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#1
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Any hope of recovering anything from this recording?
Hi,
A friend of mine has given me a recording of an interview he did with Chet Atkins some years ago on cassette tape. It's a very bad quality recording - there is an aircon/fan hum & the voices are unintelligable: http://www.intlog.demon.co.uk/audio/Chetclip1.mp3 That's the quality of the original recording - I've tried chucking it into cool edit pro & done a noise reduction thang by sampling the fan noise & removing that but not had much joy.. - any tools/techniques that could at least get the voices intelligable enough to be transcribed? Thx |
#2
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"gmc" wrote in message ... Hi, A friend of mine has given me a recording of an interview he did with Chet Atkins some years ago on cassette tape. It's a very bad quality recording - there is an aircon/fan hum & the voices are unintelligable: http://www.intlog.demon.co.uk/audio/Chetclip1.mp3 I would say the first step would be to align the cassette deck to the tape to get the best possible sound at the source. You might be able to get an appreciably better sound, especially in the high end by doing this. As it is, I don't think there is any way (IMO) of really salvaging it other than that. If it were only a matter of getting rid of other noise, your previous efforts might have had some effect, but that isn't your main problem here. Try aligning the head's azimuth adjustment while listening to the tape. I'd bet that at some point you'll be able to pull more high end out, which should make it intelligible enough for transcription. Good luck! Kendall That's the quality of the original recording - I've tried chucking it into cool edit pro & done a noise reduction thang by sampling the fan noise & removing that but not had much joy.. - any tools/techniques that could at least get the voices intelligable enough to be transcribed? Thx |
#3
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gmc wrote:
A friend of mine has given me a recording of an interview he did with Chet Atkins some years ago on cassette tape. It's a very bad quality recording - there is an aircon/fan hum & the voices are unintelligable: http://www.intlog.demon.co.uk/audio/Chetclip1.mp3 That's the quality of the original recording - I've tried chucking it into cool edit pro & done a noise reduction thang by sampling the fan noise & removing that but not had much joy.. - any tools/techniques that could at least get the voices intelligable enough to be transcribed? Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#4
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"gmc" wrote in message
Hi, A friend of mine has given me a recording of an interview he did with Chet Atkins some years ago on cassette tape. It's a very bad quality recording - there is an aircon/fan hum & the voices are unintelligable: http://www.intlog.demon.co.uk/audio/Chetclip1.mp3 That's the quality of the original recording - I've tried chucking it into cool edit pro & done a noise reduction thang by sampling the fan noise & removing that but not had much joy.. - any tools/techniques that could at least get the voices intelligable enough to be transcribed? I improved the intelligibility quite a bit with CE's FFT equalizer. Flat from 300 to 800 Hz, sloping to 30 dB down at 100 Hz, sloping to 40 dB up at 2 KHz, and then sloping down to -30 at 20 KHz. Then, the clipping during transcription was more of an irritation than the booming and fan noise. |
#6
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"gmc" wrote in message
On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? The sharp roll-off above about 800 Hz suggests something really bad is going on. |
#7
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On Fri, 18 Jun 2004 16:06:00 -0400, "Arny Krueger"
wrote: "gmc" wrote in message Hi, A friend of mine has given me a recording of an interview he did with Chet Atkins some years ago on cassette tape. It's a very bad quality recording - there is an aircon/fan hum & the voices are unintelligable: http://www.intlog.demon.co.uk/audio/Chetclip1.mp3 That's the quality of the original recording - I've tried chucking it into cool edit pro & done a noise reduction thang by sampling the fan noise & removing that but not had much joy.. - any tools/techniques that could at least get the voices intelligable enough to be transcribed? I improved the intelligibility quite a bit with CE's FFT equalizer. Flat from 300 to 800 Hz, sloping to 30 dB down at 100 Hz, sloping to 40 dB up at 2 KHz, and then sloping down to -30 at 20 KHz. Then, the clipping during transcription was more of an irritation than the booming and fan noise. --- I've got similar results too... however, it seems to me as if the (TV?) recording has been made by a cassette recorder with a built-in electret microphone and picking up a helluva lot of its own motor and transmission noise... and the mic seems to have been heavy off-axis. As Scott and the others pointed out, try to get the original cassette, demagnetize and clean the heads and then try to align the azimuth the best you can by putting the reproducer to mono and then set the head screw for best highs you can get. Then you might get some higher frequencies which are essential for intelligibility. Then, apply a 60 Hz notch. Try to see the prominent hum frequencies in a FFT analyser, write them down and try to notch 'em out. You won't get an useful recording but you might be able to transcribe the interwiew. Good luck, Edi Zubovic, Crikvenica, Croatia |
#8
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In article ,
On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. While you are at it, make sure the tape pressure pad is good and it's making good head contact. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#9
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Scott Dorsey wrote:
It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. Or like a recorder that was hidden under a pillow. --scott Kind regards Peter Larsen -- ******************************************* * My site is at: http://www.muyiovatki.dk * ******************************************* |
#10
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"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
In article , On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. While you are at it, make sure the tape pressure pad is good and it's making good head contact. Spectral analysis shows no comb filtering. |
#11
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Try contacting www.ulytel.com as they have a phone with a chip in it that
can separate the human voice from background noises. Their website doesn't seem to show it, so perhaps give them a call. RuthWest "gmc" wrote in message ... Hi, A friend of mine has given me a recording of an interview he did with Chet Atkins some years ago on cassette tape. It's a very bad quality recording - there is an aircon/fan hum & the voices are unintelligable: http://www.intlog.demon.co.uk/audio/Chetclip1.mp3 That's the quality of the original recording - I've tried chucking it into cool edit pro & done a noise reduction thang by sampling the fan noise & removing that but not had much joy.. - any tools/techniques that could at least get the voices intelligable enough to be transcribed? Thx |
#12
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In article ,
