| Audio Restoration |
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Modulus operates one of the most powerful Audio Restoration workstations in the New England area. Our fully-loaded Audiocube system handles audio at an uncommonly high 64-bit floating point precision and gives us unprecedented control over tone and dynamics, as well as noise removal, selective filtering, artifact removal, and waveform repair. Audio waveforms that have been damaged by interference, artifacts or overmodulation can be analyzed and rebuilt according to surrounding waveform information. Thus previously "unrepairable" ailments embedded in critical dialogue (or music) can be removed or greatly reduced. The same Audiocube system is in use at the the Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Library of Congress, and the National Archives, as well as a few top Hollywood post houses. It's high-resolution handling of audio, coupled with over a dozen Virtual Precision Instruments allows us to analyze, restore, and repair digital audio with great efficiency and museum-quality results. If you need more information or would like to send a sample clip for us to evaluate please contact us. Free Evaluation: Send a 30-second sample representing your problem audio prior to submitting source clips. Rates: $15 Per Minute of program time with a $90 Basic Fee. The Basic Fee covers set up, QC, and up to 2 reviews via FTP delivery. Examples: Below are some examples of Audio Restoration at Modulus.
Film Sound RestorationModulus regularly handles a variety of problems endemic to film sound. Most of the following have specific algorhythms created for them and can be removed or reduced at high resolution, in real time:
Restore Archived Recordings
Example 1 The severe analog clicks in this Patsy Cline recording had to be removed before any other EQ'ing or filtering can occur. Our DE-CLICKER works in real-time at extremely high efficiency. Notice how the voice and other musical instruments (as well as mic noise) are left untouched by the high resolution processing.
ORIGINAL AUDIO - with audible clicks
RESTORED AUDIO - de-clicked, cleaned up file
Clean Up Background NoiseSteady-State noise in recordings can be removed or reduced, leaving the desired signal, i.e. dialogue and effects, to stand out more clearly. Even quiet background noise can cause problems during editing in Avid or FCP, causing tiny "clicks" or jarring shifts in ambience. To alleviate this problem, some producers send material to Modulus for cleaning while still in the editing process. The following steady-state noises can be efficiently removed or reduced in real time:
Spectral InterpolationSpectral Interpolation is used for removing unwanted sounds that are deeply embedded in critical dialogue, music, or ambience. For example if a cell phone beeps during a take, or if a chair squeaks during a recital the sound can be isolated and reduced or removed according to preference. Waveforms are repaired by using the existing temporal and spectral information.
Fix Live Performances
Example 2 The clip of Yo Yo Ma has a loud bow strike in the middle of a musical passage. Because the performance was taped live getting a second take is impossible. Because the sound happens over several notes, deleting it would be disasterous. The aberation was removed by SPECTRAL INTERPOLATION keeping the music perfectly intact.
ORIGINAL AUDIO - with bow strike
RESTORED AUDIO - bow strike removed
Remove Popped "P's"
Example 3 At a recent LEF-sponsored live event, the recording of filmmaker Ross McElwee's discussion had a few boomy "P's" on a hand-held mic. Up to 18 decibels of plosives were quickly removed using SPECTRAL INTERPOLATION and REPAIR FILTER with no audible artifacts.
ORIGINAL AUDIO - with loud "P" pops
RESTORED AUDIO - pops removed
Un-DistortionMost sound recordists will tell you that once a signal gets overmodulated, it's distorted for good - end of story. While this is still mostly true, Modulus can do a miraculous job of removing the harsh sound of distorted audio. Clipped waveforms are analyzed and rebuilt using surrounding pitch, timbre and amplitude information. See example #4
Remove Distortion Effects
Example 4 This orchestral recording has severe analog clipping (crackling) in the second half of clip. There are three algorithms available for removing distortion. Even though the harsh crackling was removed, the original ambiance of the hall (reverberation) is preserved, as well as the tape hiss, which for archival purposes, helps denote the original method of recording.
ORIGINAL AUDIO - with overmodulation
RESTORED AUDIO - distortion removed
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