I'm trying to work on a couple of tape-recordings of Cyril for Rosemary Tawney and his website. The tape has deteriorated badly.
Rosemary particularly wants the patter, as obviously she has the actual music from records.

Specifically, the volume varies from a tiny whisper to normal volume, and the audience respose is even louder.
What I need is to get a more even volume and then remove the tape hiss from the (what was once) quieter passages.

I've been trying with Audacity, but can't get much joy there, and I don't want to throw money at the job, either. Does anyone know of a shareware or freeware program that would help?
Chris.