World Class Noise Reduction for Pro Tools™ - RepairFilter
Undoubtedly one of the most powerful audio repair tools for any platform, RepairFilter combines an intuitive analytical tool with eight tracking notch filters and a high-pass/low-pass filter set. It can "surgically" remove steady state tones and other disturbances, while minimizing the effects on the rest of the audio program.
VPI for Pro Tools™ - RepairFilter
The audio signal is displayed in a real-time spectrogram. This spectrogram shows the last three seconds of playback history, where frequencies are mapped on the y-axis and time on the x-axis. Amplitudes of frequencies are displayed using a color spectrum. The color spectrum can be compressed into a limited dynamic range to provide better contrast with low-level signals. It's possible to zoom-in to any frequency range to provide high-resolution displays of static tones and other frequency based disturbances. It's also possible to view the left channel, right channel or a sum of both channels. Normally the histogram scrolls with audio playback, but a freeze button stops the display so it's easier to analyze a section and position the mouse over a specific section. Hovering the mouse over an area will pop up frequency/amplitude statistics of that precise spot, making it easy to set notch filter parameters like frequency and bandwidth.
The eight tracking notch filters have 3 operating modes: Auto, Edit and Cursor. In Auto mode, each notch filter will search for a steady-state tone and automatically set its center frequencies and bandwidth. Attenuation is normally set automatically by the VPI through the use of psycho-acoustic "masking threshold" algorithms. Using the Gain and Processing Threshold values can modify these.
In Cursor mode, the operator can click on the spectrogram frequency axis to set the filters' center frequency. In Edit mode, exact center frequencies can be entered manually, using numeric entry.
RepairFilter simplifies the process of identifying and removing steady-state disturbances in old optical film sound recordings, mains hum and harmonics, video monitor line whistles, lighting buzz, musical instrument amplification buzz and idle tones from A/D -- all while maintaining the utmost in signal integrity.
More information about Restoration for Pro Tools™ including demo sound files and a video tutorial can be found here.
Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) installs Cube-Tec DOBBIN Rendering Farm
In 2006, The Korean Broadcasting System, South Korea's premier public
broadcaster, was facing the monumental task of transferring an archive of
over 300,000 CD's to their centralized storage system. Because the
transferred Wave files would be used in broadcast applications, quality
control and metadata management were critical requirements.
KBS chose Cube-Tec International to provide a solution, and quickly
completed phase one of the project with the transfer of the first 50,000
CD's using Cube-Tec's QUADRIGA solution, with CD-Inspector providing
analytical quality reports and metadata management. In the second phase of
the project, which is now in progress, the remaining 250,000 CD's are being
transferred with comprehensive quality control via QUADRIGA.
In a parallel process, KBS is utilizing additional Cube-Tec technology to
overcome another technical obstacle: The 300,000 CD's were collected over
many years from numerous sources, so loudness and perceived loudness levels
vary dramatically. To solve this problem KBS installed a new Cube-Tec DOBBIN
system which will first analyze all files, then utilize the 'Loudness
Assimilator' module to automatically adjust the files to perfectly balanced
loudness levels. This fully automated "batch process" approach eliminates
human error and delivers broadcast ready Wave files quickly and cost
effectively.
AudioCube / Sequoia System installed at Soundworks
The integration of the powerful Sequoia editor into the AudioCube workstation enables the use of Cube-Tec VPI's (24-bit /192kHz restoration and mastering plugins) in Sequoia. The system installed at Soundworks is unusually powerful, in that it includes a total of 26 Cube-Tec VPI's, enabling Jeff to handle high level restoration and mastering work with the precision and quality demanded by his prestigious client base.
"I have been working with Walt Disney Records for 16 years. When they approached me with the idea of preserving the audio product recorded since 1956, it became obvious that I did not
have the tools required to restore the product to the quality expected by Disney and the countless fans of the music.
I had heard great things about the Cube-Tec audio plug-ins and had assisted in the process of integrating them into the MAGIX Sequoia editing platform. In
comparing them to the competition I found that the Cube-Tec plug-ins were far superior, and capable of providing the restoration quality I was looking for.
Jeff Sheridan - Soundworks
After a couple of days with Rob
Poretti from Sascom, I was ready to embark on the first project - the restoration of the '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea' soundtrack. Cube-Tec has surpassed my expectations and the results are truly astounding. We have encountered hum, clicks, pops, tape noise and all kinds of optical clicks that we have removed quite effectively using these tools. Now I couldn't imagine tackling a project of this size, importance and difficulty without the Cube-Tec tools at my disposal."
Jeff Sheridan - Soundworks - www.soundworksstudio.net
More information about AudioCube can be found here.
Meet the Cube-Tec Team at AES in Vienna
In conjunction with Ton Eichinger, the esteemed Austrian distributor of
Cube-Tec products, Cube-Tec International will be presenting a diverse range
of technological advancements in professional audio solutions.
In addition to presenting significant developments in the QUADRIGA audio
archival system, Cube-Tec will demonstrate the incredible DOBBIN Audio
Rendering Farm - a technology that takes automated audio analysis and
manipulation to unequalled heights.
Cube-Tec will also be presenting two exhibitor seminars:
World Class Noise Reduction for Pro Tools
Saturday, 05.05.2007, 14:30 - 15:30 h
QUADRIGA - The Leading Archive Solution
Sunday, 06.05.2007, 14:30 - 15:30 h
Hall Y, Stand 2331, 122nd AES Convention Vienna, Austria - May 5-8, 2007
A floorplan is available here.
