This is our 3rd article on iZotope's audio repair tool RX 7. We will be taking a look at the De-hum, De-crackle, De-reverb, and De-clip modules in this tutorial. Try out these modules to bring your precious recordings back to life. This is our 3rd article on iZotope's audio repair tool RX 7. We will be taking a look at the De-hum, De-crackle, De-reverb, and De-clip modules in this tutorial. Try out these modules to bring your precious recordings back to life.
- Izotope Rx 2 Download
- Izotope Rx Elements De Clip De
- Izotope Rx Elements De Clip 1
- Izotope Rx Elements De Clip En
De-clip
De-clip repairs digital and analog clipping artifacts that result when A/D converters are pushed too hard or magnetic tape is over-saturated.
Izotope Rx 2 Download
De-clip can be extremely useful for rescuing recordings that were made in a single pass, such as live concerts or interviews, momentary overs in 'perfect takes', and any other audio that cannot be re-recorded.
De-clip will process any audio above a given threshold, interpolating the waveform to be more round. Generally, the process is as easy as finding the clipping you want to repair, then setting the threshold just under the level where the signal clips.
You can find clipping by either listening for the distortion that clipping causes, or finding the high harmonic overtones of distortion in the spectrogram.
A waveform before and after clip repair. The after example (bottom) shows the original repaired waveform (faded) and the post-limiting waveform (bright).
Histogram Meter
Displays waveform levels for the current selection as a histogram.
The histogram meter helps you set the Threshold control by displaying the audio level where the waveform's peaks are concentrated. This usually indicates at what level clipping is present in the file.
A histogram is an analytical tool that displays how many samples are present at a given signal level over a window in time. The longer the line for the histogram is, the more energy is present at that amplitude. If a lot of energy tends to collect near the top and bottom edges of a waveform, that waveform is probably clipped and distorted.
Clipped peaks in waveform, with histogram from selection
In the RX Application, select a section of the recording where clipping is prominent and De-clip will analyze the levels of the program material. If clipping is present in the selection, it will usually appear as a horizontal line in the histogram that extends all the way across the meter.
In the RX Plug-in, the histogram runs as a realtime meter.
The histogram’s range can be scaled if you need a better view of your signal. Use the (+) and (-) buttons to scale your display and value resolution for the De-clip module. These buttons reduce (+) and/or expand (-) the range of the threshold slider and histogram. You may want to extend the histogram range when your clipping point is lower than what you can see on a histogram or if you don’t see anything on the histogram.
If you are using the De-clip control overlay on the waveform display, you can use the mouse’s scroll wheel on the waveform amplitude scale to adjust the threshold control resolution.
Threshold [dB]
Selects the clipping level used for detection of clipped intervals. Generally, this should be set just below the actual level of clipping.
Note: adjusting the Clipping Threshold will display a blue line within the histogram and a gray line on the waveform itself. This gray line shows the level on the waveform above which the De-clip algorithm will process the audio file. All sections of the waveform above this level will be regarded as clipping. Within the histogram itself the elements of the file that will be processed (above the blue line) will appear gray.
To set the threshold, move the Threshold slider until it lines up with the place in the histogram just below where clipping is concentrated.
In the RX Application, you can set the Threshold slider automatically with the Suggest button.
You can also set the clipping threshold from the RX waveform display. By default, De-clip Threshold is enabled in the Effect Overlays section of the View menu. When this option is enabled, you can see the relationship of the De-clip Clipping Threshold settings to your file’s waveform, and make adjustments to the setting by clicking and dragging on the red threshold line.
If you would like greater control resolution or need to apply De-clipping to a different amplitude range, you can adjust the amplitude range of the waveform display by using the zoom control, clicking and dragging the amplitude ruler, or using your mouse’s scroll wheel over the amplitude ruler.
Threshold Link
Toggles the ability to adjust positive and negative clipping thresholds independently.
When this option is enabled, you can adjust the positive and negative clipping Threshold controls independently. This is useful in cases where more clipping is occurring on one side of your waveform.
You can also set asymmetric de-clipping thresholds directly from the waveform by toggling the lock box between the threshold controls on the waveform display.
