Subject:How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Posted by: buffalosnout

Date:3/3/2003 12:58:31 PM

I had to record some audio off a turntable. I initially used SoundForge 6. The results were very noisy--even noisier than the music coming directly from the turntable. I then purchased SF Noise Reduction and cleaned up a lot of the noise, but I still wasn't happy.

Then, for grins, I tried recording the same material, using the same procedure, but to Sonar 2.2XL. I was amazed at how much better the results were. There was MUCH less noise, snap, crackle, and pop. The initial results were even better than the SoundForge results AFTER using Noise Reduction.

How can this be? I had always thought that the SoundForge was designed specifically for soundfile creation and editing, while this type of activity was just an added feature to Sonar. Being a huge fan of SoundForge, these results mystify me.

Thanks,

James

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:3/3/2003 6:30:28 PM

You must have been doing something fundamently wrong somewhere.

You did have your record level optimised (not clipping) by ticking the 'monitor' box in the SF record dialogue, I assume ? The results should be identical.



geoff

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: buffalosnout

Date:3/4/2003 2:43:18 PM

Yes, the monitor meters were showing. The results were not distorted--just very noisy.

Thanks,

James

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: Sonic

Date:3/4/2003 2:58:52 PM

Same hardware? Same driver model? Same record attributes?

J.

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: buffalosnout

Date:3/4/2003 10:52:38 PM

Sadly, yes. I didn't change a thing in the way it was set up. I just used a different program.

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:3/5/2003 12:44:21 AM

Are you actually trying to suggest that SoundForge has for all these years had poor sound quality and nobody but you has noticed ?

I just tried it on 2 difference PCs and I couldn't perceive a difference.

Something must be very broken in your Soundforge or Windows or drivers then, because you should not be able to hear *any* appreciable difference, let alone noise and distortion.

geoff

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: captn_spalding

Date:3/5/2003 9:19:05 AM

For what it's worth - I often record lp's in to SF. I use a Shure V15 type III thru a PAiA 9802 RIAA preamp into a M_Audio 2496 and have never had the problem described. I would suspect some hardware issue as the signal has been digitized by the time it gets to SF. Th only other thing that comes to mind - If you record a noisy stereo lp in mono (i.e. you add the left and right channels together) the result will be quieter. Is it possible that that is occurring with the other software?

..spalding

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: stusy

Date:3/5/2003 9:54:02 AM

Scary...if I were to load sonar 131 again and jump to 2 @$79..? well...don't know if I'd do it again or not...not that there were any issues I had with sonar per se, but I have to draw the line somewhere...

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: buffalosnout

Date:3/5/2003 11:22:06 PM

It is hard to pin these things down, but what appears to be happening is that the longer I use Sound Forge at a session, the noisier it gets--especially if I am using the Noise Reduction plugin. I started getting the "garbage" today, so I closed the program and started it back up again and things got quiet. After a little while, it got noisy again. I've not noticed anything similar with long Sonar or Acid sessions.

The computer is fairly robust (1.9), and the drive is fast. I am unable to duplicate the original problem because I no longer have access to the turntable. I was just wondering if any of the other users had experienced anything similar, so I could take preventive action. Thanks to those who responded.

James

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: buffalosnout

Date:3/6/2003 12:33:24 AM

I have been reading some of the older posts and came across this one, which may describe something similar to what I've experienced. Unlike the problem below, I don't have the Terratec; I record with an EMI 2/6 from Emagic.

Subject: RE: Pop, Crack sounds in recordings
Posted by: JohnI (Ignore This User)
Date: 1/24/2003 7:27:25 PM

I believe the Terratec DMX6 Fire and Sound Forge clicks problem is quite fundamental for us unfortunates that have it - I have been struggling with this for some time and see a few others have similar problems from time to time. I have exchanged/returned the board and the computer without success. Single sample errors get inserted on analogue recordings producing occassional clicks. This problem does not exist when recording with Sonar which is clean. The only solution I have found is to record using Sonar, save the file and process in Sound Forge. I have the latest versions of everything with all updates and p4/WinXP and played with buffer setting extensively. If I use the onboard sound chip the problem goes away. So this seems to be a very infortunate combination between Sound Forge and the Terratec. Remove either component and the problem goes away. Regards John I

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:3/6/2003 4:27:10 AM

Clicks and pops is not a progressive build up of noise as you describe. It is not normal, and I cannot imagine what it could be. You are not doing something whacky in editing are you - misusing NR or huge cumuulative gain increases ?

geoff

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: buffalosnout

Date:3/6/2003 9:41:40 PM

No, I wasn't doing anything too esoteric. I'll just reinstall SoundForge and see if that helps, as I'm still getting noise when editing files. When editing them in Sonar, it clears up. Everything else remains constant. Thanks,

James

Subject:RE: How Could this Be: SoundForge v. Sonar?

Reply by: Geoff_Wood

Date:3/7/2003 4:36:59 AM

You aren't hearing noise on you audio input are you, still active after recording ? try muting the input in the mixer applet.

geoff