How to Silence Vuvuzela Horns from the World Cup Broadcasts

[Joe MacCarthy]

If you've got an HDTV go into the equalizer and make changes as per the Samsung TV demo - JM

How to Silence Vuvuzela Horns from the World Cup Broadcasts (http://lifehacker.com/5564085/how-to-silence-vuvuzela-horns-with-an-eq-filter?skyline=true&s=i)

If you're watching the World Cup, you've no doubt learned about the vuvuzela, a buzzing horn capable of drowning out TV announcers. Here's how to filter the vuvuzela buzz from your World Cup broadcasts.

A German hacker named Tube details how you he banished the vuvuzela from his World Cup audio by selectively muting four frequencies on your equalizer.

In fact, you don't need a computer at all. If you've got a stereo with an equalizer or even a TV with a built in equalizer, you can adjust your hardware settings to significantly filter out the noise. For example, the Book of Joe blog details the process on a Samsung TV (http://www.bookofjoe.com/2010/06/how-to-tune-out-the-vuvuzela-buzz-on-a-samsung-tv.html).

We spent the morning here at the Lifehacker labs trying out the settings ourselves, and found that if you duck your EQ at 465Hz and 235Hz, you can in fact filter out the buzz with great results. Ideally you'll reduce each frequency by at least 40dB (which got rid of the drone completely for us), but if your equipment can't quite duck that low, just go as low as you can.

Remember, the video is just an example of the EQ adjustments in action. You should be able to use those basic settings in any software or hardware that can handle them. As you can see, it's not all that difficult to silence the vuvuzela with an equalizer—again, at 465Hz and 235Hz (or as close to those numbers as you can get). Got another method that's worked for you? Let's hear it in the comments.

[Free kick]

the networks may come to the rescue:

Check out the quote from Sepp. Rythm? what rythm? What dufus!

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100615/entertainment/soc_wcup_vuvuzelas



World Cup broadcasters filtering horn sound Module body

Tue Jun 15, 10:17 AM


By The Associated Press


LONDON - The company that provides the broadcasting feed for the World Cup is doubling its audio filters to reduce the constant blaring buzz of vuvuzelas.


Host Broadcast Services said Tuesday it also is encouraging the various rights holders to replace their commentators' microphones with its headsets. Those are more effective at filtering out crowd noise, HBS said. While the measures will mute some of the atmosphere at the games, HBS said it increased the level of the ball mics to provide some balance.


The vuvuzelas have been the talk of the World Cup. Broadcasters around the world have received complaints from viewers, and several have taken their own measures to try and reduce the drone.


The BBC, meanwhile, is considering filtering out crowd noise following a deluge of complaints about the vuvuzelas.


By Tuesday morning, the BBC had received 545 complaints from viewers about the constant buzzing sound of the plastic horns used by fans in South Africa.


"We have already taken steps to minimize the noise and are continuing to monitor the situation," the BBC said in a statement. "If the vuvuzela continues to impact on audience enjoyment, we will look at what other options we can take to reduce the volume further."


The broadcaster is considering offering viewers the possibility of muting most ambient noise while maintaining game commentary through the "red button" digital service. Viewers would push the red button on their remote control to receive the quieter broadcast on a separate channel.


The BBC will offer the option in the next few days.


On Monday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter defended the vuvuzela on the grounds that it represents the "different rhythm" of Africa.
In Canada, a CBC spokesman said the network had received several hundred complaints about the noise.


Another British broadcaster, ITV, has received more than 5,000 complaints following a technical mixup during its high-definition showing of Saturday's game between England and the United States. The network went to a commercial by mistake, with viewers missing Steven Gerrard's early goal that put England ahead 1-0. The game ended in a 1-1 draw.

[Grizzly]

On Monday, FIFA president Sepp Blatter defended the vuvuzela on the grounds that it represents the "different rhythm" of Africa.[/B]


Except that only one African nation uses them and has only done so for less than 15 years and the rest of the Africans hate them as much as the rest of the world. Even a lot of South Africans hate them and say they have ruined South African football.

Edit: and they just showed the Brazilian drum band who were probably playing some rhythms of African origin. Might be able to say if we could have actually heard them. It wouldn't be so bad if they played them for South African games but to destroy the atmosphere and cultural support of every other nation is a disgrace. One of the greatest things about the World Cup is not only the differences in playing style but also the differences in supporters style.

[Scottie]

Tough. Sh*t. I am so sick of hearing people complain about this. Haven't you guys ever watched one of our away qualifiers in central america before? One example that comes to mind is our away match in mexico last cycle, where there was a constant hum of horns throughout the match. This isn't the first time fans have come up with an intimidating or annoying noisemaker and it won't be the last. To complain about fans making noise, in my mind, is absolutely ridiculous. Especially from people who consider themselves to be hardcore soccer fans.

Edit: Remember this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePpwVDLzx4o
Off topic but funny that Blanco called that his last match nearly 2 years ago.

[The Ref]

I like the vuvuselas. A WC is a feast of soccer and needs to be celebrated.

[yomurphy1]

I have no problem with fans making noise but there is got to be a point where some things are unacceptable(things that cause long term hearing loss). If everything is fair game I'm bringing my LRAD to the next TFC game.:)

[Free kick]

Edit: Remember this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePpwVDLzx4o
Off topic but funny that Blanco called that his last match nearly 2 years ago.

But that's not the same. I don't mind the noise in that one at all. You could clearly hear the crowd and the emotions of the crowd (and atmosphere) as the play unfolds. The WC was played in Mexico in 86 in ( what i recall) similar environment and I don't think anyone complained. We have heard complaints about the altitude and the air quality but I have never heard Canadian players complain about anything resembling what we are hearing out of South Africa (from players and coaches) in regards to the plastic horns.

There is a reason why broadcaster of all sports events let the viewers hear the crowds. But its certainly not because of a constant buzzing sound ( and nothing else) coming from the stands or gallery.

[Regs]

Well if they do manage to mute down the horns, just fire up your computer, crank the speakers and get that atmosphere back:

http://www.vuvuzela.fm/

:)

[Trillium]

I like the vuvuselas. A WC is a feast of soccer and needs to be celebrated.

The World cup should be hearing fans sing .. chant and seeing them dance to acoustically made music, not to cheap plastic noise makers blown during whole game... distracting those in the stadia ..and those watrching world wide.

South Africa is looking silly because of them.

[AvroArrow]

Once every four years, I get to hear live all of the chants and songs that the fans sing when their national team plays. Some personal favourites of mine are England and South Korea. This is being ruined because of the stupid vuvuzellas. It was a novelty at first, but if its done for 90+ minutes every single game, its pretty freaking annoying.

[redhat]

They should ban it during the Round of 16. It was fine in the beginning, but it does get annoying. I know the Latinos use something like that during Gold Cup and CONCACAF WCQ, but it's not at the same decibel level.