Program to edit out static from audio files

[PamJ]

Hi, everyone!

I noticed an older thread on Audacity, which I have, but not having much luck with what I want to do (and it may not be possible, especially with something free). I transcribe audio files for my own little business, and many times I have audio files (interviews between two people, etc.) where there is a lot of static-type noise that is as loud or louder than the person speaking, which makes it a big pain trying to accurately hear what is being said.   Is there any way to clear that up with a free or inexpensive program?  I followed some instructions I found for Audacity, but it does say it works best if the noise you're trying to remove is not as loud as what you don't want to remove!  I also didn't have very much of the recording with just the static and not any voices.  (These are wav files sent to me as an e-mail attachment, if that makes any difference, and this particular client is notorious for bad recordings.) I also know next to nothing about messing around with audio files, but willing to learn!

Any thoughts?

Thanks!!

Pam

[Pondus]

Maybe you fiend something you can use here

http://lists.thedatalist.com/pages/Audio_Tools.php

http://lists.thedatalist.com/index.html

[bob3160]

Hi PamJ,
See if there is anything in the following collection that's of help to you:
http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/25-free-digital-audio-editors/

[igor]

The problem is that if the noise is really louder than the useful signal... then, from a mathematical point of view, the best thing to do might be to replace the whole sound with silence... you get rid of a lot of noise, while making only a "small" distortion to the useful signal.

[FreewheelinFrank]

The problem is that if the noise is really louder than the useful signal... then, from a mathematical point of view, the best thing to do might be to replace the whole sound with silence... you get rid of a lot of noise, while making only a "small" distortion to the useful signal.

I think that's called "throwing the baby out with the bath water".

 

[bob3160]

The problem is that if the noise is really louder than the useful signal... then, from a mathematical point of view, the best thing to do might be to replace the whole sound with silence... you get rid of a lot of noise, while making only a "small" distortion to the useful signal.

I think that's called "throwing the baby out with the bath water".

 

But in this case Frank the baby already drowned.... 

[PamJ]

Thanks so much for all the suggestions. I will be looking at these tonight.  I realize with the unwanted noise being louder than the voices, getting rid of it or toning it down might be impossible.  It's beyond me how some of their recordings can be so clear and others so bad when they're using the same system for recording both sides of a telephone conversation.  Since there are many different people doing the interviews, maybe some of them just don't know how to use the program properly!    

Pam

[bob3160]

Pam,
They are usually the ones who try to swallow the mike instead of speaking into it.