Subject:Help with batching

Posted by: meighkim

Date:9/12/2003 1:29:59 PM

I a new user of sound forge and hoping that someone may have information to lead me in the right direction. I've recorded vocal files and am now to trying to manipulate them. Due to sheer number of files, I'm trying to find a way to batch them all at once for these specific parameters:
1. maintain the same dB level across all files while boosting dB
2. remove low frequency noise

Looking through the conversion settings (after listening to all the problems my files have) I've found these parameters to be helpful:
1. Remove low rumble below 80hz
2. Remove very low and inaudible frequency
3. Boost frequency range
4. Decreased plosives and sibilants
5. Reduce loud silibants
6. Nose Gate 1
7. Hiss Removal
8. Cut high frequencies avobe 4kHz by 12dB
9. Normalize

This seem like a lot to do to the files. Truthfully, I'm not sure if I need all or any of these (or what settings I'm missing.). Also, I'm not really sure what is the best order for these to occur in.

Finally, after applying all of these settings, I'm finding that there is a noise in the background underneath the vocals. Is there anyway to remove this? And if so, can I do it through batching?

I'm still using an old version of Sound Forge (4.5) and won't be able to update anytime soon.

Thanks for any help!

Subject:RE: Help with batching

Reply by: MJhig

Date:9/12/2003 4:07:05 PM

Every process you run on the audio degrades it, so the idea is to subject the audio to only what's absolutely necessary. In your list there are several redundant processes so it can be narrowed to something like this at the very most:

1. Remove low rumble below 80hz
4. Decreased plosives and sibilants
6. Nose Gate 1
7. Hiss Removal
9. Normalize

I doubt you need to run all of these processes on all if any of the files. You should separate the files into groups that need specific processes. More than likely the only processes that would apply to all the files is Remove low rumble below 80hz and Normalize.

MJ

Subject:RE: Help with batching

Reply by: meighkim

Date:9/13/2003 9:06:43 PM

Thanks so much. It was really helpful!

Subject:RE: Help with batching

Reply by: kbruff

Date:9/16/2003 8:05:25 PM

I cant even get my batch converter converted to work -- I generate files via Sound forge and the batch converter actually says that files do not contain any audio -- even though the are full fledged audio files with 44.1 / 16 that play in every audio player

please comments --

Subject:RE: Help with batching

Reply by: msterlin

Date:9/17/2003 11:18:37 AM

kbruff,
I was intending to purchase batch converter to convert several thousand wav files to mp3, so i am a bit concerned that i may experience the same problems you are having. I tried the demo version on a few files and it worked properly. Files were extracted from cd with sf studio 6.oe and no editing other than normalizing.

If the batch converter thinks there is no audio, i would think there is a problem with the wav (riff) header of the files, but if you created them with sf it would be odd if that were the problem. Did you happen to run them through any kind of utility that may have modified the header incorrectly? For example, there is a freeware utility called wavetrim that removes silence by modifying the header to adjust the size of the audio (so doesnt actually remove anything) and something like that could confuse batch converter. Or even adding summary info might add LIST chunks to the header that are not recognized. Invalid or unrecognized chunks are supposed to be ignored, but not all programs are perfectly compliant with all the rules. Just thinking through some possibilities.

I'd like to try to help solve this problem if i can, because i certainly don't want to have the same kind of problem you have when i go to convert my files.

Subject:RE: Help with batching

Reply by: kbruff

Date:9/18/2003 3:11:50 PM

Hello Msterlin,

Absolutely no, modification of the files have taken place. I actually rip - cd's, record LP tracks directly into sound forge 6.0e, and then save them as wave files 44.1 Khz / 16 bit audio. I am using the Digital Audio -- Card Deluxe PCI based sound card.

*** And then I go to Batch Converter ***

(1) set up my batch routine
(2) then import the audio files -- being wave files
(3) hit the convert button
(4) read the annoying message in the status field: file has no audio

I have called Sonic Foundry tech support, the tech support individual responded by saying that there are known issues with Batch Converter.

If you dont mind me complaining ---

The free software that came with my Soud Blaster Audigy Card,
will batch convert the sames set of files with any hesitation. But yet a software with more advance capabilties fails to do it.

Another point worth sharing is that -- Batch Converter will actually convert MP3's to wave. For experimentation sake, I actually tried to convert the wave files (generated from the MP3 files), back to MP3. To my dissapinting surprise the status field reported that the file did not contain any audio. Those same mp3 files and wave files both open and play perfectly fine 5 different software based stereo playback media players, that are on my system including Sound Forge 6.0e.

Well I am stumped, and actually sadly enough I am considering totally avoiding the use of this software amoung other Sonic Foundry applications. I have since terminated my use of CD architect, since the free software from Creative labs does the job without hesitation.


Please comment thanks -- Kevin A. Bruff
For personal and direct input you email me at: kbruff@yahoo.com

Have a nice day --