Clipping or Distortion on Vocal High Notes of Ripped Audio

[kozikowski]

You shouldn't...

You're a performing musician and much more likely to know. Isn't E one of your natural strings?

...not as a "solution" to the problem....

What is? Have we identified the problem enough to offer a packaged solution? Christmas Cometh.

Koz

[kozikowski]

Masterful detective work!

Koz

[MLK3329]

Hi Guys,

I tried your suggestion of uploading the DVD audio once again and then editing Porgi Amor using only "Amplify" -7dB...no "Normalizing." I did this and found that, unfortunately, there was still some "fluttering" in the louder/ more intense portions of the song. Also, I detected the same "fluttering" in the slowed down clip that I created by using the option "Change Speed' to -19. I did nothing but follow these direct instructions without running a "Noise Profile" or utilizing "Noise Reduction". My car CD/Radio dial is set at the midpoint for both Bass and Treble.

Yesterday, I managed to open Steve's custom "Notch Filter" in Audacity. It's there in all it's squiggly glory...so...what do I do now? I've never used a Notch Filter before. Can you give me a leg up please?

I've attached the -7dB clip that I hoped would work for me. It was a good suggestion. I do appreciate your help so very much...everyone!

MLK3329

[Trebor]

Sorry to be “Simon Cowell” here but IMO there is no way of fixing that intermittent distortion.

Not noise reduction, notch filter, equalization nor Holy water will cure it, sorry.

It’s a milder & less frequent version of the distortion corresponding with the bass which occurs with bootleg rock concert recordings , e.g. “drove ole” …

'The Night They DROVE OLE Dixie Down' (concert vocal distorted by bass).mp3

(419.39 KiB) Downloaded 141 times

Whether the music is Classical or Rock there is no cure for this distortion: the distorted imprint the bass has left on the singer is indelible. Filtering out the bass, or lowering the overall level, now is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, (if the bass or overall level could have been attenuated at the time of the recording that could have prevented the distortion from happening, but it's too late now).

If you re-record with the same set up again you need to reduce the sensitivity of the video camera’s microphone, and perhaps move the microphone further from the piano and closer to the singer.

It was an oval rotunda with a high domed ceiling and marble floors and walls.

there may be resonance effects at the performance venue which amplify certain frequencies.
When doing a test recording at the venue use a piece of music which includes a wide range of frequencies, (e.g. scales), and when recording leave some headroom (a safety margin) just in case the performance becomes unexpectedly louder due to resonance.

[MLK3329]

Thanks "Simon"!! LOL

You know, Holy water might just do it though!

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I had hired a video/sound guy from a large and well-respected performing arts center and at the last minute, he had an emergency and couldn't make it. I would hope that his recording of the concert would have been as professional as I was paying him for it to be. I was grateful that my friend brought his camera so that I could have some record of the performance. So, I won't be using his camera in the future since I plan on using other live performances of mine for my website and other CD's, and I will only hire professionals to record these performances.

Have a great evening and thanks for your candid response. I haven't given up yet though. And, Merry Christmas!

MLK3329

[Trebor]

So, I won't be using his camera in the future since I plan on using other live performances of mine for my website and other CD's, and I will only hire professionals to record these performances.

If you do have simultaneous amateur-video and a professional-sound recording of a performance it may be possible to replace the amateur-soundtrack on the amateur-video with the professional-sound, e.g to post on Youtube. You'd need a video editor program to do that, (Audacity only edits sound).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison ... g_software

[MLK3329]

Hi Trebor,

Thanks for the link and the suggestion. I am almost finished with my website and want to upload some video performances of mine. That was actually the next step, after I completed the audio CD. And, I want to upload the same to You Tube as well.

I braved the enormous crowds yesterday and spent 4 hours in Best Buy playing my CD on every type of audio equipment in the store. It sounded great on everything, large stereo systems, boom box systems, and laptops. I was directed by the Geek Squad to their Magnolia room where they have surround sound systems which I would never have tried it on. I used an LG Blu Ray player and listened to every track and it all sounded great, if I do say so myself...and I do. I know that this type of sound is an artificial atmosphere, really, but I wanted to try it on all systems that people might decide to play it on. I was very happy. I even tried it on CD Car Stereos in their GPS department and it sounded good....good enough anyway. The positive comments I received from people who heard it as well, were very encouraging.

So, while I don't completely understand why it doesn't sound good on my car stereo when the rest of my professional CD collection does...I am content after hearing how good it sounded on all of those systems at Best Buy. Especially, the new car CD/Stereo systems there. You know, maybe my speakers are just blown by now! I don't get it, but KOZ, I owe you an apology and now concur with your earlier diagnosis that it must be my speakers in my car... even though I also agree that there is some distortion on the tracks that we have all heard.

Thanks everyone for all of your help and support!
Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas...let your heart be light.... Wish I could sing it for you guys! LOL
God bless...
MLK3329

[kozikowski]

See Private Messages. Click on (x new messages) top of forum.
Koz

[MLK3329]

Koz,

Here is the promised 6 Second Clip. The note is an "E".

Thanks.
MLK3329

[Trebor]

Here is the promised 6 Second Clip. The note is an "E".

That has distortion from clipping, (something is turned up too high) . I've had a go at improving it, but I've just exchanged one form of distortion for another ...

Oh, Quand Je Dors-6 Sec Clip_before-After-.mp3

(923.4 KiB) Downloaded 316 times

Sorry but IMO the only solution is to re-record.