Montana gig, I took the time and smoothed out the screamers during the Hannah set,  However the Jonas' I didnt bother with , the music was soo low and the screams too much...

Glad to see so many Jonas Brothers shows getting recorded, so that in a few years all our kids will be saying "What were we thinking!?!?!"  they'll fit in soon enough with the "Where Are They Now?" crowd like Hootie....
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: marksk on July 23, 2008, 05:28:06 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
i agree but when they're 13 year old girls at a jonas brothers concert, it might not be a good idea.

Fixed that for ya.  ;D
the things we do for our kids

I know. You're a good dad. I have four daughters and it was a Hanson concert for me...and I liked them. There, I said it.  :-X

Samples?  ;D
of the jonas brothers or are you looking for hanson?
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: Dede2002 on July 23, 2008, 05:32:45 PM
applying massive amounts of herbal remedies to loud people around you sometimes helps
i agree but when they're 13 year old girls at a jonas brothers concert, it might not be a good idea.

Fixed that for ya.  ;D
the things we do for our kids

I know. You're a good dad. I have four daughters and it was a Hanson concert for me...and I liked them. There, I said it.  :-X

Samples?  ;D
of the jonas brothers or are you looking for hanson?

Just kidding, hope you don't mind  ;)
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: ts on August 05, 2008, 09:17:22 AM
I almost stealthed the Jo Bros at the Scranton show. Where can I find a recording of any of there shows? My 13 year old daughter will greatly appreciate it. :)
Title: Re: decreasing crowd noise on a recording
Post by: twatts (pants are so over-rated...) on August 05, 2008, 10:14:09 AM
it was a Hanson concert for me...and I liked them. There, I said it.  :-X

(http://blog.internetnews.com/apatrizio/simpsons_nelson_haha2.jpg)