how to enhance sound qaulity of dvd clips from security cameras

[sydneynewbie]

Hi All, I got a task from work. The boss wants to hear what ppl said in the dvd clip on camera. It's too many back ground and wind noise. So what can I do? Is this a possible task or just Hollywood stuff?

[guns1inger]

Hard to say. There are noise removal tools, and various EQ filters that might allow you to pull something useful out. Any chance you can post a few seconds of something not too incriminating ?

[lordsmurf]

I'd have to have a clip to test with.

[sydneynewbie]

Thanks guy. Any suggestions on the softwares or hardwares to use. I only have a basic computer.

[guns1inger]

Audacity is free and has a lot of filter options

[sydneynewbie]

THANKS GUNS, Now I can get started have some experiment.

[AlanHK]

Audacity is free and has a lot of filter options

Try the latest "beta" version, the 1.3 series. The noise filters are much better in this than earlier versions.

See http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Noise_Removal

[sydneynewbie]

Thanks Al, I am trying to get a hand of it.

[sydneynewbie]

I have a stupid question, How to import the sound clip off the DVD? or How to prepare the sound clip from DVD then import to audacity,.
I tried to play the DVD with the laptop PC and at the same time hit record button on AUdacity. I thought it was recording because the wave time line is moving. But after 2 hours, I listen to it, it was just the noise in my room. So I dont understand. I wasted almost 3 hours on that and got nothing.
Please advise.

[AlanHK]

I have a stupid question, How to import the sound clip off the DVD? or How to prepare the sound clip from DVD then import to audacity

If it's an non-commercial DVD (i.e., not encrypted), in Audacity do "file /open", go to the VIDEO_TS folder on the DVD, choose file type "All files" and open the relevant VOB file (there should be several, you can use a media player to find the right one).
Audacity will convert and import the audio. (This using Audacity 1.3.7, and having installed FFMPEG to import/export various file formats. See installing ffmpeg plugin)

Or you can open the VOB with media converters (again, for example, FFMPEG) , convert to WAVE and open that.

I tried to play the DVD with the laptop PC and at the same time hit record button on AUdacity. I thought it was recording because the wave time line is moving. But after 2 hours, I listen to it, it was just the noise in my room. So I dont understand. I wasted almost 3 hours on that and got nothing.

This is the hard way, preferable, and much faster, to import as above, but there is a selector box on the toolbar where you choose the input. I think "Stereo mix" should record what you hear on players. You obviously had "microphone" selected.

[sydneynewbie]

Thanks AL, I found out the hard way. Yhanks for your help. Now I am doing more experiments to get something out of it. Wish there is a magic button for that kind of things.

[sydneynewbie]

Have been playing the clip. But how can I undo the effect, if I didnt like the effect and want to return to original file. I dont want to close the file and reload again. How can I undo the last effect I tried?
I will try one more day. If not, I may post a clip here and see you experts can crack it for me.
But I w to try first. Is there any manual I can read about the application? So many terminlonogies I dont understand.
BTW, how to do a clip and paste here?

[sydneynewbie]

Ok, I found the undo, trying again. But appreciate the way to upload clips to here.

[sydneynewbie]

haha, found the upload button just right underneath here. I will try that only when I am desperate.

[AlanHK]

Have been playing the clip. But how can I undo the effect

Edit/undo, or control-Z. You can undo every action since you opened the file.

I usually just select a short passage to test an effect on, try it, undo, and when I get it right, apply it to the whole clip, or section.

Anyway, your effects are not saved unless you do a file/save (which saves it as an "Audacity project"; you have to export to get a normal wave/MP3/Ac3 or whatever format you want).

But I w to try first. Is there any manual I can read about the application? So many terminlonogies I dont understand.

http://www.audacityteam.org/ has links to the manual, wiki and a forum.
The Wiki_Home_Page has a bunch of links to tutorials, tips and background info. Join the Audacity forum where the experts can help you.

[sydneynewbie]

Cheers, Al. Just dont want to give up that eaily.