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Digitally Filtering Out the Drone of the World Cup

Posted by timothy on from the it's-called-an-off-switch-use-it dept.

qubezz writes "World Cup soccer fans may think a hornet's nest has infiltrated their TVs. However the buzz that is the background soundtrack of the South African-hosted games comes from tens of thousands of plastic horns called vuvuzelas, that are South Africa's version of ringing cowbells or throwing rats. It looks like the horns won't be banned anytime soon though. A savvy German hacker, 'Tube,' discovered that the horn sound can be effectively filtered out by applying a couple of digital notch filters to the audio at the frequencies the horn produces (another summary in English). Now it looks like even broadcasters like the the BBC and others are considering using such filters on their broadcasts."

6 of 602 comments (clear)

  1. I dont need it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    My TV already has a digital filter. Its called the off switch.

    1. Re:I dont need it. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      I have a better idea: change the channel to something that isn't a sport at all. Spectator sports are a complete waste of time.

      I love it when Slashdot posts tell me something is a complete waste of time.

    2. Re:I dont need it. by camperdave · · Score: 5, Funny

      Sport?! This isn't mere sport, it's the World Cup man!

      You say that as if it were cricket.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  2. Re:Too much work by SomeJoel · · Score: 5, Funny

    The human brain is actually pretty good at filtering out noise if you give it a chance.

    Well, that and progressive hearing loss.

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    <Complete your profile by adding a signature!>
  3. What are the chances of that? by DigitAl56K · · Score: 5, Funny

    Chatroulette and sports broadcasters all trying to filter out the horn on the same day?

  4. Re:Too much work by D+Ninja · · Score: 5, Funny

    What?