This problematic waveform (grey) shears off around −13 dB on only the positive side of the waveform (the histogram on the right shows the extra positive energy of clipped audio). Extra processing of the negative side would be unnecessary, so the Threshold controls can be unlinked to process above −13 dBFS on the positive side only. The resulting waveform is drawn in blue above the grey sheared peak.
Suggest
Calculates suggested threshold values based on the levels in your current selection.
Quality
Controls the interpolation processing quality.
There are three quality modes in RX's De-clip: Low, Medium, and High. Low quality mode processes very quickly; High quality mode processes slowly but is capable of achieving better results. In many cases you will find that Low quality mode gives you great results. To save time, always start by previewing the Low quality modes first. You can also use the Compare feature to try multiple modes and preview the results.
Makeup gain (dB)
Selects the gain to be applied to the selection after De-clip.
The De-clip process causes an increase in peak levels. The Makeup gain control can be used to prevent the signal from clipping after processing. It is also useful for matching the level after processing to unprocessed audio outside of the selection.
Post-limiter
Applies a true peak limiter after processing to prevent the processed signal from exceeding 0 dBFS.
De-clip usually increases signal levels by interpolating signal segments 'above' the clipping point, which can make the signal clip again if the waveform format offers no headroom above 0 dBFS.
If the post-limiter is disabled, the restored intervals above 0 dBFS can be safely stored even without makeup gain as long as the file is saved as 32-bit float. Intervals above 0 dBFS will clip when played back through a digital-analog converter.
Suggestions for severe distortion
For certain situations, using the Deconstruct module to extract the noise components of the distortion can help remove additional artifacts beyond the clipped peaks in a waveform. In cases where severe distortion is visible on the spectrogram, the Spectral Repair tool can be used to select those problem areas, and attenuate or replace them with undistorted audio.
| Module & Plug-in |
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Overview
De-clip repairs digital and analog clipping artifacts that result when A/D converters are pushed too hard or magnetic tape is over-saturated. It can be extremely useful for rescuing recordings that were made in a single pass, such as live concerts or interviews, momentary clipping in “perfect takes”, and any other audio that cannot be re-recorded.
De-clip will process any audio above a given threshold, interpolating the waveform to be more round. Generally, the process is as easy as finding the clipping you want to repair, then setting the threshold just under the level where the signal clips.
Controls
- HISTOGRAM METER: Displays waveform levels for the current selection as a histogram. The histogram meter helps you set the Threshold control by displaying the audio level where the waveform’s peaks are concentrated. This usually indicates at what level clipping is present in the file. The longer the line for the histogram is, the more energy is present at that amplitude.
HISTOGRAM ZOOM CONTROLS: The histogram’s range can be scaled if you need a better view of your signal. Use the (+) and (-) buttons to scale your display and value resolution for the De-clip module. These buttons reduce (+) and/or expand (-) the range of the threshold slider and histogram. You may want to extend the histogram range when the clipping point is lower than what you can see on a histogram or if you don’t see anything on the histogram.
Note on histogram updating in the application vs. the De-clip plug-in
- In the RX Audio Editor, the Histogram meter updates based on selection: Select a section of the recording where clipping is prominent and De-clip will analyze the levels of the program material. If clipping is present in the selection, it will usually appear as a horizontal line in the histogram that extends all the way across the meter.
- In the De-clip Plug-in, the histogram runs as a real-time meter.
What is a histogram?
- A histogram is an analytical tool that displays how many samples are present at a given signal level over a window in time. The longer the line for the histogram is, the more energy is present at that amplitude.
- If a lot of energy tends to collect near the top and bottom edges of a waveform, that waveform is probably clipped and distorted.
- In the RX Audio Editor, the Histogram meter updates based on selection: Select a section of the recording where clipping is prominent and De-clip will analyze the levels of the program material. If clipping is present in the selection, it will usually appear as a horizontal line in the histogram that extends all the way across the meter.
THRESHOLD [dB]: Defines the level used for detection of clipped intervals. Generally, this should be set just below the actual level of clipping. To set the threshold, move the Threshold slider until it lines up with the place in the histogram just below where clipping is concentrated.
