My brother died while serving in the Navy shortly after returning from a tour in Afghanistan. My mom has voicemail messages that he left her before he was killed but the quality isn’t great. Can anyone help me clean them up and save them for her?

Question

Kathryne · Accepted Answer

I just sent you a PM but I just realized there might be a way for you to get better quality on your end. Not sure how you recorded the VM's but I'm guessing you might have just held up a handheld recorder to the cell-phone. If you did that, I'd recommend using Skype and some form of Skype recorder like this http://www.pamela.biz/en/ or this http://www.rogueamoeba.com/audiohijackpro/ for mac. Have your mom dial into her voicemail, and play them while recording the conversation. You'd be able to eliminate at least one level of noise. good luck.

Anna Ehrlichmann · Answer

go learn it and do it for yourself you fucking faggot. Stop asking favors from random people online. It's the least you could do for your retard brother.

Ansel · Answer

Sent the link to an audio engineer friend I have in hopes he will get back to you when he finally wakes up (Damn night owls...).

Anna-Karin · Answer

Send them my way. Did my internship in forensic audio.

Neija · Answer

unsure if there's been enough help, but I'm a professional audio engineer here, that's done quite a bit of forensic audio restoration for different media. Including phone messages before. If you still need it, PM me.

Ardenia · Answer

I love the fact that after a crappy day I can look & find a restored faith in the human race...on Reddit, no doubt  ) There are some amazing people on here...awesome idea to do this for your mom...my best wishes to you & your family, and I'm sure the cd will turn out amazing. Thanks for brightening my day, all you helpful people!

ELLAMAE · Answer

I have a studio here...use to do sound restoration for a living, 15 years in the studio. Sonnox bundle would be great for taking out any pops and clicks as well as Izotope Rx 2. Also a hpf/lpf could help with things. Pm me if you need help still! Or email me at Mattg082@gmail.com. Be glad to help

Ayra · Answer

"Of all the things I have read, on Reddit, this story is the first to actually bring years to my eyes. Nothing I can say to make it better but I do hope your family is doing well. And a big "thank you" to your mom for raising such an exceptional sailor. "

Karmen · Answer

Sorry for your loss. Hope you get it sorted for your mom.

Nicole Burger · Answer

Audio engineer as well- I just sent this thread to my buddy and I will be at his studio later tonight. If he is up for it, I would love to collaborate with you on this. PM me if you are still looking for help. His studio is pro tools, so as stated by BassBox33, a .wav or .mp3 would be desirable. I would be honored to clean up the tracks for you!

Kamilah · Answer

Do NOT dispose of the old phone. Somewhere out there (probably here on reddit) is a geek with the know how to retrieve the files from the dead device. (assuming the original pulled from the phone files aren't your source to begin with)

TORRIE · Answer

I hate to say it but the current voice systems compresses the voice signals and really butchers it, this means that many characteristics that made your brother's voice unique are gone. Good luck, I hope you get recordings in the end that do sound like your brother's voice.

Ninon · Answer

Actually, depending on the carrier you can request the full quality file from their servers, often they have an option to email it to you.

Torild · Answer

This brings up strange memories. My brother also died after serving two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, as a .50 cal machine gunner in the Infantry, USMC. I did the same thing for my parents, of his last message. Saved it directly to their desktops. It definitely is a good idea, especially for your mother. I'm extremely sorry to hear.

Franziska Schiffer · Answer

audio engineer/sound designer here. Please send me a link

Joyous · Answer

Out of curiosity, could you submit a clip of the before/after? Just a 5 second or so clip that would not have any personal info. I'm curious to hear the edits.

Gunnur · Answer

I'm sorry if this this inappropriate but did you say you are married to the women he proposed to before he left?

Neila · Answer

My best friend from Kindergarten to my 20s passed away awhile back. I still have an old answering machine with old messages he left me. It makes me sad and happy at the same time when I listen to them.

sumaya · Answer

I certainly hope the messages were left before he was killed. Because, if not, you may be onto something here.

Leonie Dresdner · Answer

"Soldier or not, you're disrespecting a human life, the life of the OP's brother.  Also, "brown people"? What year is it, 1953?  "

SENAIDA · Answer

i like you

ROXANE · Answer

All valid points. But you still don't have to act like a cunt to a dead guy's brother.

JUNG · Answer

Mhmm mhmm. Well I would like to support what you say but since you started this whole thing off being a Grade A cunt I don't give a shit. Yeoman aren't fucking grunts. He went over there to support what he thought was right who the fuck are you to judge if it was or not.

nete · Answer

Sorry I didn't realize that 'U mad' was good grammar.

Idaline · Answer

Nope. But while your praising the glorious freedom fighters you might as well give em some love with that pretty slut mouth of yours  p.

Nissa · Answer

its been 9 hrs since OP replied to bassbox or anyone who offered help. Maybe OP bit the dust via car crash. i say car crash because the majority of AMERICANS travel by car.

APRYL · Answer

1 He didn't die while serving in the Navy. 2 Your mom will turn into a hoarder if you give her the voicemails.

Madhavi · Answer

Your brother dying made this a better place.

Ann-Lovis · Answer

So your brother died in a car accident that had nothing to do with the Navy. That sucks.

TOMOKO · Answer

Hey I mean no disrespect, I'm sorry for your loss, but would this story not make an amazing screen play

Ketty · Answer

I am so, so sorry for your loss. Hooyah to your brother.

Melka · Answer

You dont need a TL DR for this. I wish i could help.Im sorry for your loss =

Janina Freeh · Answer

So I see you have plenty off offers here to help you, but I clean up bootleg and other recordings on audacity as a hobby, so I'd be willing to take a look at them if you'd like. I can't promise much, though.

