How to reduce/eliminate sound "echo" - FCE 3.5

[CrEsTo]

Hi folks

I recorded an interview in a small quiet room, but now that I'm editing there's a reasonable echo in the sound.

I'm using Final Cut Express 3.5 with SoundTrack, is there a way to reduce this?

Thanks

 

[AviationFan]

[...] but now that I'm editing there's a reasonable echo in the sound.

Just to make sure I understand: the echo has always been there, and now that you are editing you first noticed it? Or did you introduce echo during (sound) editing?

If the echo (or reverb) was just part of the room that you recorded in, then I am afraid there is nothing you can do. Reverb cannot be removed from audio, just like clipped recordings cannot be fixed in postproduction. You can reduce the reverb by acoustically treating the room or by bringing the mic closer to the source of the sound, but it has to be done at the time of recording, not later.

- Martin

 

[CrEsTo]

Yes, the echo has always been there, I noticed about it when I captured the interview into FCE.

Is there a way to at least improve the audio quality and make the voice a bit more clear using SoundTrack or another software?

 

[AviationFan]

Well, maybe you can experiment with an EQ (from the audio filters in Final Cut). If the reverb in the room is stronger for certain frequencies than for others, maybe boosting those other frequency ranges will help a little bit. But I am afraid there is no really good solution to eliminate reverb from a recording - sorry.

- Martin

 

[-DH]

As already noted, reverb and echo are very hard to eliminate from a recording due to the fact that the frequencies that make up the echo are the same frequencies that make up the audio you want to keep.

You can try using a noise gate filter, but that often makes the audio sound too choppy. You're best bet is to re-record ... this time use good quality headphones DURING the recording so you can spot these problems before they get to tape.

-DH

 

[CrEsTo]

Thanks for your help, unfortunately I'm not able to re record but I actually learned the lesson.