The following review is from Sound Blaster Digest (an independent publication)
Issue #14:


          PD REVIEW:  DIGITAL NOISE REDUCTION Ver 1.0:
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          Programmed by Andy Hakim
          
          Written by Brad Barclay
          
               Every so often I am sent a Shareware or Public Domain utility
          that I use once, and suddenly can't live without.  And this happens
          to be one of these utilities.
          
               As the name suggests, this simple little utility quickly and
          easily filters background noise out of digitized samples, and saves
          it as a new file.  This is especially useful in digitized speech
          samples, where small pauses between words can end up sounding like
          there is a background hiss.  Background hiss can be especially
          annoying in MultiMedia presentations, when you are trying to
          impress someone with your sound and graphics.  No matter how good
          your graphics are, your sound is what catches a person's interest
          first.  And with background hiss, well, the effect is less then
          pleasing.

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               This utility can help fix that.  Now I have many much more
          expensive utilities that can do this sort of thing also:  probably
          the biggest being Recording Studio Professional from Turtle Beach
          Systems, with it's Digital Graphic Equalizers.  But even here it's
          hard to discard just hiss, and sometimes you accidentally remove
          some frequencies that were a part of the sample.  RSP also takes a
          lot longer to go through its Equalizer function.
          
               DNR is much more specialized, and thus can't be used as an
          equalizer very well.  But it can decrease your noise levels,
          increasing your signal to noise ratio in digitized speech samples. 
          It has a very easy to use interface, and even has the option to
          play your .VOC files (including playing a 'before and after'
          version when using the DNR feature).
          
               DNR uses the DOS command line for inputting your own values
          for such items as range, noise reduction ration, maximum and
          minimum hiss levels, etc.  Its display is nice in that it does not
          destroy what you have on screen, but instead takes the first 10
          lines of your display for itself and gives you a status report.  In
          EGA and VGA modes, it uses graphics in text mode, along with
          multiple fonts for a very interesting display.  The author begged
          me in his letter to use the software on a VGA system:  sadly, I
          only have access to EGA at best.  According to the documentation he
          sent, there should be no difference between EGA and VGA.
          
               One problem I have with DNR is not in the program itself, but
          with how it's distributed.  In the manual, the author states that
          the program "is released into the Public Domain, but with these
          restrictions...".  Public Domain means that you waive any and all
          rights or restrictions to whatever you are releasing, be it
          software, a book, or a hardware design.  Some people mistake the
          SBD as Public Domain:  it is not.  Nor is it Shareware.  See our
          copyright info on our table of contents for more information.
          
               My point is that if the author wishes to retain rights to his
          program, then don't make it Public Domain.  This was the only
          problem I had with the DNR package sent to me.
          
               The file will be made available this month on the SBD Support
          BBS this month as NOHISS11.ZIP for those of you interested in this
          fine piece of software.

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          CONTACTING US:
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               If you wish to contact us, please feel free to write us at the
          following address:
          
                                 SOUND BLASTER DIGEST
                                    36 Sutter Ave.
                                   Brampton, Ontario
                                    CANADA  L6Z 1G7
          
               Or phone between 17:30 and 22:00 Eastern Standard Time at:
          
                                    (416) 846-5599
          
               Three BBS systems have special support of SBD Readers.  You
          can contact us at any of the following BBS's (See the enclosed BBS
          list for telephone numbers):
          
                              The Musical Chair   (Conference 23)
                              SUPER SONIC BBS.
                              The SBD Support BBS
          
               Also, The Musical Chair and SUPER SONIC have special passwords
          for SBD readers to quickly download the SBD.  These are:
          
          The Musical Chair:                      SUPER SONIC:
               Name:  SB DIGEST                        Name: SB DIGEST
               Password:  MUSICAL                      Password: SONIC
          
               We hope to hear from you soon!

