DBX plug in?

[Lotus54]

I have an old cassette tape that has a recording we did ‘live to master’ in stereo.
I used the consumer DBX noise reduction that was on the cassette recorder. Unfortunately, the machine doesnt work anymore.

Is there any plug in or other options to get recover it?

Thanks
Mark

[64GTOBOY]

Recover what exactly? If you get a deck to play it back use one that has dbx. If you are trying to transfer it into a DAW you still have to play it back somehow into an interface right?

[Lotus54]

I have a Deck I could play it on- but it does NOT have DBX.
So I could play it back on that deck, bring it into ProTools and mess with it there.
Certainly playing back on a deck that has DBX would be best, but I’d have to find one and buy it. And I have just one tape I want to bring into ProTools.

Mark

[64GTOBOY]

Ok, no, unfortunately I don't know of any software available separately from a hardware unit that will decode a dbx encoded signal. Perhaps someone else will chime in with more info. I can only recommend asking around friends to see if someone has something sitting on a shelf you could borrow. Sorry cant be more help

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Lotus54

I have a Deck I could play it on- but it does NOT have DBX.
So I could play it back on that deck, bring it into ProTools and mess with it there.
Certainly playing back on a deck that has DBX would be best, but I’d have to find one and buy it. And I have just one tape I want to bring into ProTools.

Mark

A little Google research turned up this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dbx_%28noise_reduction%29
It would seem like an expander might do the job.

Here's an even better way of doing the job as it covers exactly your situation. http://www.bobweitz.com/dbx_webpage/dbx.html

[Lotus54]

Thanks!
Great info.
I’ll first recheck the old tape deck I have (actually the one it was originally recorded with) and see exactly what the issue is. I dont’ Remember.
If not, I’ll see if anyone has one.

If all that doesn’t work, I’ll work the method shown on the webpage. Or I may just try it anyway, just to see if I can actually figure it all out.

Thanks again
Mark

[musicman691]

The biggest problem as I remember it from back in the day with playingback a DBX encoded tape on a non-DBX equipped deck was it was a but on the bright side. Then again your average playback system wasn't studio-grade to begin with.

[Rich Breen]

U-He Satin has a full set of NR Codecs built into it - they have one called "uhx II" which is probably meant to be a match for DBX type II - worth demoing...

[musicman691]

Originally Posted by Rich Breen

U-He Satin has a full set of NR Codecs built into it - they have one called "uhx II" which is probably meant to be a match for DBX type II - worth demoing...

The demo emits crackling sounds at irregular intervals according to their site. And at $129 for what appears to be a single use it just doesn't make sense. Better the op try the second link I posted about which could probably be done with what he has on hand.

[DetroitT]

Your ears and soft expansion.


Matrial depending should be able to to use tools on hand.
May take a few passes and eq but dbx unlike dolby was full frequency
Compress/expand system. (Simplified)