Understanding the Clipping Threshold overlays
- Adjusting the Clipping Threshold will display a blue line within the histogram and a gray line on the waveform itself (when the De-clip Threshold effect overlay). These lines indicate the audio information that will be considered as “clipping” by the de-clip algorithm.
Using the De-clip Threshold Effect overlay in the Spectrogram/waveform view
- By default, De-clip Threshold is enabled in the View > Effect Overlay menu.
- When enabled and the De-clip module is open, the De-clip threshold overly will be displayed in the spectrogram/waveform display.
- You can adjust the Threshold controls in the De-clip module by adjusting the Threshold overlay lines in the spectrogram display.
- You can use the mousewheel on the waveform amplitude ruler to adjust the threshold control values.
- Adjusting the Clipping Threshold will display a blue line within the histogram and a gray line on the waveform itself (when the De-clip Threshold effect overlay). These lines indicate the audio information that will be considered as “clipping” by the de-clip algorithm.
THRESHOLD LINK: Toggles the ability to adjust positive and negative clipping thresholds independently.
- When this option is enabled, you can adjust the positive and negative clipping Threshold controls independently. This is useful in cases where more clipping is occurring on one side of your waveform.
- You can also set asymmetric de-clipping thresholds directly from the waveform by toggling the lock box between the threshold controls on the waveform display.
- When this option is enabled, you can adjust the positive and negative clipping Threshold controls independently. This is useful in cases where more clipping is occurring on one side of your waveform.
SUGGEST: Calculates suggested threshold values based on the levels in your current selection.
QUALITY: Controls the interpolation processing quality. There are three quality modes in the De-clip module: Low, Medium, and High.
De-clip Quality mode notes
- Low quality mode processes very quickly.
- High quality mode processes slowly but is capable of achieving better results.
- In many cases you will find that Low quality mode gives you great results. To save time, always start by previewing the Low quality modes first. You can also use the Compare feature to try multiple modes and preview the results.
- Low quality mode processes very quickly.
MAKEUP GAIN [dB]: Selects the gain to be applied to the selection after De-clip.
When to use the make-up gain control
- The De-clip process causes an increase in peak levels. The Makeup gain control can be used to prevent the signal from clipping after processing. It is also useful for matching the level after processing to unprocessed audio outside of the selection.
- The De-clip process causes an increase in peak levels. The Makeup gain control can be used to prevent the signal from clipping after processing. It is also useful for matching the level after processing to unprocessed audio outside of the selection.
POST-LIMITER: Applies a true peak limiter after processing to prevent the processed signal from exceeding 0 dBFS.
- De-clip usually increases signal levels by interpolating signal segments “above” the clipping point, which can make the signal clip again if the waveform format offers no headroom above 0 dBFS.
- If the post-limiter is disabled, the restored intervals above 0 dBFS can be safely stored even without makeup gain as long as the file is saved as 32-bit float. Intervals above 0 dBFS will clip when played back through a digital-analog converter.
- De-clip usually increases signal levels by interpolating signal segments “above” the clipping point, which can make the signal clip again if the waveform format offers no headroom above 0 dBFS.
More Information
Suggestions for severe distortion
- For certain situations, using the Deconstruct module to extract the noise components of the distortion can help remove additional artifacts beyond the clipped peaks in a waveform.
- In cases where severe distortion is visible on the spectrogram, the Spectral Repair tool can be used to select those problem areas, and attenuate or replace them with undistorted audio.
Visual Examples
BEFORE & AFTER CLIP REPAIR
Izotope Rx Elements De Clip De
A waveform before and after clip repair. The after example (bottom) shows the original repaired waveform (faded) and the post-limiting waveform (bright).
Izotope Rx Elements De Clip 1
UNLINKING THRESHOLD CONTROLS TO CURB ASYMMETRIC CLIPPING
Izotope Rx Elements De Clip En
This problematic waveform (grey) shears off around −13 dB on only the positive side of the waveform (the histogram on the right shows the extra positive energy of clipped audio). Extra processing of the negative side would be unnecessary, so the Threshold controls can be unlinked to process above −13 dBFS on the positive side only. The resulting waveform is drawn in blue above the grey sheared peak.