Help with removing noise from one side of recording

[wowsley]

Hi all,
I am using audacity to put out a podcast and we are using pamela to record phone calls. We have the stereo option of pamela enabled which produces a single file but when it is opened in audacity, you see the two tracks for the different sides. What I need to do is to be able to remove noises from one side or other to produce clean audio for the export. My first question is, is it possible to select only one side of a track to edit, and/or what is the best way to accomplish this?

Thanks in advance!
Wes

[kozikowski]

That is the intended way to use Pamela. Split the stereo track with the tools in the left black arrow drop-down menu. That will allow you to apply effects and tools to one side without affecting the other. When you get everything the way you like it.....

Wait, you're in the wrong Audacity. The track management tools are in Audacity 1.3.12. You can install both 1.2 and 1.3 as long as you only use one at a time. Audacity 1.3 shows will not open in 1.2.

http://audacityteam.org/download/

Anyway, in Audacity 1.3, Tracks > Stereo Track to Mono. That will mix the two sides together in equal amounts. Then Edit > Duplicate and using the left black arrow tools again, Make Stereo Track.

There are a number of other production tools you can use if you don't want a strict mono mix.


Way down at the bottom here...what sort of noise do you have in the far performance?

Koz

[wowsley]

Thanks Koz,
I have just normal background noise that I want to eliminate...mostly from my end...I have a child and she insists on making noise!?!

So if I can edit just one side...it will be awesome. I have just downloaded the new version and shall play!

Thanks for the info!

[kozikowski]

<<<I have a child and she insists on making noise!?!>>>

Maybe less awesome when we tell you you won't be able to take the kid out of the picture...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303353/

"Noise" in the land of Audacity is not just any undesired sound. Only very specific sounds can be removed with the noise reduction and other tools.

In general, any constant sound like air conditioning rumble or computer fan noise or microphone hum. All can be helped with the tools although there will be some sound damage, and the interference can't be very loud. Nobody is going to dig your performance out of a ton of sound trash. We get many questions about that. That's police forensics, not theatrical performances.

We can also help with any sound that's very low and in the background.

We cannot get rid of a metrobus starting up outside the window, people's conversations on the other side of the file cabinets, and children just learning how to throw oatmeal on the wall.

If you do any more of this, you will need a quiet room, or a headset type microphone that excludes the room.

Koz