Squeaking Strings

You should be able to remove the squeak completely with Melodyne. Otherwise, try to eliminate that squeaks frequency using the different E.Q. tools in Logic.

RealDave

Just open the file in the sample edit window and select the squeak and reduce its gain as much as needed,

The thing to do really is to identify the frequency of the squeak and simply reduce it's gain so it is still present but not so loud and dominating, and you'll only want it to cut in at that moment, so...

Open the EQ and turn on the Analyzer, you should be able to see the squeak somewhere in the high-mids. Then scan a notch until you identify its frequency range and set the Q width in accordance. Then simply reduce the gain it until it sounds more natural (could be any amount depending on the material).

Then you'll want to automate it so that it only cuts in when the squeaks occur so you don't loose any important frequencies in the guitar part, you'll have to do this by hand (I will assume you know how to do this). This method should work and sound quite natural.

There are other approaches and I believe some people use the De-Esser, but I'd say it's less accurate in this context. I personally am very curious about an automated approach to this using side-chaining and compression in order to automatically trigger the EQ cut, but thats another story and I'm not sure it's possible in Logic (anyone?).

Let us know how it goes. Sidx

Data Stream Studio wrote:
Just open the file in the sample edit window and select the squeak and reduce its gain as much as needed,

This won't work assuming the guitar is playing and there are hung notes, you'd hear a sudden dip in the gain of everything at that point and it would sound totally unnatural and dare I say, unusable.

Eq is unnecessary if it is really just 1 offensive squeak. Open the sample window and turn it down just as one would an extra loud inhalation of breath on a vocal track. For a more general solution on future tracks(i.e. those not yet recorded), your local guitar store can sell you some string polish that quiets the squeaking at the source.

I do it all the time. At least with my style of playing, most squeaks (loud ones anyway) are in the clear.

siderealxxx wrote:

Data Stream Studio wrote:
Just open the file in the sample edit window and select the squeak and reduce its gain as much as needed,

This won't work assuming the guitar is playing and there are hung notes, you'd hear a sudden dip in the gain of everything at that point and it would sound totally unnatural and dare I say, unusable.

No, this actually works very well, the majority of the time. The reason being is, the "squeak" occurs as the guitarist moves his hand briefly to another position. It is in this brief split second, the squeak occurs, and dropping the gain on the squeaks waveform anywhere from 5 to 8 dB is usually extremely effective.

Obviously, if this were to occur when other notes are sustaining, this approach isn't ideal. But as a guitarist and engineer, I have rarely seen the squeaks occur while notes are sustaining. Not that it can't happen, but that is definitely the exception to the rule.

But yes, automated EQ dips will work, and sometimes De-esers will work as well.

I have had success with all three of those methods, but reducing the gain of the squeak in the sample editor is generally how I, as well as most engineers I know here in Nashville, handle this.

I have used all of the methods mentioned here, and by far the best (for me) is melodyne. Not only can you select and reduce (or remove) the squeak, but you can stretch the notes leading up to the squeak so that they fill the gap. Result; really smooth playing.

The eq method ignores the fact that many squeaks have a siren like sound, covering an octave or more, so you have to punch a large, albeit brief hole in the spectrum.

The sample editor method has the downside that there is a sharp delineation at the boundary you select in the audio, and sometimes you can hear the sudden drop, depending on how much "clear air" there is each side of the squeak.

Anyway, my 2 cents worth. Don't have melodyne? Get it! I don't think there has ever been a more universally useful tool.