Polkasound Productions - Digital Audio Restoration

DIGITAL AUDIO RESTORATION:

Many of the software tools we have are specifically designed for improving and restoring audio quality. Four of the key software tools we use for audio restoration are:

Noise Reduction: Using our powerful software, a portion of the unwanted background noise (i.e. tape hiss) is digitally sampled. The software then "listens" to the music while we control how much of the sampled noise to remove.
Snap! Crackle! Pop! 78, 45, and 33RPM records are notorious for their noise, so it's no surprise that software programs were created just for the detection and removal of it. We have some of the best software available. Where more thorough noise removal is required, we can also reduce or remove most noises manually.
Bass and Treble Enhancement: Normal equalization simply amplifies or attenuates selected frequencies. But, if certain frequencies are hardly there to begin with, you're only going to amplify noise. Our software allows us to enhance the high and low end of recordings by adding pleasing harmonics that "feed" off of existing frequencies, no matter how faint.
Multi-Band Digital Compression/Limiting: In short, we can smooth out audio levels not just globally, but in selected frequencies and bandwidths. Our software allows us to narrow down problem frequencies with incredible precision.

45-RPM RECORD AUDIO RESTORATION EXAMPLE:
untreated | enhanced

We want to emphasize that music can only be restored or improved to a point. The best analogy is mixing paint. Once you mix several colors of paint together, you can't un-mix them. The same is true for music. Once you mix accordion, bass, drums, sax, and even background noise together, you can't separate them. Restoration software works to isolate and control the frequencies needed to improve the quality of the audio. It is a tool -- not a magic wand. When combined with our mastering software and engineering skills, significant improvements to a recording may be possible.

FAQ: What would you charge to transfer a record or cassette tape onto a CD for me?

This is the most common question we are asked, because a lot of people have polka recordings on cassettes, 8-track tapes, 45s, and 78s that they would like put on CD. If you don't have a computer and the knowledge to do this yourself, we recommend you find a good friend or family member who would be willing to do this for you, since it is a time-consuming process. We would still need to charge $30/hour.

If you have several polka recordings to transfer, it would be in your best interest to buy a CD recorder, or learn how to record audio onto your home computer and then burn your own CDs. However, since CDs are becoming obsolete, your best option would be to learn how to record music on your computer in MP3 format so that you can transfer your songs to an MP3 player.

		DIGITAL AUDIO RESTORATION: Many of the software tools we have are specifically designed for improving and restoring audio quality. Four of the key software tools we use for audio restoration are: Noise Reduction: Using our powerful software, a portion of the unwanted background noise (i.e. tape hiss) is digitally sampled. The software then "listens" to the music while we control how much of the sampled noise to remove. Snap! Crackle! Pop! 78, 45, and 33RPM records are notorious for their noise, so it's no surprise that software programs were created just for the detection and removal of it. We have some of the best software available. Where more thorough noise removal is required, we can also reduce or remove most noises manually. Bass and Treble Enhancement: Normal equalization simply amplifies or attenuates selected frequencies. But, if certain frequencies are hardly there to begin with, you're only going to amplify noise. Our software allows us to enhance the high and low end of recordings by adding pleasing harmonics that "feed" off of existing frequencies, no matter how faint. Multi-Band Digital Compression/Limiting: In short, we can smooth out audio levels not just globally, but in selected frequencies and bandwidths. Our software allows us to narrow down problem frequencies with incredible precision. 45-RPM RECORD AUDIO RESTORATION EXAMPLE: untreated \| enhanced We want to emphasize that music can only be restored or improved to a point. The best analogy is mixing paint. Once you mix several colors of paint together, you can't un-mix them. The same is true for music. Once you mix accordion, bass, drums, sax, and even background noise together, you can't separate them. Restoration software works to isolate and control the frequencies needed to improve the quality of the audio. It is a tool -- not a magic wand. When combined with our mastering software and engineering skills, significant improvements to a recording may be possible. FAQ: What would you charge to transfer a record or cassette tape onto a CD for me? This is the most common question we are asked, because a lot of people have polka recordings on cassettes, 8-track tapes, 45s, and 78s that they would like put on CD. If you don't have a computer and the knowledge to do this yourself, we recommend you find a good friend or family member who would be willing to do this for you, since it is a time-consuming process. We would still need to charge $30/hour. If you have several polka recordings to transfer, it would be in your best interest to buy a CD recorder, or learn how to record audio onto your home computer and then burn your own CDs. However, since CDs are becoming obsolete, your best option would be to learn how to record music on your computer in MP3 format so that you can transfer your songs to an MP3 player.
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