Should I charge client to remove sound hiss/noise cause by the location sound system?

[ph2003]

For now, I'd say make a reasonable effort to address the biggest audio issues without extra charge. The built-in noise reduction tools in Premiere Pro CC and FCPX are OK these days; I'd guess it's the same for several other NLEs. And some EQ may let you fairly quickly notch out some noises. Or invest in iZotope RX. Even the lowest-cost version (which often goes on sale) is pretty helpful: https://www.izotope.com/en/products/repair-and-edit/rx.html

Wow didnt know the Izotope plugin has low cost package, well maybe I will try the element for 199usd and see how it turns out.

That is another thing (to the OP)— Sometimes you have to explain in very simple language why certain more technical things can be a problem ("If we use only available light it might be a problem because blah blah blah”), and like the guy above me said, why/how problems can arise from using only venue PA systems for sound. Things like that. Often our clients don’t have the faintest clue about this stuff that is very technical but makes a huge difference in the final product you’re delivering. Sometimes we have to educate them a little. Sometimes they will even sign off on things or tell you “oh it’ll be fine” and if/when it isn’t you STILL get blamed. I still struggle with this myself because I am not very authoritative. So if you protest about something and are still overruled, and the result turns out poorly, and you are still blamed even though you told them it would turn out poorly, what are you to do? More than likely they will not be apologetic about making bad decsions and may not want to work with you again. So again I say one of the best things is to try to find out about these conflicts or issues beforehand during initial discussions and simply be willing to refuse the job if you don’t think there’s any way it will turn out well.

There is so many good advise from many posters here, thank for all the inputs.
Surely next time I know how to deal with the client better

 

[Jim Feeley]

Wow didnt know the Izotope plugin has low cost package, well maybe I will try the element for 199usd and see how it turns out.

At least some NLEs license noise-reduction code from iZotope. And Vegas comes from a company that developed its own good noise-reduction code. So go for the iZotope trial if you want (a good tool I use a lot and prefer to those in NLEs), but do dig into the tools you already have in your NLE.

Cool to see this all moving forward! Good luck!

 

[Rick R]

I'm not exactly sure what audio plug-ins are included with 'Magix' Vegas Pro NLE these days (originally by Sonic Foundry, then Sony Pictures). Vegas sister app, Sound Forge Pro, has iZotope's de-clicker, de-clipper, de-noiser plug-ins and the Nectar Elements mastering and repair suite. AFAIK, it still includes the Sony NR-2.0 noise reduction suite. I assume the soon-to-be-released Sound Forge Pro 12 will have at least the same.

 

[TheDingo]

At least some NLEs license noise-reduction code from iZotope. And Vegas comes from a company that developed its own good noise-reduction code.

iZotope RX6 is on a whole other level compared to the Sony NR 2.0 app. I own both, but I've been shocked with what is possible with the "machine-learning NR" that RX6 offers. It saved me an entire reshoot in a hospital, because RX6 was able to rescue audio that I originally thought was impossible to save, so it paid for itself on the very first job I used it on.

 

[Jim Feeley]

I don't disagree with you. I use RX a lot. Most recently, this morning for three hours.

But I made that point in case the original poster app hadn't tried the audio tools in his NLE, or had last tried them several years ago. The built-in NLE tools are better than they once were, and are worth trying if you don't have anything else.

And while I once used software from Sonic Foundry et al, I haven't in a long time.

 

[IronFilm]

I've been hired before to do sound at conferences, and doing it again later this week for another conference. If you want it down well, is worthwhile bringing in a professional.

Here is my vlog explaining one of them: