Audio restoration examples on websites

I've been using STC Sound Cleaner Premium, which set me back about £1500 (~$2500), but I have to admit despite its clunky interface it does the trick - for forensic work that is. I wouldn't use it for general audio restoration as it's really not hi-fi enough.

Most of the processing I've done with it is mono at 16 bits, which is fine with the material I'm using. The beauty of it is the ability to chain a whole wide range of filters, each specifically designed to bring out speech, and often to adapt themselves as background noise changes and varies. The results can be simultaneously unpleasant to listen to but with speech clearly defined, a completely different approach to the usual restoration thing.

STC is basically the KGB's covert surveillance scientists under a new guise - and being Russia, everything's for sale. Whether the CIA have anything better is probably a question we'll never get the answer to...

Consequently, in recent years, we have been going through a 'golden age', where subtle and effective restoration has been undertaken by experts.

        That is the funniest thing you have ever said, because more than ever, CD reissues are being mangled by the likes of Jon Astley and Bob Norberg using horrible amounts of NR, doing unwarranted editing, widening the stereo for no reason, and EQing/compressing the life out of the music.

I take your point, but I was actually talking about 'restoration' - which has become quite artful in recent years - whereas most of what you are talking about comes under the heading 're-mastering'.  This has gone completely the other way, I would agree.  Cme the revolution, many of those responsible should put up against a wall and shot.

There is a serious distinction between these two processes, let's not confuse ourselves, or others, over this fact.

Come the revolution, many of those responsible should put up against a wall and shot.

Or forced to listen to uncompressed acoustic music, which presumably they'd find equally unpleasant as a bullet in the most appropriate part.

On the subject of bullets, Graeme, have you had a response to your letter?

Don't care much for DC. Find it not as good as CEP and Dart.

Don't be put off by the rough looks and unusual commands. I have been using the Millennium for a while now and I'm very satisfied with it. It's fast even when you chain several filters/effects together. Filter editing is in realtime. It rarely crashes, has 24/48 and requires a very modest machine to run. Some of the filters are really good, plain looking but good. The Adaptive filter itself is worth the price of the whole program. Ok, there is no DX-VST support, but there is a Virtual Valve (enhancer), brickwall, para eq, as well as good de-click and noise reduction filters.
And no, I don't work for them  

By the way, my Wavelab looks very nice but it's also very capricious.

On the subject of bullets, Graeme, have you had a response to your letter?

Bullets, what bullets?

No, nothing as yet.  I was expecting either a string of invective or zero response - I guess it's the latter.  If anything does turn up, I'll let you know.