Fixing Flutter from old Tapes -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:Fixing Flutter from old Tapes Posted by: Shaun Date:6/4/2001 6:59:52 PM I have some old tapes I am restoring with Sound Forge 5.0b. The tapes have constant flutter, as if they were recorded with a machine running at irregular speed, or the capstan or pinch roller of the recorder was not perfectly smooth or round. Does anyone have any tips or recommendations for how to get rid of this effect in Sound Forge? I considered using vibrato but never could figure out how quickly the pitch changes. Any help would be appreciated - someone must have dealt with this before!
Subject:RE: Fixing Flutter from old Tapes Reply by: jgalt Date:6/5/2001 2:39:45 PM Shaun: You refer to the term "Flutter" but then mention "Pitch change." To me flutter is a volume variation and pitch change would be a speed change. Volume variations can sometimes be made to sound less annoying by expanding the trace where it takes place and determining if the waveform is merely reduced in intensity or has it changed shape completely and is all but missing. If the intensity has been reduced you can highlight the segment and use the Volume option to increase the level. If the waveform has changed or is missing, copying undamaged material adjacent to the damage and then Overwriting the damage can be helpful. I've not a clue as to how to handle a speed change.
Subject:RE: Fixing Flutter from old Tapes Reply by: captainvinyl Date:6/5/2001 2:56:23 PM Shaun Are you talking about tape stretch? I have just put some old tapes onto 4.5xp and have found it to be an annoying problem. The old software I used to use had an adjuster to alter the timing over the whole recording. This did I found even out this fault but did not fix it totaly. Better not mention the other company on this site! When Ive got all my old vinyl stuff put away Iam gonna start on my tapes so if you do find a fix please post it. Thanks Captvinyl
Subject:RE: Fixing Flutter from old Tapes Reply by: Shaun Date:6/9/2001 6:38:46 PM I guess I meant "wow" instead of flutter. It is a speed change.
Subject:RE: Fixing Flutter from old Tapes Reply by: Shaun Date:6/9/2001 6:40:26 PM Email me off-line if you know of a product that will fix this. I'm talking about the small change in speed that makes steady notes "warble." Would that be "wow" instead of "flutter?"
Subject:RE: Fixing Flutter from old Tapes Reply by: beetlefan Date:6/9/2001 7:48:00 PM It can't be done.
Subject:RE: Fixing Flutter from old Tapes Reply by: audio_photo Date:6/10/2001 2:49:57 PM Shaun, Flutter is a fast frequency change that can caused by capstan problems. Wow is slow frequency change that can be associated with tape reels or an eccentric vinyl disk. Flutter sounds like vibrato. Wow sounds like seasickness. Both could be eliminated with DSP technology. The frequency and amplitude is probably easily deterimed and is probably quite regular. It is a matter of digital subtraction. But, I am not aware of any plug-ins that do this. The risk is subrracting desired vibrato. Looks to me like an opportunity for DSP programmer.

Subject:Fixing Flutter from old Tapes

Posted by: Shaun

Date:6/4/2001 6:59:52 PM

I have some old tapes I am restoring with Sound Forge 5.0b. The tapes have constant flutter, as if they were recorded with a machine running at irregular speed, or the capstan or pinch roller of the recorder was not perfectly smooth or round.

Does anyone have any tips or recommendations for how to get rid of this effect in Sound Forge? I considered using vibrato but never could figure out how quickly the pitch changes. Any help would be appreciated - someone must have dealt with this before!