Completely removing unwanted sound

[fts_sjk]

Hello,
i'm trying to completely remove unwanted sound, whislt trying to get a good volume and quality, in a particular file..

The file itself is very bad.
Lots of distortoin, crackles, noises, static..
I have access to Samplitute V8 Professional, and Wavelab 5.

I use the resampler on the wavelab to 42k, as the denoiser is incompatiable with 32k freq.

But i don't know how to use some plugins properly.
such as the denoiser, declicker, cleancomp, noise gate.
(proberably because i don't really know much about thresholds or particular frequencys, or how to use an equalizer.)

i've used samplitute's noise removal tool, but it still has some unwanted noise in it, and the overall sound quality and volume is pretty low quality.

is there any VST's i can download for better noise removal?
or any tutorials for the programs? the 'help' was a bit vague.

[howie15]

I had a client pretty much call me out as a horrible engineer two months ago because I couldn't get all the noise out of a file and I threw $500 worth of plugs at it. It's not possible. You sacrifice one place or the other. Either you cut so deep into what you want to keep to get all the noise that you ruin it all, or you put up with a bit of noise. This is the same theory as removing vocals from a mixed song and feel free to search and read all the animated debates over that dead horse of a subject that is beaten daily. There are plugs like Waves restoration plugs, Sound Soap (which I use and does a good job) and others that use filters and surgical EQ to do it, but on the technical/bit level....not possible.

Howie J

[Riverdog]

I agree with Sound Soap...
I've got a copy and you can do quite a bit with it...
Must admit though - Howie15's Right - You will sacrifice somewhere...

Good Luck

[af-sabianq]

Just wait until quantum computers with the ability to add a "MAYBE" to the "ON" and "OFF", then we will see a quantum (pun intended) leap in audio manipulation.

[af-TimOBrien]

....tooooooo many people see this kind of stuff in TV and movies and think it can really be done.

I'm not saying you can't sometimes pull off miracles, but in the REAL WORLD there is often quite a distance between do-able and fantasy.....

[Gamiar]

I agree, with any noise reduction you're simply going to have to make a compromise in the end.

[MrHope]

Noise in audio material is most often successfully masked and hidden by lowering and reducing the noise and then overdubbing some other material over the top of it.

Of course not all material can have extra layers of sound added to it. However, if you can get away with adding sounds to cover it up, then maybe it will be successful.

I once had a song that had a few instances of clipping that was noticeable and annoying. Since i didn't have a way of redoing the whole mix for that part, I overdubbed some ocean waves from a sound effects CD. It completely masked the clipping and made a nice ethereal effect.

On another song that had clipping distortion, I overdubbed a hard distorted guitar sound solo and it masked the clipping there too.

Obviously, this type of thing isn't usually an option. But sometimes it works.