Topic: Need Help Fixing a Live Recording

[fsu2005]

I recently recorded a live show and need some help fixing the recording. I am using Adobe Audition 1.5. Basicly the main problem is too much crowd noise. I fixed the bass but need help on how to get rid of as much crowd noise as possible without losing too much of the concerts quality. Please help

[fsu2005]

I recently recorded a live show and need some help fixing the recording. I am using Adobe Audition 1.5. Basicly the main problem is too much crowd noise. I fixed the bass but need help on how to get rid of as much crowd noise as possible without losing too much of the concerts quality.

[fsu2005]

The problem is there is a lot of crowd noise during the entire concert. I am fixing it in post production with Adobe Audition. I need some advice on what I can do to fix it. I have already fixed the bass prob.

[Tim]

there's not really much that can be done in post, crowd noise is related to what pattern your mics are, what configuration you ran in, where your stand was in the room, how high your stand was, how loud the show was, how chatty the crowd was

gives us some details and we might be able to give you some advice to keep in mind for next time.

[Wiggler]

If you get pro tools it can be done with the dinr plug in.

Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction Plug-In

DINR is the award-winning Digidesign Intelligent Noise Reduction Plug-In for real-time, high-quality reduction of both broadband and pitched noise. As a software-based, digital signal processing module designed to reduce the full spectrum of unwanted noise -- from air-conditioner rumble to tape hiss to guitar-amp buzz -- DINR intelligently cleans up your tracks for more professional sounding audio.

One technique is to use DINR in an 'inverted' configuration. Instead of isolating the noise floor below threshold and subtracting it, one removes noise peaks above threshold. This is done by moving the threshold curser line up to include all the audio, and attenuate to infinity - the result is silence. Then, by bringing the threshold down at specific frequencies, you can select only the sound peaks you want removed. You should be auditioning only the unwanted audio, no subtle music below the noise peak should be showing through. Now switch in the 'audition noise' feature - remember the 'noise' is the music, now minus the bits you want to remove. This works spectacularly for pops, bumps, rumbles, and as a brickwall filter.

[Brian Skalinder]

If you get pro tools it can be done with the dinr plug in.

This sounds similar to the many noise reduction features available.  If we're talking reducing crowd noise between songs, this might work.  But I don't believe it will work for reducing crowd noise while the music's playing.  Unfortunately, crowd noise shares a fairly broad range of the same frequencies used by the music.  So, attempting to reduce crowd noise across that shared range will have a very noticeable negative impact on the sound of the music.

[Wiggler]

No you can isolate the noise you want to be removed it is a intelligent program.

DINR reduces broadband noise,such as tape
hiss,by “intelligently” subtracting the noise
from the digital audio file.First,the noise
signature is created by selecting and analyz-
ing an example of the noise within the source
material.(A brief,isolated passage of noise
is ideal but not necessary.) Using this signa-
ture,the effects of the noise are then
removed or greatly reduced.

[lordbelial]

If you're using adobe audition maybe you can try to equalize though "parametric equalizer".

That way you can rise up and down in accordance to frequencies. I mean, every instrument moves along a certain frequency, so the only thing you have to do is to find out where are the instruments and vocals, and then, raise them up. That way you can "virtually" rise down the noise of the crowd.

[heath]

No you can isolate the noise you want to be removed it is a intelligent program.

DINR reduces broadband noise,such as tape
hiss,by “intelligently” subtracting the noise
from the digital audio file.First,the noise
signature is created by selecting and analyz-
ing an example of the noise within the source
material.(A brief,isolated passage of noise
is ideal but not necessary.) Using this signa-
ture,the effects of the noise are then
removed or greatly reduced.

even with "intelligent" noise reduction software, there will still be an impact on desired program material.  It's just the nature of the beast.  Even the "best" software out there suffers from this problem.

there have been a lot of conversations about this topic (noise reduction and it's effects on material) recently on the ARSCLIST.

[eman]

Well, the topic's been read 19 times and nobody's got anything to say.
I think it is like heartache- there ain't nothing you can do.
Well, you can go in and maybe EQ down some whistles, insert silence over particularly loud claps or cheers, or lower the volume between songs. But crowd noise occurs across the same spectrum as music, so you can't just EQ it out. Some kind of compression might help a little bit.
Next time bring a taller stand, use hypercardioid mics, bring an Uzi to the show.

[Brian Skalinder]

No you can isolate the noise you want to be removed it is a intelligent program.

DINR reduces broadband noise,such as tape
hiss,by “intelligently” subtracting the noise
from the digital audio file.First,the noise
signature is created by selecting and analyz-
ing an example of the noise within the source
material.(A brief,isolated passage of noise
is ideal but not necessary.) Using this signa-
ture,the effects of the noise are then
removed or greatly reduced.

That's a good explanation.  I've used the very same feature in CEP.  The s/w analyzes the noise source largely by frequency, and since the frequencies applicable to the audience noise overlap with the same frequencies within the music, one cannot remove the audience only.

For example, let's say I have an especially obnoxious audience member whose voice falls in the 125 - 200 Hz range.  And for the sake of example let's say electric guitar also fall in the 125 - 200 Hz range (the range is broader than that, but for now it'll suffice).  So any attempt to remove the audience by attenuating those frequencies will result also impact the guitar.  There's no way around it.  IME it takes very little application of NR to negatively impact the music in the recording.  Even with noise falling in a very specific and limited frequency band, this is the case.  Take "noise" with an even broader frequency band than the example above, like audience chatter, and it becomes even more difficult to apply NR without impacting the music.

If you have a recording in which you feel you've successfully removed or dramatically attenuated the audience chatter - while music is playing - without negatively impacting the sound quality of the music, I'd love to hear it and be proven wrong.

That way you can rise up and down in accordance to frequencies. I mean, every instrument moves along a certain frequency, so the only thing you have to do is to find out where are the instruments and vocals, and then, raise them up. That way you can "virtually" rise down the noise of the crowd.

That's the catch - audience vocals overlap the frequency band for instruments and on-stage vocals, so any adjustment of the audience frequencies also impacts the music that shares those frequencies.

[Brian Skalinder]

Well, the topic's been read 19 times and nobody's got anything to say.

On the contrary, we just addressed it in the cross-posted thread in Ask The Tapers.  Merging now....