Computer fan in background of clip how do I remove?

[Ralph nixon]

A novice question I know, but you have to start somewhere. In one clip I have significant computer fan noise under dialogue. Can I tweek this out during mix or better yet before. I'm editing on FCP.

 

[Noiz2]

Your best bett (that I know of) is Equium from Elemental Audio. It's an EQ that is very flexible and has harmonic filters that work pretty well on hums. Sound Soap may work on the white noisy part but I would get rid of the hum first. You probably will never remove it completely, but you may well get it down to the point where it's not obnoxious. Nextime have them turn off the computers, refrigerators etc... Because trying to remove this kind of noise can be a real pain.
SK

 

[Blaine]

A novice question I know, but you have to start somewhere. In one clip I have significant computer fan noise under dialogue. Can I tweek this out during mix or better yet before. I'm editing on FCP.

Do you have Soundtrack Pro? If so you can use the Reduce Noise function.

 

[smithy]

If you have any room tone clips that you can put it in that may reduce it. Another way is to add background music or sound to take the emphasis away from the fan running.

 

[Blaine]

Along the music lines, we had a couple of "bumps" we couldn't remove because they coincided with dialogue, so we used a couple of "dramatic drum beats" to coincide with the bumps...worked great! Of course, we had to make them work with the music, too.

 

[Ralph nixon]

If you have any room tone clips that you can put it in that may reduce it. Another way is to add background music or sound to take the emphasis away from the fan running.

What's with the penguin my friend?

 

[smithy]

What's with the penguin my friend?

The sig is made by danasoft.com and it comes up random with different characters...ie a mouse, penquin, turtle, etc.

 

[Dave_Fisk]

If it sounds natural, then leave it as long as it's not too loud. That's my rule of thumb. If it's really messing with your cuts, then that's another story. In the hands of a really really good re-recording mixer they might be ablle to get it out. In FCP, you are pretty much screwed. Even with what I have available to me on my pro tools rig I have trouble getting computer noise out.

 

[ptalsky]

My general suggestion/rule of thumb when recording in a scene where a computer has to be running -- see if they can use a notebook computer. Much quieter fans in most cases than desktop types of computers.

Phil