Skip to main content

I have a very nice acoustic guitar track that I put down, but it has a small 1 or 2 second segment with some intermittent static (I think it came from the pickup jack).

I can easily re-record it, of course, but I'd really like to know how I can clean it up. What would be the technique for getting rid of static from a music track?

Thanks

Comments

anonymous Mon, 04/20/2009 - 20:04

Static on an acoustic guitar? That's easy: buy a better guitar. 8) But seriously, acoustic guitars shouldn't get any noticable static. Try micing it. I loathe acoustic guitar pickups. Well, I really just hate batteries, but the pickups really aren't that great on acoustic electric guitars. Even on T@ylors. Use less compression? Use a better compressor? Learn how to use compression properly? I am a bit puzzled on the whole static thing. Input jacks are cheap. Buy one. Rewire the thing while you're at it.

dvdhawk Mon, 04/20/2009 - 21:27

My hat is off to you for wanting to learn about the technology or tricks to deal with static, and as was mentioned, you either need good Broadband Intelligent Noise Reduction Software - or you can try to redraw the waveform. Both will sacrifice fidelity and are only useful in small doses. Usually with BINR you need a clean sample of the noise, so the software go scour matching noises out of the track. And that almost always leaves artifacts and audible holes, especially with somethings as pure as an acoustic guitar.

I agree, that particular track is probably beyond repair.

And changing the jack on an acoustic might be relatively cheap, but it isn't always easy. A good contact cleaner might be all you need.