Chloette · Answer

I am an amateur sound engineer. I can give it a shot.

Oivi · Answer

I can't actually be of any help, just here to pass on my condolences mate.

Lotta-Liisa · Answer

I really hope someone was able to help you. Your mother is going to cherish this forever. You've got a big heart. My thoughts are with you and your family. Best of luck to all of you. <3

Martina Hertzog · Answer

Look I work at a cell phone company and we do it for you as a service. Ask your cell phone provider

Kirsi-Maria · Answer

I would have offered to help but it seems people much more qualified than myself are stepping up, which really warms my heart. I'm sorry for your loss.  It sounds as though he will always be loved and never be forgotten.

QianQian · Answer

I thought I was the only one who kept such things, except mine was a little more morbid. I missed my mother's call telling me my father had died, and it took me a few months before I could delete her message telling me he passed away. My condolances - reddit's a pretty great place - i'm sure someone here will do a great job.

LAKIESHA · Answer

hey i signed up just for this. I'm also an engineer... send me the link as well and I'll work on them too.

Jasmiini · Answer

Maybe this guy can help

Neddy · Answer

It's probably not healthy for her to continue to listen to them. But, as a mom, I would want indefinite access to those tapes.  I'm so sad for your loss.

SHAUNTE · Answer

I really hope you get these voicemails saved. I had one voicemail from my mother that got deleted a week after I listened to it. By the time we'd figured out how to get the computer to record it it was deleted by the phone network. If I hadn't listened to it I would still have it. All I have left now is one random video of her taken on a mobile phone, and its the only recording I have of her voice :(

SEBRINA · Answer

Not able to help with the voicemail, but I do want to let you know one thing. I am a mother who had one of my sons pass on in 2006, and I told my other sons to call me everyday for 2 years and remind me to 'stay here' for them. They did, and I did. Be sure she knows you still need her here, all the time. Every mother I know who had a son or daughter cross over has thought about going with their child. Many of them have. So, just let her know you still need her here. Hugs.

Prentiss · Answer

This makes me mad at myself for not being able to help you. Good luck man, and hang in there

Pembroke · Answer

I work for Sprint. Voicemails are saved on the network servers, not the phone. You might be able to request that your provider release them to you. The audio quality might be better if you get them straight fron the network. I know voicemails can be retrieved with a court order. I hope this helps.

Laurella · Answer

I do forensic audio scrubbing for a living - I think I might be able to help. I'll PM you to get the details. thanks!

ROSELINE · Answer

If she also still has them on the phone its self then you can call your phone company and request for them to do it. I've heard of it happening often actually, quite a number of phone companies are willing to save voice mails of recently passed family members for people.  I'm not sure how it works entirely but if you still have the phone then maybe they can do it for you.

Sean · Answer

Did you try crossposting to r/wearethemusicmakers? There may be someone there who is familiar with programs, probably pro tools, that can clean it up for you.

Johanna Fassbinder · Answer

If you have the audio files of them(bounce them out of audacity as wav's preferably) I can try cleaning them up for you when I go to the studio tomorrow. My condolences on your loss sir.

Maria Grunwald · Answer

If you still need help I could get it a shot

Anna-Erika · Answer

Very sorry for your loss. If someone has not already done it for you, send me a PM and I'll happily oblige

Fredrika · Answer

Looks like you are covered. If you don't get what you need from soemone here, shoot me the link and I will run the audio through my gear, too. Best to you.

Marina Konig · Answer

Please, please, please make sure you backup your original copy. I know this sounds obvious (but I myself have made the mistake), but do not edit the originals without copies. My condolences to you and yours.

Dandan · Answer

I would like to have a try, can you link me a waw file of the recordings?

Jeanelle · Answer

Reddit is truely amazing bassbox33 you are awesome I really want a conformation though :D

Mari-Helena · Answer

Just a friendly tip to all who read this thread: you can use Google Voice as free voicemail on your phone. It allows you to save and download any voicemail and keep track of them like email. It may make saving voicemails like this easier.

Erich · Answer

May your brother rest in peace! I can't do anything for you regarding the files but I will offer some advice. Honour him but don't be stuck on such a tragic memory. I'm sure he'd of wanted you and your family to be brave and remember him as a hero, that he was.

Barney · Answer

Update please? My condolences.

Mitra · Answer

Sorry about your loss.

Hanna-Lea · Answer

I am sincerely sorry for your loss, and hope your family is able to find some peace in these recordings. Your brother sounds like he was a good man, and he and you all have my gratitude both for that, and for his service to our country

nese · Answer

Sorry for your loss, man. I do music production/sound engineering as a hobby, but I'm sure the guys with ProTools have more experience and will do a better job than me. My condolences.

Atsuko · Answer

Would you feel comfortable letting us hear some of these when you have the cleaned up ones? Maybe one less personal one? I'd love to hear the outcome of this!

Willis · Answer

I'm really sorry for your loss - and thank you for reminding me that I should somehow export what voicemails I can from my family, in case something bad happens.

Forozan · Answer

I'm willing to try. WAV files are the best for me.

VICKY · Answer

Sorry for your loss. Better audio guys than me have already stepped forward, but pm me if none of them come through for you.

Yasra · Answer

Audio engineer here - toss em my way and I'll do what I can. My condolences.  *Edit: I'm using Pro Tools so I'll need .wav or .mp3 or something universal. Audacity project files won't do anything.

My brother died while serving in the Navy shortly after returning from a tour in Afghanistan. My mom has voicemail messages that he left her before he was killed but the quality isn’t great. Can anyone help me clean them up and save them for her?

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