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There are two general
categories of noise in sound recordings. One is noise whose
overall character doesn't change very much, such as tape hiss or air
conditioner rumble. The other is dynamic noise that
is caused by quick unwanted transients such as pops and clicks on an
optical sound track.
WRS offers two levels
of cleaning up bad sound. We call the first level corrective
rerecording and involves the use of sophisticated tone control
devices called equalizers to reduce the noise. This method
works well for many situations and but offers only limited results.
When we speak of audio
restoration at WRS, we are really referring to digital processes that
gives us a better set of tools to work with. The audio is
recorded into a digital audio workstation which is a computer system
that can convert the analog audio into digital files stored on large
hard drives. The sound files can then be manipulated much like
the way word processors move words around and computer graphic
applications can change the appearance of an image.
With a variety of
software "tools" we can remove noise and enhance the
quality of the sound track.
The audio source for
restoration can be any audio recording. This can open the door for
many applications.
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Optical sound tracks -
We can work with both negative sound tracks and composite prints.
Generally the prints are better to start with unless they have been
mishandled or stored improperly. Clients with this type of source
include major studios with a large catalog of titles, smaller
independent operations who have purchased the rights to distribute
films, and corporations that have produced various corporate films
prior to the widespread use of video.
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Magnetic Film - Many
times magnetic elements are in much better shape than optical sound
tracks because scratches are not usually a factor and the magnetic
material may have been the master used to make the optical.
However magnetic elements are still subject to tape hiss, poor
dubbing procedures and deterioration. As with the other film
sound services we provide, we can transfer from just about any audio
source made.
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Magnetic Tape - This
can be any other magnetic tape medium such as reel to reel, cassette,
and video tape. Any tape with a quality problem is a candidate.
In addition to film clients mentioned above, this category can
include music recordings, home movies and recording, surveillance
tapes, corporate videos, and location film sound. Keep in mind
that the noise problem is not always a product of the media but could
also be a motor, air conditioner or other noise in the background.
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