Archival Restoration Challenge

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btreloar
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:03 pm
Operating System: Windows 10

Archival Restoration Challenge

Post by btreloar » Fri Jul 17, 2020 3:52 pm

I have a 50+ year old reel-to-reel radio air check recording that's been professionally digitized. But the resulting sound is very muddied and muffled-sounding. I don't know where to begin to try to clean it up. Can you suggest any effects or filters I should try?

Thanks!
Bill

DVDdoug
Forum Crew
Posts: 9416
Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2010 11:30 pm
Operating System: Windows 10

Re: Archival Restoration Challenge

Post by DVDdoug » Fri Jul 17, 2020 5:01 pm

Try boosting the highs (and maybe cutting the lows) with the Equalizer effect. Boosting the highs will help to bring-out the "T" and "S" sounds. It will also boost the tape hiss but it might be worth it if it improves intelligibility.

btreloar
Posts: 12
Joined: Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:03 pm
Operating System: Windows 10

Re: Archival Restoration Challenge

Post by btreloar » Fri Jul 17, 2020 7:55 pm

Thanks, DVDdoug! I've done that. It took a lot of trial and error, but I was able to correct for at least half of the problem. I couldn't get much better than that, but considering the age of the original material, I'm content with the results.

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