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R/E/P => Mastering Dynamics => Topic started by: Thomas W. Bethel on January 22, 2016, 08:22:21 AM

Title: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: Thomas W. Bethel on January 22, 2016, 08:22:21 AM
I am doing some mastering for a friend. It is a pro bono situation. He has recorded a group of flute players on a small video camera using a built in microphone. He wants to take that audio and put it on a CD for the players. There is some distortion when all the flutes are playing PLUS the flutes are somewhat out of tune and so are the harmonics. I would like to clean up the audio. I tried FX4 with their "declipper" plug in but it really did not do what I wanted. I used some EQ and tried to roll off the highs a bit and that seemed to help. This is an unusual situation for me and I was wondering if any f you had come up with a simple solution? Thanks in advance for any suggestions or help.
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: Jim Williams on January 23, 2016, 11:34:27 AM
Get them back together in your place and do a proper recording. Run the video camera at the same time for a later sync/DVD release.

Like the Gambler says, you got to know when to hold 'um, know when to fold 'um...
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: Thomas W. Bethel on January 25, 2016, 06:35:10 AM
Get them back together in your place and do a proper recording. Run the video camera at the same time for a later sync/DVD release.

Like the Gambler says, you got to know when to hold 'um, know when to fold 'um...

Great idea but my friend does not want to do it. Thanks for the suggestion. Still working on the problem.
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: Jim Williams on January 25, 2016, 11:40:13 AM
Then it's time your ask your friend whether they want to scrap the entire thing or do a proper job. If you explain the original recording is toast, they may accept those facts.
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: Thomas W. Bethel on January 27, 2016, 06:05:34 AM
Then it's time your ask your friend whether they want to scrap the entire thing or do a proper job. If you explain the original recording is toast, they may accept those facts.

He is adamant that he does not want to rerecord this. I am still working on the problem. FWIW
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: Twerk on February 02, 2016, 07:53:20 PM
Try the declick/decrackle algorithms in RX4 instead of the declipper.
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: Thomas W. Bethel on February 03, 2016, 06:31:10 AM
I tried all the variants of RX4. The project is completed and he has his master. It is not what I would call a good quality product but he seems happy with the results. I get material like this in all the time so I am going to keep playing with this particular project until I find some solution for the next time. Thanks for the replies...

I now have a good idea of what inter-modulation distortion sounds like...
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: JSantos on March 11, 2016, 05:52:20 AM
I often use RX4 for reducing ambient noise. But I never grasped its full potential when it comes to reducing clipping.

If it won't be any trouble to ask you, I'd like to hear a sample of how you've accomplished the flutes. I could definitely use it!
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: ArtSta on May 14, 2016, 12:57:11 PM
I get material like this in all the time so I am going to keep playing with this particular project until I find some solution for the next time.

It's impossible to say something valuable without hearing the program. It really depends if the affected section is the only flute or other instruments are also playing when distortion is taking place, and so on.
For solo instruments I used spectral repair successfully and sometimes simple lpf, too. I also replaced damaged repetitive parts with good ones- the most time consuming was looking for a proper replacement source, including start and end points within the same audio track. This method is usually useless with live recording (because the same parts usually varies each time when performed live) but sometimes works for studio work.

Art
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: Thomas W. Bethel on May 15, 2016, 06:56:42 AM
It's impossible to say something valuable without hearing the program. It really depends if the affected section is the only flute or other instruments are also playing when distortion is taking place, and so on.
For solo instruments I used spectral repair successfully and sometimes simple lpf, too. I also replaced damaged repetitive parts with good ones- the most time consuming was looking for a proper replacement source, including start and end points within the same audio track. This method is usually useless with live recording (because the same parts usually varies each time when performed live) but sometimes works for studio work.


Art

This was a live recording and only one take. Thanks for the suggestions.
Title: Re: A problem dealing with instrument distortion
Post by: KAyo on July 28, 2016, 08:07:46 PM
I've had some success removing distortion, using Sony Spectral Layers v2.0
It was interesting, how I could just get rid of the offending distortion altogether without actual touching the meat of the track.. try it, you'd be surprised! I hope ..


Ciao'
Kayo