Improving an old recording

[Trebor]

Trebor - So the workflow would be to add effects, etc then run the "no infrasound" then compress that particular track??

The infra-sound has to be removed before any compression or other processing is applied: unfortunately removing infrasound from the final mix won't correct the fluctuating voice volume :¬(

For some reason there is a LOT of infrasound, (sound with frequency lower than 20Hz), on your recording of "shoot her memory down" which can be seen on Audacity's frequency analysis , (click on the image below to see the animation in its entirety) ...

Remove infrasound, (sound below 20Hz), before processing, (eg before compression).gif (179.52 KiB) Viewed 1081 times

The first thing you should do to a recording of a performance is to remove frequencies below 20Hz with the equalization shown, or similar low-cut / bass-roll-off filter. By doing that you're not removing anything audible, you're getting rid of the low-frequency amplitude wobble which will subsequently interfere with any processing effect which has a threshold setting, e.g. compression, expansion, noise-gate, etc.

[Sam Houston]

But I should be able to go back to the project file and fix it there, right?

[Trebor]

But I should be able to go back to the project file and fix it there, right?

Yes if you have the vocal-only track before you applied compression.

[Sam Houston]

No, not before compression. It's all just in the project file.

[kozikowski]

It's all just in the project file.

I'd probably export original performances as WAV and archive them -- or make a copy Project. We recommend saving new projects as you edit with dates and times -- remembering to use the ISO dates (2014-01-27).

GuitarShoot2014-01-14.
FirstEditDrumMix2014-01-15

Projects do not save UNDO. Once you save the project, close the computer and go home, that's the end of going back. If you make an editing mistake, you have to sing and play it again if you don't have safety backups.

The grownups do this all the time. That's how they come up with difference mixes for the vinyl, CD, club/dance and karaoke. They're all original mixes taken from recording masters.

Full Blood Country was recorded by me but "fixed" by a pro.

Did you get to watch them do it? That would be worth writing a check.

Koz

[Trebor]

No, not before compression. It's all just in the project file.

If the compression has already been applied to the vocal-track in the project then one time-consuming solution is manually undoing the compression on the vocal-track using the envelope tool , but would take a lot longer than it would take to re-record it. You could try removing the infrasound from the compressed vocal-only track and then compress it again, that could help reduce the abnormal fluctuations in voice volume.

[ You should archive copies the unmodified recordings of each singer & instrument, (in WAV or FLAC format, not mp3 format), so you have the option of reworking them in the future without loss of quality ].

[Sam Houston]

Koz and Trebor - Yep, I should be saving the original and am going to start doing that.

Trebor - the no-infrasound EQ curve XML gives me an error when I try to import it. Attached is the error message.

[Sam Houston]

Nevermind. I re-downloaded it and it imported.

[kozikowski]

I wonder what could give you super low rumble like that. Are you recording in a room near the rail yards? Somebody repaving the interstate near your place? What else could do that? Wind? Air Conditioner? Recording outside?

Koz

[Sam Houston]

Re-recorded vocals last night. Working on the mix. I'll re-post when done.