Audio restoration is a generalized term for the process of removing imperfections (such as hiss, crackle, noise, and buzz) from sound recordings. Audio restoration can be performed directly on the recording medium (for example, washing a gramophone record with a cleansing solution), or on a digital representation of the recording using a computer (such as a AIFF or WAV file). Record restoration is a particular form of audio restoration that seeks to repair the sound of damaged records.
The modern audio restoration techniques utilized by Digital Pickle' sound engineers are performed by digitizing an audio source from analog media, such as vinyl recordings, optical sources and magnetic tape.
Once in the digital realm, recordings are restored and cleaned up using dedicated digital audio workstations. We perform various automated techniques to remove anomalies using algorithms to accomplish broadband denoising, declicking and decrackling, as well as removing buzzes and hums. Our audio engineers and sound editors often manually remove "pops and ticks" from recordings, and the latest spectrographic 'retouching' techniques allow for the suppression or removal of discrete unwanted sounds. We are capable of removing the smallest of anomalies, often without leaving artifacts and other evidence of their removal. Although fully automated solutions exist and are used by us, audio restoration is sometimes a time consuming process that requires skilled audio engineers with specific experience in music and film recording techniques.
Audio editing and restoration services are charged by the hour, while noise reduction services are charged by CD created.