Removing profanity from audio files (CD)

Dalamar · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 1 Location: WA

I am trying to burn a CD and would like to edit OUT the profanity. Is there a way to do this? What program (if possible) is good? Are there any free one's?

Brien · Posted: Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:50 pm Post subject:

It's going to be a little like work and may take some time.

http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/cat/VOCAL_REMOVERS/

Then select your computer platform.

lynnmonk · Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:29 am Post subject: Removing profanity

As Brien rightly says, this is going to take a lot of work.

If you want to remove the whole vocal track, you may find some success with a vocal removing application. This would only remove the main vocal in the centre and is unlikely to have any effect on any vocals that may be panned left and right.

If, as I suspect, you just want to edit out certain words, you will need to import the file into a WAV editor or recording program, such as Cubase (there are a number of such programs available, including free ones. Do a search on the Hitsquad database). Then you will need to go through the file and either drop out the music completely (leaving gaps, which is not very pleasant), or replace or obliterate the words by adding a sound over the top.

Nothing will be ideal when you only have the stereo mix to play with. Ideally, you would want the multitrack master, where you can just remove the offending words on each vocal track and then remix the song.

Either way...quite a bit of work is involved.

Lynn

the audiophile · Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:10 am Post subject:

I'm a bit behind the times with this one 'cause I've only just registered but you might give this a try. It's a method which will change a complete line of a song but does not leave any gaps or unwanted glitches and unless they know all the words should not be noticed by a casual listener.
You will need a good wav file editor (I use Sound Forge but I can't recommend another because I haven't tried one, oops!).
As most songs repeat their verses and choruses in the same musical timing and pattern try to find a line in another chorus/verse that will still make sense if placed in the line with the offending word. e.g. line three of verse one replaced with line three of verse four.
Place markers at the beginning and end of the offending line and do the same with the replacement line.
Then highlight and click copy on the good line then highlight and click "overwrite" on the unwanted one. This will replace the line.
If you've picked your start and end points accurately the transition should be seamless. I've used this method on a couple of tracks to be used as background music at gigs.
This method is ok if the musical backing of the song is consistant throughout
but not much use without a noticeable difference if say the backing increases in intensity or other musical instruments are added.
Hope this helps if it's not too late - Cheers.

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