Authors: David Notowitz

DFRWS USA 2020

Abstract

Time: 2 hours

David Notowitz will lead a hands on experience with cleaning audio, explain how the tools work, and educate us on the filters and tools available to audio clarification forensic experts.  This class is specifically tailored to NON audio experts, to teach the possibilities and interesting software tools currently available. The audio samples to be provided are from actual NCAVF cases — actual evidence and work done for clients at NCAVF.

Clarifying and analyzing audio has evolved over the last 20 years into an advanced and interesting science. Software tools are powerful and fast and allow users to quickly try various filters and settings and to hear results instantly.

A user can remove many varieties of noise from audio evidence — air conditioning hum, ringing phone, passing truck, wind noise, ruffle from clothing, and electronic noise. Users can fix over-modulated audio issues, sometimes remove music from recordings — leaving only dialogue, and quickly average audio levels so that the most quiet sounds are louder and the loudest sounds are brought down.

What is the definition of audio noise? Any signal that impedes the listener from hearing audio they want to hear!

As the founder and lead forensic expert of the National Center for Audio and Video Forensics, David Notowitz began his career producing, shooting, and editing television news segments, half hour magazine programs, documentaries, corporate videos, and feature films.

He now leads his firm in providing audio and video forensic work to investigate incidents and preparing evidence for trial.

David Notowitz will lead a hands on experience with cleaning audio, explain how the tools work, and educate us on the filters and tools available to audio clarification forensic experts.

The audio samples to be provided are from actual NCAVF cases — actual evidence and work done for clients at NCAVF.

He will show simple techniques and take it a step at a time, demonstrating to beginners how to adjust settings to create fascinating results.

This class is specifically tailored to NON audio experts, to teach the possibilities and interesting software tools currently available.

Workshop Prep

Downloaded and install the Trial Version of iZotope RX 7 Advanced:
  1. Create an account on https://www.izotope.com/ including giving one’s email
  2. Go to https://www.izotope.com/en/products/rx.html and press “10-day Free Trial Download” to download the software.
After installing the software you will have full access to every feature that RX7 Advanced provides with the exception of being able to save your work.

Back to the USA 2020 Conference Page

Downloads

Forensic Audio Clarification – a hands on workshop for beginners (Slides)
Forensic Audio Clarification – a hands on workshop for beginners (Slides)
Forensic Audio Clarification – a hands on workshop for beginners (Slides)