How exactly to use the De-Noiser (advanced features)??

Apollo89x wrote on 11/12/2020, 1:11 PM

I use MEP pro.

Shot a load of videos yesterday, but there was some kinda huge air-con generator outside the building, which was making a constant extractor-fan type noise for the entire day!! :@

I want to use MEP audio-cleaning feature to remove that noise fully from my videos, but without the rest of the video's audio being affected at all (or with the lowest level possible impact) | However the advance settings in MEP provide no guide to what each of the functions actually means & does....
But so hopefully someone on here can do?? :)

I use the ''search for noise sample'' function to get a sample of the noise I want removed.
I uncheck the ''remove camera-noise only option'' (as assume that being checked would only remove 'camera internal parts' sound?)
But then on the Step 2# column there is no explanation provided stating what those sliders actually change....

The default start is:
Noise level: 50
Reduce Noise: 12

But can anyone please explain (using clear basic simple language) what exactly increasing/decreasing each of those different sliders actually does??

Thankyou

Comments

CubeAce wrote on 11/12/2020, 1:48 PM

@Apollo89x

Hi.

Any noise cancelling application is going to have an impact on the frequency response of the rest of the audio.

How bad may depend on how wide spread frequency wise, the fan noise is and its comparative level with the rest of the audio. If the area the recording took place in has any form of reverb or reflected sound of any kind it will make matters even more difficult and less effective.

I am not a fan of plug-ins for this type of use. Whether it is to reduce wind noise or background noise. It is not the same as tech used for noise cancelling headphones. That is an active system that works within the environment in real time. It can not be applied retrospectively.

To reduce a signal you have to either cut the frequencies involved similar to using a multi-band graphic equaliser or you have to produce waveforms within the same frequency that are out of phase and thereby create and area of reduced signal within the signal path. The opposing waveform effectively cancelling out the other within the sound-field. Both have downsides.

Noise level: Give the program an idea how loud the noise is within context of the highest volume within the recording..

Reduce noise level: How much of the frequencies you want to cut.

Which system the plug-in uses I have no idea and could even be a bit of both.

How much it effects sound and at what point you find its reduction objectionable is subjective.

As with taking the shot, sound is best sorted at the time of taking the video by having the correct tools such as using shotgun microphones and lavalier mics.

Ray.

Apollo89x wrote on 11/12/2020, 1:59 PM

Thanks for the info.

It was impossible to 'avoid' this sound unfortunately | As I had booked & paid for this apartment for yesterday/also booked the model to perform in the videos | So sadly couldn't do anything about this outside noise (apart from get stressed-out!) :/

I will test out variations on the slider to see how they sound.
*Just wasn't sure if lowering the ''noise level'' level meant it'd lower the sound of the actual video's audio itself...

CubeAce wrote on 11/12/2020, 2:04 PM

@Apollo89x

It may have that effect slightly if it was a low frequency you are trying to remove (lower frequencies carrying more pressure than higher frequencies) but that can be adjusted by the volume slider in the mixer once the noise reduction is applied although that may again raise the fan noise again but less so.

I do appreciate the problem. I worked at a studio once where they had to turn the lift off during takes as it came out in the recording even though you could not hear it in the studio at the time of the take, and that was using microphone isolation mounts.

Ray.

Apollo89x wrote on 11/12/2020, 2:17 PM

One other question:

Does ''Magix Audio Cleaning Lab'' simply offer the exact same audio-cleaning removal features as MEP pro?
Or is that superior/offers enchanced features to remove sounds like this, compared to MEP?

CubeAce wrote on 11/12/2020, 2:41 PM

@Apollo89x

Hi.

Sorry I've no idea. I don't even use the one within MEP. Have played with it yes, but not used. Companies have been trying for as long as they have been able to to get to the base of the problem and there are very sophisticated system out there that do a good job but are inhibitively expensive and are used in the archiving of older recordings. Izotope do a very good plug-in but you may wince at the price. Ignore the lower priced offerings, nowhere near as good.

Most of the best plug-ins on the market are not that convincing or useful in my opinion unless you are incapable of hearing the difference it makes. (exception above.) Some people do have quite a narrow band of hearing or their equipment doesn't reproduce the sound that authentically. I bet if you listened to it on your phone you wouldn't hear it as much.

Ray.