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Old 02-04-2012, 04:22 AM   #1
carvingCode
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Default Cleaning up samples from 30-year old cassette

I used Reaper to record a 30 year old cassette tape. The tape's sound quality wasn't that good when it was new, but now it has a lot of underlying hiss and other interference.

This may not be a Reaper-specific question, but what are some suggestions for removing/reducing the noise and generally cleaning up the sound of the resultant .wav files.

TIA

Randy
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Old 02-04-2012, 05:41 AM   #2
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I found A noise Reduction option in Audacity. It did the trick.
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Old 02-04-2012, 06:29 AM   #3
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If it doesnt work and you drastically need it done, I could likely do it with Adobe Audition. Or, you could get that program for yourself. But Ive done a lot of restoration and if this is a valued piece of audio, I could give a wack at getting rid of it for you. Holler if you really need.
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Old 02-04-2012, 07:52 AM   #4
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I have used Reafir for this with great results,and it's right there in the bundled effects.You want to use it in Subtract mode.http://wiki.cockos.com/wiki/index.php/ReaFIR#Subtract
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Old 02-04-2012, 10:18 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Melton Glass View Post
I have used Reafir for this with great results,and it's right there in the bundled effects.You want to use it in Subtract mode.http://wiki.cockos.com/wiki/index.php/ReaFIR#Subtract
There's a good tip for using ReaFIR's subtract mode with parameter modulation to make the effect less intrusive in this thread.
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Old 02-04-2012, 02:05 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by carvingCode View Post
I used Reaper to record a 30 year old cassette tape. The tape's sound quality wasn't that good when it was new, but now it has a lot of underlying hiss and other interference.

This may not be a Reaper-specific question, but what are some suggestions for removing/reducing the noise and generally cleaning up the sound of the resultant .wav files.

TIA

Randy
I have done exactly this with several old cassette tapes. I used ReaFIR to remove the hiss, and then I used Terry Wests ReLife to get some dynamics back from the tape saturation. Worked quite well for me.
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Old 02-04-2012, 09:14 PM   #7
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Thanks for all the replies. I'll give Refir a try..
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Old 02-04-2012, 09:27 PM   #8
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ReaFir worked wonderfully for me with an 8 track song I had recorded many moons ago on a reel to reel Ampex 456 Tascam 38.
Just took a snap of the underlying noise in subtraction and there I was with a great sound.

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Old 02-05-2012, 01:32 PM   #9
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In the analog days I used to use EQ to filter out the hiss and then I would use an Aural Exciter to put top end back into the song. It worked pretty well. So I guess the Reafir - thing and some dynamic processing afterwards would be a wonderfully easy way to get it done.
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