Good Thinking

EyeTV joins the fight against the vuvuzela

EyeTV joins the fight against the vuvuzela
EyeTV can now filter out much of the annoying droning on World Cup broadcasts thanks to a Vuvuzela Filter (Image: Manuguf via Wikipedia Commons)
EyeTV can now filter out much of the annoying droning on World Cup broadcasts thanks to a Vuvuzela Filter (Image: Manuguf via Wikipedia Commons)
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EyeTV can now filter out much of the annoying droning on World Cup broadcasts thanks to a Vuvuzela Filter (Image: Manuguf via Wikipedia Commons)
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EyeTV can now filter out much of the annoying droning on World Cup broadcasts thanks to a Vuvuzela Filter (Image: Manuguf via Wikipedia Commons)

With FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, defending the rights of South African fans to blow their horns at World Cup matches, TV viewers have turned to technology to tone down the incessant buzzing that accompanies the on field action of World Cup TV coverage. In what is sure to be music to the ears of many of the users of Elgato’s EyeTV software, the company has announced a free update that features a Vuvuzela Filter.

Elgato’s Vuvuzela uses the same approach as the “devuvuzelator” software developed by researchers at the Centre for Digital Music (C4DM) at Queen Mary, University of London that we covered earlier this week. By filtering out specific frequencies the filter reduces the sound of the horn, without affecting the tone of the commentary. The filter can be turned on or off by right clicking on the viewing window and selecting the Vuvuzela Filter.

Having installed the update and giving the filter a try I can say that, although it isn’t perfect, the filter does indeed succeed in significantly reducing the annoying swarm of bees noise on World Cup matches and make the commentary somewhat clearer. Some of the higher pitched (soprano vuvuzela?) sound beats the filter, but the lower pitched droning that dominates the unfiltered audio is handled much better. It also allows the crowd noise that is usually drowned out by the horns to be heard, adding to the energy of the broadcast.

The Vuvuzela Filter is a part of the EyeTV 3.4 Special Edition update from Elgato and will be available for for the duration of the World Cup. It will disappear in the next software update. A demonstration of the filter can be seen (and heard) here.

1 comment
1 comment
Mr Stiffy
Yeah I like that they are blowing their horns and having a wonderful time... BUT
The horns sound like masses of 125cc motorbikes going around racing track.
It\'s NON STOP - for EVER...... Cultural thing.
But having seen the matches where the filtering is applied, it\'s actually really good to HEAR the game of soccer being played......
The filter/s make quite a difference.
I don\'t hate them for it, but watching the game is better when the whole crowd gets behind the game, and we collectively go silent and concentrate on the game play and also jump up and down when a goal is scored....
But the not stop BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ it takes away the contrast and the ability to focus on the game - when according to our culture, it\'s appropriate to be studying the game.