Audacity Forum

Hi,

I'm not sure if this is possible or not, but if it is, I wanted to find out the best strategy for doing it. I have a video file with loud music on it and a few people talking very softly in the background. The voices are audible, but just barely. I'd like to know if there's any way to cut out the loud music and amplify the voices in the background so that it's possible to hear what they're saying. The quality wouldn't have to be great; this is more like detective work. Is there a way to do this kind of thing with the filters available in Audacity? I'd appreciate any suggestions. Thanks for your help!

<<<I have a video file with loud music on it and a few people talking very softly in the background.>>>

You're dead.

This is the time-honored, easy way to mask a conversation that you don't want anybody else to hear. You would have had a chance if the foreground noise was constant, if loud, like an air conditioning buzz or a vent fan whine. Then you could have made very good use of the Effect > Noise Removal... tools.

There is one very remote possibility. Is the recording in good quality stereo and if you listen on headphones, is the conversation coming from a different direction than the music? There are tools that can help with that.

Koz

Thanks for the reply and the attempt at resuscitation. I thought the chances for this wouldn't be good, but I figured I'd give it a shot. I'll try the headphones, and let you know if I have good news to report for a second life. Thanks!