Due to short time frames and small production budgets, audio for video is often not well recorded. As a result, certain unwanted noises often plague producers during post-production. A common noise in recorded audio for sound effects and dialog is an annoying hum or rumble at the bottom end.
Certainly many of the software plugins on the market that filter out noise work very well. Though, under a tight deadline, it may prove impossible to seek out, purchase, and learn the functions of whatever new plugins you may find. As an easy alternative, use the standard eq and reverb plugins provided in your video or audio software.
Armed with these sufficient plugins, use the following strategies to save your audio recording from being ruined by unintended noise:
First, use a Single Band EQ to try and cut out the offensive hum. This type of EQ will cut out all sound below or above a certain frequency. For example, since low rumbles generally occur around 60 Hz, you can use a Single Band EQ to cut out everything below 80 Hz which will remove the hum without adversely affecting the dialog.
Secondly, a Parametric EQ can be used to "notch out" the unwanted noise by decreasing a thin width of audio frequencies and its octaves such as 60 Hz, 120 Hz, and 240 Hz. The advantage of using a Parametric EQ is that one can notch out the offensive noise without hurting wanted audio.
Third, use a Parametric EQ to boost the desired audio slightly. By doing so, it will be prominent over the noise and take the listeners attention away from the unwanted hum. For example, boost a bit at 5 Khz to raise the human voice over a low hum.
Finally, one can use reverb on the entire mix once the lower rumble has been cut out. This can reduce the "tin can" effect that might result from minimizing the lower end.
By using the above tips, while they will not completely fix poorly recorded audio, one can vastly help the quality of a recording in which a undesirable low end frequency is compromising the other elements in an audio mix.
Certainly many of the software plugins on the market that filter out noise work very well. Though, under a tight deadline, it may prove impossible to seek out, purchase, and learn the functions of whatever new plugins you may find. As an easy alternative, use the standard eq and reverb plugins provided in your video or audio software.
Armed with these sufficient plugins, use the following strategies to save your audio recording from being ruined by unintended noise:
First, use a Single Band EQ to try and cut out the offensive hum. This type of EQ will cut out all sound below or above a certain frequency. For example, since low rumbles generally occur around 60 Hz, you can use a Single Band EQ to cut out everything below 80 Hz which will remove the hum without adversely affecting the dialog.
Secondly, a Parametric EQ can be used to "notch out" the unwanted noise by decreasing a thin width of audio frequencies and its octaves such as 60 Hz, 120 Hz, and 240 Hz. The advantage of using a Parametric EQ is that one can notch out the offensive noise without hurting wanted audio.
Third, use a Parametric EQ to boost the desired audio slightly. By doing so, it will be prominent over the noise and take the listeners attention away from the unwanted hum. For example, boost a bit at 5 Khz to raise the human voice over a low hum.
Finally, one can use reverb on the entire mix once the lower rumble has been cut out. This can reduce the "tin can" effect that might result from minimizing the lower end.
By using the above tips, while they will not completely fix poorly recorded audio, one can vastly help the quality of a recording in which a undesirable low end frequency is compromising the other elements in an audio mix.
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