De-esser
A processor that tames harsh sibilance in vocals, usually by dynamic high-frequency control
Related
A de-esser targets sibilance in vocals: the energy of s, sh and z consonants gathers in the high frequencies and turns harsh over time. When it detects a sibilant, it turns that narrow range down quickly and stays out of the way otherwise.
Split-band designs compress only the high range; wideband designs duck the whole signal slightly. The first is more transparent, the second can sound more natural but colors the tone. Set threshold and frequency around the singer's voice, because too much correction gives a lisp.
The usual mistake is to cut the highs with a static EQ. Sibilance is intermittent, so a fixed cut removes brightness everywhere; dynamic control acts only when the problem appears.
Sources
- 齿音消除的频率范围与分频方式，参 Bobby Owsinski, The Mixing Engineer's Handbook 与 Huber & Runstein, Modern Recording Techniques；本文为原创表述
Used for fact-checking only; all prose is original.