Noise from VHS audio - hard to remove

[dexter30]

I´m trying to remove noise from this VHS audio track but didn´t get much success. In some parts of the file (sample included), the noise can apparently be isolated but when you remove it, the voices are almost gone. Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks.

[edDV]

Doesn't sound like any noise added by VHS. What was the source?

[lordsmurf]

That is not caused by the VHS tape that I can hear. More upstream, a bad broadcast. It sounds like a terrible fuzzy FM radio station.

Attached is my fix, sample3.wav. It still sounds awful, but it's better than the static-filled version. It will NEVER be enjoyable audio again. Forensic methods can recover it for listening purposes. I took about 20 steps using 5 software programs, and I didn't take notes, so I can't share what I did. I just wanted to see if it could be fixed, and yes, it can be, somewhat. Listen to it, you'll understand.

[AlanHK]

Using Audacity 1.3 effects:
1) "Equalization" -- basically cut everything above 3000 Hz (as it's spoken word).
2) "Noise removal", strength 15.

That gets rid of a lot of the static, but the more you remove, the voice gets a warbling effect.

[dexter30]

It seems no solution will produce a usable output. Anyway thanks for your effort.