As many of you know, beyond vibes playing, one of my interests is recording engineering and sound production. Today they came together and I realized that what I did for myself is something I should offer here to others because it really made my day easier.
My project today was to record some rather delicate tracks for a singer songwriter with whom I am working. I was very happy with the way they came out... except...
When I listened back to them soloed (not in the mix), I realized immediately that there was a LOT of heavy breathing on the recording that I really didn't want to be there. Not only that, but once I knew it was there, I could even here it in the mix. It had to go.
At first, I thought I would simply have to record the tracks again. I'm sure nearly all of us have been there. The mics are actually closer to our face than they are the instrument, so any breathing, grunts, or other gutteral utterances really take on a new life on a recording.
In recent months, I have been using a piece of software that has enabled me to do things for clients like remove microphone pops, passing police sirens, and an air conditioner that was cycling on and off behind a recording of a speaker. I'm not sure why it took me so long to think of it in this context, but today it happened.
Yes, if any of you have recordings of yourself playing that you love the performance but have put the hammer down on them because at some point you breathed loudly, grunted or (as I am prone to do from time to time) began singing rather loudly and out of tune with your playing, I think I can help. I am certainly willing to try. It really appeared to work without noticeably affecting the sound of the instrument.
Let me know if I can help!
Randy
Comments
Questions
BarryK Sun, 09/08/2019 - 08:47
Hi Randy,
Are you able to remove pedal clicks? Can you share what software you are using? Do you need to have a single track or can you clean up a mix with other instruments?
Thanks,
Barry
Probably. I’m willing to try.
Randy_Sutin Sun, 09/08/2019 - 14:36
In reply to Questions by BarryK
It’s likely easier with just a vibes track, but there are no real hard limits.
I’m using a product from Izotope called RX7 Professional.
Magic
BarryK Sun, 09/08/2019 - 19:30
In reply to Probably. I’m willing to try. by Randy_Sutin
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." - Arthur C. Clarke
Wow, that is amazing.
https://www.izotope.com/en/products/repair-and-edit/rx/music.html
Barry
Yes, the AI stuff is mindblowing
Randy_Sutin Mon, 09/09/2019 - 12:41
In reply to Magic by BarryK
There is no doubt that this is a pricey piece of software (if you by the Advanced version which has all the cool Artificial Intelligence bells and whistles) and that it has a pretty steep learning curve. Their promo stuff makes it seem a little more automated than it really is; truth told its greatest power seems to be when used in its more manual modes.
However, it does work as advertised. I have already helped out several clients who thought they were going to have to re-record entire sessions (or in one case an industrial video).
Another feature I am just learning may also be a really powerful tool to have in the box and that is its ability to do "ambience matching". So, if you have offered some tracks for a recording, then you need to do more but you don't have access to the same studio or signal chain, you can take two recordings of the same instrument and (using one as the "standard") do an analysis of one and use the AI algorithms to make the overall sound of the second one match the first. They designed the feature mostly for voice in films because of how different an actor sounds in a closed room versus out in an open space and the need to make it not sound that way when the soundtrack of a movie is created. It does work with music, though; so if you have two tracks on a CD that you want to sound similar, but were recorded with entirely different methods, this software can get you closer if not totally there.
Yep. Magic. :)