RE: [AV Media Matters] Audio Restoration Tool

[Graham Newton <gn@audio-restoration.com>]

In response to
ptk@psulias.psu.edu
I wrote: about audio restoration software

>>I hate to say this, but probably not, at least for your purposes.  It is
>>not real time, and that is one of the keys to effective use of
>>restoration processes.

Graeme Jaye wrote:
> I originally queried what the the definition of 'worthwhile' was in this
> context.  Now, I think I hav #e to ask you waht the definition of
> 'effective' is?   It seems to me that, in this instance, you really mean
> 'cost effective' - but surely that is a criteria which only the end-user
> can decide for himself.

Precisely that... a library or other conservator is likely to have a
large quantity of material on hand, and if it ALL needs to be
transferred and restored, then real time is the most "effective" way of
dealing with it.  If only portions or specific subsets of the material
are involved, then I think we are agreed that non-real-time processes
could be applied to the task. For the most part, the trade-off is time.

> I have looked at CEDAR - of course I have, as would anyone interested in
> this subject - but I have come to the conclusion that its extremely high
> cost (which I am sure no one would deny) makes it its own worst enemy.
<snip>
> For those
> CEDAR owners who have the necessary client portfolio, I say 'good luck to
> them', but I would not denigrate other means of achieving the same results.

I don't promote CEDAR for any reason other than I chose it after trying
the software packages.  In fact, I have tested most of them and compared
them side-by-side with CEDAR and find that for the most part, they do
what they claim... HOWEVER there ARE differences, albiet small, which
critical listening will reveal.

If you are in the care and control of a deteriorating and rare artifact,
it seems to me that it would be in your best interest to use the best
possible methods and processes to preserve them.  As technology
improves, recourse to the original artifact or the best usable copy
thereof becomes more and more important.  CEDAR has excellent processes
now, relative to what was available only a few short years ago, but
there will be similar improvements that make current technology obselete
in the not-too-distant future.

CEDAR was the first to achieve real time restoration processing, and yes
there are others nipping at their heels, but CEDAR specializes in, and
has more experience in this field.  It is their only business, and they
do it better than any others that I have yet seen.  The best available
quality that current technology allows comes at a price, and a not
insignificant one at that, as has been noted!

>>those guided by inept
>>"producers" who continually bleated the command "take out more noise...
>>I can still hear hiss!"
> We all have to eat - these guys also sign the cheques, or at least have
> direct access to those that do.  It's a brave man that turns down work to
> feed the family for a month.

I would never suggest that we turn down work from these people... they
just need some education on the subject of restoration.  Again, that
takes time, but the effort applied eventually gets their eyes open!

... Graham Newton

--
Audio Restoration by Graham Newton, http://www.audio-restoration.com
World class professional services applied to phonograph and tape
recordings for consumers and re-releases, featuring CEDAR processes.