Sifting through long recordings and audio cleanup

[Superatolm]

Can anyone help me with this? Been trying to get some captures and has hours of recording to sift through that sometimes also need some cleanup. I suck at both.

[Onlooker]

I haven't found a way to speed up the process of finding "that relevant bit" except for listening with double speed.
Anyone else?

[thomas]

Maybe we should establish a new way of "crowd-listening"

I would be willing to participate...

[Jeremy]

if there is not too much ambient noise, you should try audacity. I'm not an expert at all, but you can visually see the sound profile of hours of recording at a time........takes 10 mins.

[Jeremy]

here is what I wrote a few months ago on it

that perplexed me for a while too BUT if you download Audacity (freeware) you can view a file eg MP3 (you might need to first download a converter eg Freemake audio converter first if your recordings are from an iphone for example as i had to do) in soundwave form. This 'graphic' of soundwaves automatically appears when you load a file in Audacity.

now, the clever bit - I discovered only several days ago - the best thing to do is to then select the "waveform (db)" option. The reason is if your recording also picks up ambient noise as mine do (being in a city eg fans nearby), moans from a short distance can be disguised in the default setting ie the waves dont show up as large enough spikes for you to see them and the original waveform doesn't distinguish the moans. I realised this when i listened to a couple of recordings that I knew!! had moans on them, and so i spent an hour mucking around with the program. there's loads you can do with it, and i'm a novice when it comes to this technical stuff.

the second option you can do is select the "spectogram" option, which colours in (like a weather map) the sound density. This might not make sense until you download it and search for the options but i would be happy to email you screenshots so you can see what i mean - send me a PM with your email if you want. Now you know how to search hours in seconds and be sure you wont miss a thing,

[sarmgk]

In quiet files I tend to amplify up and up until noise waves are noted. It may increase all sounds but moans or squeaks tend to jump out. After I narrow that down I then try some noise reduction and lifting female vocals. Then listen for the good stuff All this is being done with Adobe Audition. I would be glad to help if you are looking for some just hit me up.

[Jeremy]

amping up is a good idea sarmgk. I will try that. ditto. thanks

[edtraveller]

I crave sounds!!!

I am happy to help you out if you want - run through audacity and return the MP3s to to you post or not - whatever you want.

Let me know. PM me if interested and I'll give you my email.