Help with vinyl scratches - Newbie

Hi everyone!
This is my first post, hope I can get some help.

A friend gave me a copy of a file transferred from a 1963 European 45RPM vinyl recording. I've been able to remove most of the clicks, crackle and noise from it, but every time I've tried to remove scratches such as the ones on the attached sample, they always end up sounding worst, mostly like weird digital ringing on the background.
These scratches seem to be a result of friction between needle and groove.
Is there a way I can remove them using AA3 without affecting the music too much?
Anyone familiar with this type of scratch?
Is this a hopeless case?
Sample file: http://www.zshare.net/audio/16090680870d9c0f/

Thanks in advance.

 

Can you tell us what method you tried? Did you try looking at the audio in the Spectral View? You may be able to identify the scratches visually and remove using some of the Spectral tools.

A friend gave me a copy of a file transferred from a 1963 European 45RPM vinyl recording.

Presumably an MP3 file, since there is a sharp cut-off at 16 KHz.

I would say this is running about 10% slow.  I would upsample it to the correct speed first.

The noises are not going to be easy to deal with, you are going to have to do a lot of manual work on a file this bad.  You should be able to get a reasonable result, provided you put enough work into it.  However, you have to consider whether it is easier to do the restoration or find a better copy of the original.

Personally, I'd be looking for a better copy, as this is going to be a lot of work.

Can you tell us the name/artist of the original?  You never know what people have in their collections .

However, you have to consider whether it is easier to do the restoration or find a better copy of the original.

Personally, I'd be looking for a better copy, as this is going to be a lot of work.

Agree 100% 

No, I have no idea what it is, but I'd definitely want at least the original 45 to work from, having now listened to the 'transfer'...

Because personally, I think that it sounds a lot better if you apply the parametric EQ to it with a notch at 84Hz about 40dB deep, with a Q of 100 - because that sounds like it came off...  the turntable from hell!

I think that it sounds a lot better if you apply the parametric EQ to it with a notch at 84Hz about 40dB deep, with a Q of 100 - because that sounds like it came off...  the turntable from hell!

OTOH, the hum is a good guide to the fact of the speed being wrong.  It sounds a lot better (although the noises are still there) at the right speed .

Hi again, some answers to your questions:

Year: 1962.
Singer: Gloria Lasso.
Song: Un Premier Amour - Winner of the 1962 Eurovision Song Fest (Cover).
Original recording: Pathé 45 RPM vinyl single (France).

Yes, Graeme, the digital file is a 128 kbps MP3. Should have started with a WAV.

Cleaning methods tried:
-Noise and click removal initially done using AA3 automatic tools. Horrible results. Method dropped.
-Afterwards, larger clicks were removed manually using Wave View.
-Less evident clicks were removed manually using Spectral View (not totally done yet).
-Per ryclark, attempted to remove scratches using Spectral View with mixed results. Worked well for silence areas but affected music too much in others.
-Also tried SteveG's suggestion of using the notch filter. Makes it a lot better as far as scratches are concerned, adds some hum.
-The speed correction tip is a good one, Graeme, gotta try it and then re-try the notch filter.

A digitally remastered version of the recording is going to be out in a few weeks, I'll get it, but still want to use this one for practice, so any new ideas are welcome.
Hey, I'm learning lots from your comments and suggestions.

[adds some hum]

-Also tried SteveG's suggestion of using the notch filter. Makes it a lot better as far as scratches are concerned, adds some hum.

That's probably my fault - for suggesting a rather high Q value! The trouble with doing this is that the side slopes of the notch are so steep that any signal in them makes them resonate. Sometimes this can make things worse rather than better, so what I'd suggest is playing with this somewhat - broaden the notch slightly and have less 'hum'.
 

I'm not clear as to whether or not there is an original wave file that has never been compressed.  Taking ticks and pops out of an mp3 will leave compression artifacts behind, so clean removal isn't readily accomplished.

This record sounds like it needs to be washed.  Or replaced.