Improving "hollow" sound from a film?

[takearushfan]

Hi all,
The writer, director, producer, etc. of a documentary has sent me a clip, around 9 1/2 minutes of audio from one of the people he interviewed. I don't know how it happened but her voice sounds almost as if she was recorded in an empty room. He told me that the WIP sample I sent him is a great improvement, but it still sounds a little hollow. Does anyone know how to improve this? Should I experiment with the EQ in an attempt to bring more "life" to it? I already did so but it's still just a touch too hollow. It's much better but still a bit "dull" in respect to the hollow sound.
Thanks,
Justin

[redwudz]

What audio editor are you using? The freeware Audacity has quite a few filters and some may give you an improvement.

[davexnet]

Post a section of the file and somebody will take a look.
Difficult to give advice without hearing it.

[lordsmurf]

Give me a sample.

[takearushfan]

I use Audition.
I've attached a clip from the film as it is without any work done. I figure that way you can get the best idea of how it sounded before I even tried to do a thing to it.

[lordsmurf]

Add bass.
Remove hollow sound.
Remove muffle.
Done.

Processed with SoundForge 6, using my own custom presets.

How's that sound?

[takearushfan]

Add bass.
1. Remove hollow sound.
2. Remove muffle.
Done.

Processed with SoundForge 6, using my own custom presets.

How's that sound?

1 and 2... how do I go about it? Also, I probably should've attached what my new attempt sounds like, rather than the unaltered clip directly from the film. He provided me with the raw vocals, without the music added. It was a bit dense of me not to attach part of that clip. If interested, I can attach what I've tried. He told me that it sounds better but still a bit hollow. I obviously like the "better" part, but don't know how to remove any more of the hollow sound. I've already EQed the hell out of it, not to mention some noise reduction

[lordsmurf]

Both are paragraphic EQ adjustments.

Do you have Sound Forge? You'd need Sound Forge for my method.
It can't really be done in other software.

[gregalan]

Both are paragraphic EQ adjustments.

Do you have Sound Forge? You'd need Sound Forge for my method.
It can't really be done in other software.

Actually you can get pretty close to the same effect with freeware.
You can use Wavosaur and the free NyquistEQ vst plugin found here: http://magnus.smartelectronix.com/

[takearushfan]

Both are paragraphic EQ adjustments.

Do you have Sound Forge? You'd need Sound Forge for my method.
It can't really be done in other software.

Oh for Pete's sakes. I do have Sound Forge but didn't even realize it! So yeah, I can check out whatever methods you're used to in Sound Forge.

[takearushfan]

No annoyance intended, but *bump* ... what are the methods you'd use, since I do have Sound Forge. Thanks

[spinestudios]

can you please add your settings from soundforge to this hollow audio file or send me your settings

[budwzr]

The problem is it's not Mastered.
===========================

UPDATE: It's HOSED! You're going to have to re-record and do a voiceover.

[budwzr]

Hi all,
The writer, director, producer, etc. of a documentary has sent me a clip, around 9 1/2 minutes of audio from one of the people he interviewed. I don't know how it happened but......

The way it happened is the usual way. Someone who knows nothing about recording audio has been assigned to record audio.

[lordsmurf]

No annoyance intended, but *bump* ... what are the methods you'd use,

You need this: SoundForge Audio Filter Presets Pack [DOWNLOAD]
The filters named are EQ settings in the pack.

... and it's my turn to bump.