How to improve DVD audio

[young707]

I have converted my brother's wedding to disc in mpg video file. The audio (in mono) is poor with white noise and low volume (poor video taping techniquie).

I have split the mpg file
1. use TMPGenc into .m2v video and .mp2 audio files.
2. also used DVD2Avi into .avi video and .mp2 audio files.

I have these audio editing tools: CoolEdit Pro 2.0, NGWave Audio Editor 3.3; Audio Edit Magic 8.6.

I am only able to use Audio Edit Magic to read in the .mp2 audio file and save it into .mp3 files for other audio editing programs.

I am unable to improve the sound quality by increase the audio amplitude and low the white noise.

Your advice is much appreciated.

[setarip_old]

Hi!

I don't understand why you're unable to use CoolEdit Pro to work on the .MP2 file but, be that as it may, I'd suggest that you download (freeware) "Audacity"...

[young707]

Yes, I am able to use Audio Edit Magic to read this mp2 file. Then, save as mp3 file. It works.

But then, how do I use CoolEdit to improve the sound quality? Thank you.

[guada 2]

Look at this:
http://www.sjc.uq.edu.au/cooleditpro/cep12add.PDF

Bye.

[young707]

OK, I am able to use
1. High Noise Reduction
2. Normalized

the result audio is better, but sounds like comes from a can. Anyway to make it sound like real person talking?

Thank you.

[young707]

In detail, this is what I did:

Use TMPGEnc to demux the mpg file into video .m2v & audio .mp2 files.
Use Audio Edit Magic to open the audio .mp2 file, then save as .wav (Windows PCM)
Use CoolEdit 2 to open the .wav file,
1. use Effect, Noise Reduction, Hiss Reduction, standard Hiss Redutcion, (get noise floor, 14 drag points)
2. use Effect, Amplitude, Normalize to 100%

Then, use IfoEdit to multiplex the video + audio (with -11ms) delay.

The sound is louder, but sounds like taking into a can, and still have sync problem.

Your advise is much appreciated.

[Boulder]

Try using a different technique for the noise reduction. I don't know if CoolEdit has this feature but it is in Audition (which is CoolEdit after Adobe bought the product).

Choose a portion of the audio track where there's nothing but the noise. Then use the option to capture a noise profile, in Audition it's in the Effects->Restoration menu. Select the whole wave and use this noise profile to do the noise reduction.

If CoolEdit doesn't have the feature, you can use GoldWave. You just need to copy a selection with noise only to the clipboard. Then select the whole wave and go to Effect->Filter->Noise reduction. Choose "Use clipboard" as the reduction envelope.

The flanging effect you are hearing usually comes from too heavy noise reduction. I suggest that you rather use lighter settings because flanging is much more irritating than regular noise.

[young707]

In CoolEdit Pro 2.0, in the Effects, Noise Reduction menu, there is a Clip restoration menu. But do not know how to use this feature for hiss noise reduction purpose?

OK, I got a small portion with hiss noise only. I use Effect, Noise Redutcion, Noise Reduction, click "Get profile from Selection",
then select the entire wave, click noise reduction. I got rid of most hiss noise. But the audio sure sound like talking in a can. How am I able to use "Clip restoration" to make audio quality better here?

[Boulder]

Reduce the strength of the filtering. There should also be the option to hear only what you are removing from the track, use that for fine-tuning (use the preview, no need to process the file).

[young707]

OK, yes, I try moving the noise reduction level to around 70% (while on playback preview). I get small hiss, but better audio quality. Thank you.