Audio help needed - bad recording at a charitable event

N

neffsrus

Member
I helped a local charity record their event. I am a true novice re: audio. My choice was to record from the PA system via line out to my Zoom H6.

After the event, two young volunteers who were manning the mixing board told me they had to "change connections" due to a problem that came up. The resulting audio is very distorted, possibly "blown out"?Note: I can't guarantee that my original set up would have been any better.

Is there anyone you can suggest to listen to the file and give me feedback as to how salvageable this is? I think it's too big for me to upload here (900 mb WAV file)

thanks for any feedback. Many lessons being learned here, the hard way.


Edit: I have access to Audition as well as several plugins.
 
Can't answer your question, but a 1-minute clip would probably give the experts here all they need to advise you.
 
Thank you graywolf. I did not allow me to upload a short .wav or .mp3. Will try another approach. thanks again.

I am pretty sure this is a combination of clipping and improper use of the microphone by the Speakers (not the PA System speakers :o)
 
If you were taking a feed off the house mixer, the output was probably line level and your audio device's input was mic level. This a common occurrence (mistake). Unfortunately there's usually not that much that can be done, even with expensive restoration software. Post a clip for a more accurate diagnoses and opinions what can (and can't) be done.
 
The only "affordable" thing I have found that works at all on blown out distortion is Rx by iZotope. It is not cheap except compared to say a Cedar box at $15,000 but...

The bad news is that clipping is destructive. What was clipped is gone forever. SO, if the clipping is just at the very top and it sounds really bad but it's still understandable you have some hope. If you can not tell what is being said you are not going to get any of that back.

Do post a short bit because it is very hard for someone who hasn't done this before to tell the difference between un salvageable and salvageable. And it's impossible for someone with experience to make that evaluation with out actually hearing it.
 
neffsrus said:
I think it's too big for me to upload here (900 mb WAV file)
Click to expand...

A FREE Google GMail account gives you 15 GB of FREE file space, where you can use Google Drive to share large files with anybody at zero cost. Just make sure you change the default sharing of your file to "Anybody with a Link", so that anybody can download a large file at no cost to you. ( I would also ZIP the WAV file using the ZIP "STORE" compression, which takes the same amount of time as copying the file, which will guarantee the downloaded file is not corrupt )
 
900MB !!!! We only need 30 sec at the most. One minute of stereo PCM audio 48K/24 is approx 8Mb. Less for 16 bits. 1/2 the size if single channel mono.
 
<<<WARNING, TURN DOWN YOUR SPEAKERS. SORRY>>>

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz_VntQ0lhHfUW9va3ljb3hIclk/view?usp=sharing

Ahh, a link. Thanks for the suggestion on sharing. The feedback above is appreciated as well.

Note: For this project, my shotgun mic (on camera) was my back up and can be used here. But your suggestions/ideas/"here's what you did wrong" comments are still appreciated if time permits. Just letting you know that all is not lost.

thanks again,
Brad
 
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The distortion sounds like it is most at the high end of the frequency range so try a low pass filter and see if it improves it by cutting off all the HF.
 
Rick R said:
900MB !!!! We only need 30 sec at the most. One minute of stereo PCM audio 48K/24 is approx 8Mb. Less for 16 bits. 1/2 the size if single channel mono.
Click to expand...
??? 900mb as in .9 gigs or almost an hour of stereo or two of mono. You may want to check your calculator 48/24 is 8.640 MB per track.

But I am happy for you if you get a 2gig per minute sustained download rates.
 
When I have several channels available on my recorder (H6), I use them all on an event, because there's way too many ways that things can go wrong. I take a radio lav, and tape it to the podium. I take a line out from the PA. I take cheap mic and hang it by it's cord in front of one of the PA speakers. I put my other radio lav on the primary orator. I plug an XLR into the back of one of the PA speakers (there's almost always an XLR out on the back of every PA speaker). I've seen so many things go wrong at these things that you cannot have enough coverage. The CEO says " I don't need a mic" half way into his speech and walks out into the audience. The power goes out and the PA is useless. The list is endless.
 
ric8138 said:
When I have several channels available on my recorder (H6), I use them all on an event, because there's way too many ways that things can go wrong. I take a radio lav, and tape it to the podium. I take a line out from the PA. I take cheap mic and hang it by it's cord in front of one of the PA speakers. I put my other radio lav on the primary orator. I plug an XLR into the back of one of the PA speakers (there's almost always an XLR out on the back of every PA speaker). I've seen so many things go wrong at these things that you cannot have enough coverage. The CEO says " I don't need a mic" half way into his speech and walks out into the audience. The power goes out and the PA is useless. The list is endless.
Click to expand...

CEO people were not the first in row when "brains" were distributed.... and think they all know it and they think they're "THE man" (or woman).
 
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