TC Electronic Broadcast 6000 - Manual (Page 195)

Backdrop
English Manual 191
Backdrop algorithm –
frequently asked questions
Is it better to get as long a
noise print as possible?
The simple answer is yes, but the maximum
length of the capture buffer is 1.5 seconds. So
there is no advantage to having a noise print that
is longer than 1.5 seconds. BackDrop doesn’t
need more than 1.5 seconds in order to fully train
itself on the noise in the signal.
Is it important to get a very
good loop of the noise?
Again the answer is yes. If there is some signal in
the captured buffer then BackDrop will not train
itself properly about the nature of the noise that
you are trying to remove. That is, it will try to re-
move part of the signal as well.
What if it is not possible to get a noise print?
This, of course, will limit BackDrop’s ability to de-
cide what is noise and what is signal. There are
two approaches you can use in this case.
a) Find another piece of audio with similar noise
and use it to capture the noise print informa-
tion.
b) Find the quietest part of the audio signal and
use it to capture the noise print information.
Then use the MultiType algorithm model to
apply the noise reduction. Set the Buzz Ag-
gression and Room Aggression controls to
0 %. Use the Hiss Aggression to control the
amount of noise reduction. This isn’t perfect,
but it should let you achieve some broadband
noise reduction.
Should I try to remove all the noise?
Often it is desirable to leave some background
noise in the signal so that it doesn’t sound un-
naturally clean. This is primarily true for an over-
all mixed signal rather than for individual tracks
that are yet to be mixed together.
Do I always have to use Play, Trim Start/
End and Calculate to get a good loop?
No. This is usually required when working with
a tape transport or when taking a print of a live
room where it may be hard to anticipate the ma-
terial.
If you are working with tracks on a hard disk re-
cording system, it is often handy play a noise-
only portion of the track in loop-mode before
pressing the Capture button.
Can I practice using Backdrop’s
controls by capturing noise and using
the capture buffer in Play mode?
You can use this technique for quick control
checks, but it is not recommended for choosing
final settings.
Since Backdrop’s strength lies in allowing you to
precisely control the amount of reduction to ap-
ply without altering the signal, it is always better
to fine-tune the controls with a passage contain-
ing music. Focussing too much on just the noise
can lead you to over-processing, giving unfavor-
able results when you listen to the entire signal.