Hihat saturation

[Tonio]

Well got a request to clean up some recordings ... of I believe are digitized cassette recordings. All audio tracks in stereo file - 16 bit ( ugh)

The hi hats and cymbals are saturated and sound like - ass, but then again
it has an interesting zing if you will.

Would a de esser help in this case , or would a EQ notch to dip the offending freq be a better bet?

I just did a cursory listen, so I haven't had a chance to work on it - yet.

thanks

[MIDI Life Crisis]

Motu dynamic equalizer.

[mikehalloran]

If dynamic EQ doesn’t do it...

What Dolby curve was used, B or C?

I have an old Realistic stand-alone Dolby B encoder/decoder. If you want to send me 30 seconds of audio, I’ll run it through to see if that might be it. PM me.

If that turns out to be the case, there are a number of options.

If you have Izotope RX, some of the tools may help.

[Tonio]

Thanks I'll give dynamic eq a try.

Not sure if they used dolby b or c or what was the other one HPx or something?

I do have a TEAC encoder/decoder, but I don't have the actual tape just a 16 bit file- so that would be moot- thanks for offer though.

No Izotope apps on hand.

I do have raygun somewhere but that was more for tape hiss, and record clicks/pops- its an old OS 9 app. My MAC QS is in the attic

[HCMarkus]

The hi hats and cymbals are saturated and sound like - ass, but then again
it has an interesting zing if you will.

It's a feature, not a bug.

Flange everything.

[Tonio]

LOL

[mikehalloran]

Thanks I'll give dynamic eq a try.

Not sure if they used dolby b or c or what was the other one HPx or something?

If it was undecoded dBxII, the files would be unlistenable. Undecoded Dolby S, like Dolby B & C, sounds like enhanced saturated treble.

I do have a TEAC encoder/decoder, but I don't have the actual tape just a 16 bit file- so that would be moot- thanks for offer though.

Why would you think that? Loop the file through the decoder as if it's an outboard compressor or reverb.

If, however, it's a cassette deck with the encoder/decoder you can turn it a streaming decoder in the same fashion with a $6 piece of hardware and some cables.

Mine is an actual encoder/decoder designed to add DolbyB to early '70s high end cassette decks. I used them a lot back in the day so, when I saw mine for a few$ on eBay, I snagged it. It definitely gets used around here.

No Izotope apps on hand.

I do have raygun somewhere but that was more for tape hiss, and record clicks/pops- its an old OS 9 app. My MAC QS is in the attic

Yea, you don't want to be doing that.

Back to Izotope. Download RX Elements for evaluation. While you're at it, download Ozone Elements & Nectar 3 Elements, too. These are the plugins included with the standalone versions—but they don't include the standalone apps like the full versions do.
https://www.izotope.com/en/support/prod ... loads.html

I'd look at Spectal Repair (RX) Surgical Repair EQ (Ozone) and a very nice De-esser (Nectar 3)

If any of these does the trick, there's a way to get them all (7 total) $49.
https://www.audiodeluxe.com/products/au ... als-bundle

What’s in the Music Essentials Bundle (Total Value: $713):

RX Elements ($129 value)
Nectar Elements ($129 value)
Neutron Elements ($129 value)
Ozone Elements ($129 value)
Trash 2 Expanded ($99 value)
DDLY ($49 value)
Mobius Filter ($49 value)

Everyone else dropped the special July 5 but, apparently, AudioDeluxe still honors it. A buddy snagged it a few days ago.

I don't know if any of this will work in your situation but it's a great plugin suite. Once in the Izotope 'verse, you are eligible for upgrading pricing later on.