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How can you use a de-esser to improve your vocal mix?

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If you are a music producer or a singer, you probably know how important it is to have a clear and smooth vocal mix. However, sometimes your vocals may sound harsh, sibilant, or distorted due to excessive high-frequency energy. This can ruin your mix and make your listeners uncomfortable. Fortunately, there is a simple and effective solution to this problem: a de-esser. A de-esser is a type of compressor that reduces the level of specific frequencies that cause sibilance, such as the "s", "sh", "ch", and "z" sounds. In this article, you will learn how to use a de-esser to improve your vocal mix in four easy steps.

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1 Choose a de-esser plugin

The first step is to choose a de-esser plugin that suits your needs and preferences. There are many de-esser plugins available on the market, each with different features and settings. Some de-esser plugins are dedicated to vocals, while others can be used on other instruments as well. Some de-esser plugins have a graphical interface that shows you the frequency spectrum and the amount of reduction, while others have a simpler design with just a few knobs. Some de-esser plugins have a split-band mode that lets you target a specific frequency range, while others have a wide-band mode that affects the whole signal. You can experiment with different de-esser plugins and see which one works best for your vocal mix.

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Geovane Bento

Top Voice Linkedin | Diretor Artístico da NOAR Produ??es | Coolhunter | Estrategista Fonográfico | Membro da Academia do Grammy Latino | Especialista em Diferencia??o Profissional | Autor do Livro “Construído Estrelas”.
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To optimize the de-esser in vocal mixing, adjust the frequency to target sibilance between 5kHz and 10kHz. Vary the processing ratio to balance effectiveness and naturalness. Set the threshold to activate the de-esser only when necessary. Consider the automatic mode for dynamic adaptation. Use an equalizer beforehand to prep the signal. Check with headphones to avoid artifacts. Dynamically adjust settings and experiment with parallel processing. Each track is unique, so tailor adjustments to the musical context.

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2 Insert the de-esser on your vocal track

The second step is to insert the de-esser plugin on your vocal track. You can either use it as an insert effect or as a send effect. If you use it as an insert effect, the de-esser will process the entire vocal signal and reduce the sibilance directly. If you use it as a send effect, the de-esser will process a copy of the vocal signal and blend it with the original signal. This can give you more control over the balance between the de-essed and the natural vocals. However, using a send effect may also introduce some phase issues, so you need to be careful with the alignment and the latency.

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Geovane Bento

Top Voice Linkedin | Diretor Artístico da NOAR Produ??es | Coolhunter | Estrategista Fonográfico | Membro da Academia do Grammy Latino | Especialista em Diferencia??o Profissional | Autor do Livro “Construído Estrelas”.
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The second step is to insert the de-esser plugin into your vocal track. You can use it as an insert effect or as a send effect. If used as an insert effect, the de-esser will process the entire vocal signal and directly reduce sibilance. If used as a send effect, the de-esser will process a copy of the vocal signal and mix it with the original signal. This can give you more control over the balance between de-essed vocals and natural vocals. However, using a send effect can also introduce some phase issues, so you need to be careful with alignment and latency.

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3 Set the threshold and the ratio

The third step is to set the threshold and the ratio of the de-esser. The threshold is the level above which the de-esser will start to reduce the sibilance. The ratio is the amount of reduction that the de-esser will apply to the sibilance. You can adjust these parameters by ear or by using a meter. The goal is to find the sweet spot where the de-esser removes the unwanted sibilance without affecting the clarity and the brightness of the vocals. A good tip is to start with a low threshold and a high ratio and then gradually increase the threshold and decrease the ratio until you achieve the desired result.

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4 Fine-tune the frequency and the attack/release

The fourth step is to fine-tune the frequency and the attack/release of the de-esser. The frequency is the center frequency of the band that the de-esser will target. You can use a frequency analyzer or a listening mode to find the most problematic frequency for your vocals. Usually, the sibilance occurs between 4 kHz and 10 kHz, but it may vary depending on the voice and the microphone. The attack/release are the time parameters that determine how fast the de-esser will react and recover from the sibilance. You can use a fast attack and a fast release to catch the transient peaks of the sibilance, or a slow attack and a slow release to smooth out the overall level of the sibilance. You can also use a lookahead function to make the de-esser more responsive and accurate.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Geovane Bento

Top Voice Linkedin | Diretor Artístico da NOAR Produ??es | Coolhunter | Estrategista Fonográfico | Membro da Academia do Grammy Latino | Especialista em Diferencia??o Profissional | Autor do Livro “Construído Estrelas”.
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In addition to the above, consider plugin order, dynamic adjustments, and pre-balancing the vocal track to optimize the de-esser. Test on different devices, monitor consistently, and critically evaluate various song sections. Manual control and moderate use are crucial to avoid unwanted effects. Effectively applying the de-esser requires iterative adjustments tailored to the musical and vocal context.

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Paul v/d Heever

Audio Visual Specialist @Debut Productions | Sound Tech and Production Educator | BA(Hons) - Music & Sound at University of West London
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De-Essers can also be used to reduce brightness from cymbals and tame guitars. Using multiple De-Essers in a signal chain can also assist in taming harsh sibilance without reducing clarity. Rather set x2 De-essers to -3 dB of reduction as opposed to setting 1 plugin at -6 dB. This approach will reduce losing clarity at -6 dBs each time the processor is triggered.

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Jerome Renard

Founder @ Echo | Financial freedom for creators | Reshaping how industries value content | 18 years in the creator economy
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Other tools can be used to de-ess vocals. I mainly use Izotope RX Spectrogram to select the specific frequency I want to reduce. Pros: - Better Control - More Precise - Clean up other noises at the same time Cons: - If not ARA - you have to commit the files - Standalone Software (Except if ARA) - A bit more time

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How can you use a de-esser to improve your vocal mix?

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1 Choose a de-esser plugin

2 Insert the de-esser on your vocal track

3 Set the threshold and the ratio

4 Fine-tune the frequency and the attack/release

5 Here’s what else to consider

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