Arny Krueger wrote: "Scott Dorsey" wrote in message In article , On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. While you are at it, make sure the tape pressure pad is good and it's making good head contact. Spectral analysis shows no comb filtering. You're only seeing the lowest tooth in the comb, so it won't look like a comb. But look at the profile. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#13
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In article ,
Arny Krueger wrote: "Scott Dorsey" wrote in message In article , On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. While you are at it, make sure the tape pressure pad is good and it's making good head contact. Spectral analysis shows no comb filtering. You're only seeing the lowest tooth in the comb, so it won't look like a comb. But look at the profile. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#14
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"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
In article , Arny Krueger wrote: "Scott Dorsey" wrote in message In article , On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. While you are at it, make sure the tape pressure pad is good and it's making good head contact. Spectral analysis shows no comb filtering. You're only seeing the lowest tooth in the comb, so it won't look like a comb. But look at the profile. So what FFT parameters are you using when you look at the file, Scott? |
#15
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"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message
In article , Arny Krueger wrote: "Scott Dorsey" wrote in message In article , On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. While you are at it, make sure the tape pressure pad is good and it's making good head contact. Spectral analysis shows no comb filtering. You're only seeing the lowest tooth in the comb, so it won't look like a comb. But look at the profile. So what FFT parameters are you using when you look at the file, Scott? |
#16
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Arny Krueger wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message In article , Arny Krueger wrote: "Scott Dorsey" wrote in message In article , On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. While you are at it, make sure the tape pressure pad is good and it's making good head contact. Spectral analysis shows no comb filtering. You're only seeing the lowest tooth in the comb, so it won't look like a comb. But look at the profile. So what FFT parameters are you using when you look at the file, Scott? I'm not, but I'd crank the window size up as high as possible since you are looking at fairly low frequencies. Right now I am in North Carolina. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#17
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Arny Krueger wrote:
"Scott Dorsey" wrote in message In article , Arny Krueger wrote: "Scott Dorsey" wrote in message In article , On 18 Jun 2004 15:42:56 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote: Do you have the original tape? The mp3 you have is so far off correct azimuth that it's hard to tell what the other problems are. If you can get a dub with the alignment in the right ballpark, you might have a start. My pal gave it to me on 2 CDs -I'll get in touch with him & see if he can get me the original tape. Out of interest, what are you hearing in the mp3 that points to azimuth problems? - the general 'woolieness'? It's a particular kind of wooliness caused by comb filtering. While you are at it, make sure the tape pressure pad is good and it's making good head contact. Spectral analysis shows no comb filtering. You're only seeing the lowest tooth in the comb, so it won't look like a comb. But look at the profile. So what FFT parameters are you using when you look at the file, Scott? I'm not, but I'd crank the window size up as high as possible since you are looking at fairly low frequencies. Right now I am in North Carolina. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#18
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Scott Dorsey wrote:
So what FFT parameters are you using when you look at the file, Scott? I'm not, but I'd crank the window size up as high as possible since you are looking at fairly low frequencies. I always use max resolution possilbe in Coolition, I agree with Arny, there is no evidence of comb filtering, there is simply a major roll-off above some 400 Hz and a little relative boost in the low treble, one that matches what a crappy tape-deck internal mic is likely to have. I still think the recording was made with the recorder under a pillow. I also think that there is no likelyhood of getting comprehensible audio from it. --scott Kind regards Peter Larsen -- ******************************************* * My site is at: http://www.muyiovatki.dk * ******************************************* |
#19
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Scott Dorsey wrote:
So what FFT parameters are you using when you look at the file, Scott? I'm not, but I'd crank the window size up as high as possible since you are looking at fairly low frequencies. I always use max resolution possilbe in Coolition, I agree with Arny, there is no evidence of comb filtering, there is simply a major roll-off above some 400 Hz and a little relative boost in the low treble, one that matches what a crappy tape-deck internal mic is likely to have. I still think the recording was made with the recorder under a pillow. I also think that there is no likelyhood of getting comprehensible audio from it. --scott Kind regards Peter Larsen -- ******************************************* * My site is at: http://www.muyiovatki.dk * ******************************************* |
#20
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"Peter Larsen" wrote in message
Scott Dorsey wrote: So what FFT parameters are you using when you look at the file, Scott? I'm not, but I'd crank the window size up as high as possible since you are looking at fairly low frequencies. I always use max resolution possilbe in Coolition, I like that nickname - Coolition! ;-) I agree with Arny, there is no evidence of comb filtering, there is simply a major roll-off above some 400 Hz and a little relative boost in the low treble, one that matches what a crappy tape-deck internal mic is likely to have. Dirty heads and misbiased tape also come to mind. I still think the recording was made with the recorder under a pillow. I also think that there is no likelyhood of getting comprehensible audio from it. I've actually made out about 3 words... But I may have got them wrong! |
#21
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"Peter Larsen" wrote in message
Scott Dorsey wrote: So what FFT parameters are you using when you look at the file, Scott? I'm not, but I'd crank the window size up as high as possible since you are looking at fairly low frequencies. I always use max resolution possilbe in Coolition, I like that nickname - Coolition! ;-) I agree with Arny, there is no evidence of comb filtering, there is simply a major roll-off above some 400 Hz and a little relative boost in the low treble, one that matches what a crappy tape-deck internal mic is likely to have. Dirty heads and misbiased tape also come to mind. I still think the recording was made with the recorder under a pillow. I also think that there is no likelyhood of getting comprehensible audio from it. I've actually made out about 3 words... But I may have got them wrong! |
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