OneTaskBy Tim King · Updated
De-Esser
Tame Sibilance and Harsh S Sounds in Vocals and Podcast Recordings
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How the De-Esser works
Use this de-esser to soften the piercing s, sh, ch and t sounds that make vocals, podcasts and voice-overs tiring to listen to. Pick the frequency where the harshness lives, set how loud it must get before it is turned down, and audition exactly what is being taken out.
How the de-esser works
Sibilance is a burst of energy high in the spectrum, usually between 4 and 9 kHz. The de-esser splits that band off with a high-pass filter and follows its level with a fast envelope. Whenever the band rises above the threshold it is turned down, at a 4:1 ratio, up to the maximum cut. The rest of the voice passes through untouched, so the tone stays natural.
Setting up the de-esser
Start with the output set to removed sibilance only and play the file. You should hear just the hissy s sounds; if you hear words, raise the threshold or the frequency. Then switch back to processed audio. Female voices usually sit around 6 to 8 kHz and male voices around 4 to 6 kHz.
How much to cut
Four to eight decibels is a typical amount. Cutting too deep makes the speaker sound lispy, because some sibilance is needed for clarity. The stats show how often it acted and the deepest cut.
FAQ
Should I de-ess before or after compression?
Usually after, because compression and makeup gain tend to bring sibilance up. If the vocal is very bright, de-essing both before and after a compressor with gentle settings often sounds smoother.
Why not just use an equaliser?
An equaliser cuts the high frequencies all the time, dulling the whole recording. A de-esser cuts only at the moments the s sounds are too loud, so cymbals, breaths and air stay bright otherwise.
What does removed sibilance only do?
It outputs just the part of the signal the de-esser is taking away. It is a listening aid for finding the right frequency and threshold; switch back to processed audio before you export.
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