What is the significance of noise floor changes in the MH370 audio?

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Significance of Noise Floor Changes in the MH370 Audio Recordings

Foreign audio experts have indicated that significant changes in the noise floor of the final voice transmissions between MH370 and air traffic controllers suggest potential editing of the recordings before their release. These alterations in audio quality raise questions about the integrity of the full transmission as originally captured.
Altered Audio Quality Suggests a Microphone-to-Speaker Transfer

Ed Primeau, an audio-video forensic expert, observed that while the beginning and final portions of the recording exhibited high quality with a low noise floor, the middle segment presented a distinct difference. This middle section sounded as if a digital recorder was held up to a speaker, indicating a transfer of audio rather than a direct recording, which he identified as a significant red flag for possible editing.
Specific Noises Point to Room Recordings During Editing

Further supporting the theory of manipulation, Primeau identified specific noises between 2:06 and 2:09, including the distinct sound of a file door closing and papers shuffling. These sounds, occurring within the altered middle segment, reinforce his conclusion that this part of the recording was made in a room, likely during a process of dubbing the audio from one source to another via a speaker.
Gaps and Tone Shifts Indicate Potential Editing and Omissions

The presence of long gaps in communication throughout the over seven-minute recording, coupled with a complete cutoff at 6:17 before a subsequent tone change, also points towards editing. These abrupt interruptions and subsequent shifts in audio quality suggest that segments of the original transmission may have been removed or altered, potentially obscuring parts of the conversation.
Expert Agreement on Unusual Background Noises During Critical Communications

Forensic audio examiner Kent Gibson concurred with the assessment that the middle portion of the transmission sounded like it was recorded via a speaker. He also noted unusual background noises, such as pages turning or a person breathing at 4:07, and other disturbances occurring even after the communication transfer from ground control to air controllers. Gibson found it unusual to have such background noise during this critical phase of communication.

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What is the significance of noise floor changes in the MH370 audio?

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