take away noise

[shiva]

I have 10 mp3 files of talks over 2h each. About 10 times on each when big laughter is on terrible noices comes out. What can I do as the noice hurt my ears?
Reduced quality no problem so is there an easy way for the 20h of talks wher laughter is a byproduct, hm? Thank you, much appreciated!

[kozikowski]

when big laughter is on terrible noices comes out.

If you were recording from your seat in the audience, then the recorder overloaded during the laughter and that will sound crackly and gritty in addition to very much louder than the performer.

I think you're stuck with the noise although you can make it sound a little better by making it quieter during the laughter. You can use the Envelope Tool for that. Click the button with two white arrows and bent blue line. That will give you two control bands on top and bottom of each track. The bands are rubber and you can click on them and pull up and down to change the volume of the show.

Here's an example of a cross-fade. The top track fades out and the bottom track fades in at the same time. Each of the little dots on the blue lines is a manual click control point.

http://kozco.com/tech/audacity/pix/CrossFade.jpg


You might be able to help a little with Effect > Compressor, but all that will do is make the noises the same volume as the show.

Koz

[shiva]

"You might be able to help a little with Effect > Compressor, but all that will do is make the noises the same volume as the show".
That would be great as it is good laughter happening. I will try it out tomorrow as I am living in Thailand and on my way out now 11pm.
Thanks so much!
shiva

[kozikowski]

Compressor will only change the volume, not the gritty crashing sound.

Koz

[shiva]

Oj, then I will try ur first solution as the cracking sound is not nice. Maybe I worst case I have to delete 10 sec. Have a nice day lovely koz/ shiva

[kozikowski]

If you're willing to spend the time, the Envelope Tool can sound like somebody in a professional sound truck during a live recording pulling down the fader every time somebody laughs so it's not as objectionable. If they do that ahead of the recorder like in an actual outside broadcast shoot, then you get laughter and it sounds perfectly natural.

If you do it after the recording has already been damaged like what you have, then you're stuck with the harsh, crunchy slapping sounds and the best you can do is change the volume. You can also apply filters and get rid of some of the harsh, gritty sound, but that would be a labor-intensive nightmare.

Live recording is not for the easily frightened.

Koz

[shiva]

Wonderful!
I checked out the whole 2h and saw in the diagram where the noice was. Then I cut 1-2 sek and got rid of the noice and then the easy laughter was left. Thanx for the inspiration!

[kozikowski]

You got lucky. Most times in a comedy performance, the timing is critical.
Koz