Audio redaction
Audio redaction software, in Video Blackout, means covering a span of sound in the exported file so a spoken name, a phone number, or a radio call sign does not survive disclosure. The cover is applied at encode time: those samples are muted or replaced with a beep. The original file on disk is not overwritten.
Definition
Video redaction is usually discussed as pixels. Records officers still have a second channel: the soundtrack. A blurred face next to a clear “that’s Officer Ramirez” is still an identity. Audio redaction is the control for that channel. In this product it is manual only.
What is supported (and what is not)
| Capability | Video Blackout |
|---|---|
| Mark a start time and end time on the timeline | Yes |
| Multiple ranges on one clip | Yes |
| Mute or beep those ranges in the H.264 export | Yes |
| Automatic speech recognition / “find every name” | No |
| Speaker diarization or keyword spotting | No |
| Upload audio to this website | No — desktop only |
How operators actually use it
- Play the local file in the Windows app. Do not upload it.
- When speech must not be released, mark the range. Repeat for each span.
- Export. Video redaction (faces, plates, other boxes) and audio ranges ship in the same MP4.
- Keep the original as the system of record. Circulate only the export.
This is slower than a fantasy “auto-redact audio” product and more defensible in a FOIA or DSAR log: a person chose the timestamps. If your procedure requires a second reviewer, they can replay the export and confirm the gaps.
When audio is not enough
A muted name does not hide a face or a plate. Combine ranges with face redaction (auto-detect plus manual boxes) and license plate blur (same two modes). Other on-screen identifiers are operator-drawn: PII video redaction.
Residency: offline video redaction. Procurement wording: video redaction software.
FAQ
- Does Video Blackout automatically detect speech or names in audio?
- No. There is no speech-to-text and no automatic mute. An operator marks start and end times. The export mutes or beeps those ranges.
- Can I redact audio without uploading the file?
- Yes. Audio ranges are marked in the Windows desktop app. The website does not accept audio or video uploads.
- Is audio redaction the same as face or plate redaction?
- No. Faces and plates have auto-detect plus manual boxes. Audio is manual time ranges only.