Complete Layman Needs Help Removing Hiss and Clicks

Hi there,

I am hoping on hope that someone might help me with an audio recording of a choir singing “Auld Lang Syne”. Despite the fact that the recording is fairly clear, there is still some hiss, a few clicks, and on one or two occassions there are coughs from the audience and either someone closing a door or moving a chair. I’ve downloaded Audacity, but to be perfectly honest I am not adept at this sort of thing, and have no idea what I’m doing. I also don’t have the time needed to become competent, as this is a birthday present due next week to my girlfriend, whose daughter is in the choir.

Basically, I was hoping, admittedly somewhat cheekily, that out of the kindness of their heart someone on this forum would be able to edit this file a little so that the hiss is gone and other noises are at least a little diminished. I’'m asking this without even really knowing how much time and effort this might take (again, no idea what I’m doing). Really the only thing I could offer in return is that I am semi skilled at repairing photos via Photoshop, such as small tears and blemishes, although I am guessing that this is probably true of anyone who has ever had Photoshop.

I haven’t actually attached the file yet as this is my first time here, and I am unsure of the correct etiquette. If I’ve asked for too much, could someone please let me know?

Thank you all for taking the time to read this.

You would’t be able to attach the whole show. The forum only allows a few seconds of test recordings or clips.

You can work wonders in Photoshop by making use of a fuzzy clone tool and the fact that nobody can correctly identify each leaf on a tree. It’s a lot more of a problem in sound. Unless you got insanely lucky, you can’t copy a portion of the show from 13 minutes and paste it over an error at 6 minutes. Noise Removal only works in the holes between words and sounds. So if the hiss is loud enough, you will produce hissy vocals over a velvety silent stage.

You might be able to use the vinyl pop and click removal tools. This is a portion of the vinyl wiki.

http://manual.audacityteam.org/o/man/sample_workflow_for_lp_digitization.html#clicks

I would submit it clicks and all. If they’re not expecting anything, it will be a nice surprise. If it’s unlistenable, we won’t be able to rescue it. The CSI TV show sound tools don’t really exist.

Koz

Hi Koz,

Thanks for the advice. I’m not looking for a miracle really, just a little tidy up so to speak, and as I say, I can’t make heads nor tails of audio software. I’ve attached a segment of the recording. See what you think.

I know Photoshop services weren’t much of an offer as a trade, but I didn’t have anything else, and thought I might try anyway, get lucky and find someone who knew how to work Photoshop like I know how to work Audacity.

If anyone else can help as well, I’d be grateful.
Auld Lang Syne Sample.mp2 (1.14 MB)

With clicks you can get “miracles” - have a look at this sticky thread on an app called ClickRepair: https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/audacity-1-3-3-presonus-inspire-now-much-love/182/1

WC