remove air conditioner sound in recording?

[sdsumike619]

Hi, I'm using Vegas for some video clips, audio came in crystal clear and it's not a big deal really, but is it possible to remove the air conditioner that was on? I've posted an mp3 clip of a short section, at the end of the section, if u turn your volume up quite a bit, you can hear the AC hum... I'm using Vegas 5.0. If there is a way, which tool should I use, and what settings should I put it on?

Audio section

[greymalkin]

your best bet would be with a parametric EQ. Since the air conditioner hum remains relatively constant you can find that frequency and kill it or at least tone it down dramatically.

Many audio editors have a pre-programmed "air conditioner" eq filter as this is quite a common problem. I believe adobe audition has this filter.

You could also try a noise gate if the hum is faint in the background and set the gate just above the air conditioner noise. This would not be a good idea if you have quiet/subtle parts you are wanting to keep.

[sdsumike619]

well you can hear the clip yourself and decide what would need to be done, see the link in my first post...

[tdan]

I tried your clip in Audacity (free) and it cleaned up beautifully. The good thing is that you have a chunk at the end that is only the noise. I selected that part only and did Effect->Noise Removal->Get Noise Profile. Next, I selected the whole clip and did Effect->Noise Removal->Remove Noise. You can preview right in that dialog before you commit.

Dan

[sdsumike619]

I guess I should get audacity then, yeah I purposely posted that clip with the noise only at the end of it... if audacity is free, then I think Vegas 5 which costed hundreds of dollars should be able to do the same right?

[ulapines]

Use the audio editor in Vegas, chose parametric equalizer plugin

[tdan]

Sorry, I misread that you wanted a Sony Vegas specific fix. Hopefully someone else can fill in on how to do it.

Dan

[sdsumike619]

I just got audacity, so maybe i can try what you said...

ulapines, I found the parametric equalizer plugin, but how exactly do I use it to eliminate that ac noise? did you listen to the audio clip i have posted?

[ulapines]

It was long time ago since I used it so I cant tell you, you have to try and figure it out fir yourself

[sdsumike619]

tdan - where did you put the slider in audacity before clickign remove noise?

[sdsumike619]

I can't figure out that parametric eq thing in Vegas, whenever i think i have the noise eliminated, everything else is eliminated too

[tdan]

tdan - where did you put the slider in audacity before clickign remove noise?

I think just one or two notches below the middle setting. You can just click the Preview button and decide which one sounds best to you.

Dan

[sdsumike619]

yeah you're right, actually had to set it one or two from the far left as the playback comes back weird with TOO much removed, takes out part of his voice too, thanks though, this helped tremendously! So simple! Vegas, which i'm sure can do it, has to make it so hard and complicated. I like the way you can sample the noise and just eliminate it with Audacity!

If anyone knows how to actually do it in Vegas, I'd be curious to see how it works...

mike

[greymalkin]

since you had a good source, the noise reduction worked well. sometimes you have to apply it lightly or you will get a "tin can" effect.

[sdsumike619]

yeah the source was fantastic, except for that AC, which we had to have because we're IN Vegas and it was 108 that day haha