I need some help for using noise removal more effectively. I often use Audacity to record vinyl records onto the computer and I like to get rid of the snap, crackle, and pop noises before putting them onto a CD. The problem I have with noise removal is it usually takes some of the music out with it, even when the noise profile is entirely outside the range of the music. I especially notice the higher frequencies missing after the noise removal.
Does anyone have an effective setting for the noise removal so the record doesn’t sound like Rice Krispies but leaves the actual music unchanged?
Well personally while I use Audacity for most of the process of digibitting LPs and 45s I don’t use the Noise Removal. Rather, immediately after capture I export a WAV file and process it through Click Repair (costs c. $40 but produces almost magical results on my recordings) the reimport the cleaned WAV back into Audacity for further processing - silencing inter-track gaps, maybe shortening them and maybe fades.
My first advice is always buy the CD (or MP3) if it’s available! If cost is a factor, look for used CDs.
The problem I have with noise removal is it usually takes some of the music out with it…
…but leaves the actual music unchanged?
It’s usually a compromize. With specialized software, you can sometimes get good or excellent results. You can always make some improvement, but you rarely get “CD quality”.
[u]This page[/u] lists several applications for cleaning-up vinyl transfers.
I use a program called [u]Wave Repair[/u] ($30 USD) developed by the author of the above web page. In the manual mode it only “touches” the audio where you identify a defect. The downside is that it usually takes me a full weekend to fix-up an LP.
Next time, I’m probably going to try Click Repair or Wave Corrector for a faster, more automated approach.
Thank you for the replies, I will look into those links.
I’ve been too lazy to update and am still using 1.3. Is it known that the noise removal may be more effective or easier to use with the current version?
There might be a case where I’d prefer the more-dynamic cleaned-up digitized vinyl, but luckily I replaced most of my LPs before the CD loudness wars kicked-in. There are a lot of factors, including the time it takes, the quality of original vinyl, the quality of the digitized vinyl (including the noise/artifact compromises) and how important the particular piece of music is to you.
Mostly I bought the CDS when I could too, when they were available at sensible prices. I did have one particular one that had me rushing back to the vinyl after I’d already bought the remastered CD and that was an Emmylou Harris Album “Luxury Liner” where they had made the backing tracks louder and somehow Emmy got pushed back in the sound stage and a bit lost in the backing - my vinyl digibit transfer is much better.
The other ones I have an issue with are the recent re-master re-releases of the Beatles’ albums - imo the original CD releases are far superior. Fortunately I borrowed the new ones from our local library to see if they were worth buying - I declined to subsequently make that purchase (I’d already bought them twice already on binyl and then CD).
If so, please update, as we cannot offer personal support for 1.2 or 1.3 (see the pink panel at the top of this page).
It depends what 1.3 version you have. 1.3.13 Beta added a new Sensitivity slider and an “Isolate” noise option which are both in the current 2.0.5. The Sensitivity slider can make it easier to remove noise that is in the signal you want to keep (as opposed to noise between the LP tracks).
Again, it’s mostly for steady noise though it’s currently more effective for soft, light rapid “crackle” than our Click Removal.
