De-Esser

A de-esser is a specialized audio processor used in recording and mixing to reduce or eliminate excessive sibilance in vocal recordings. Sibilance refers to the harsh “sss” or “shh” sounds produced by letters like ‘s’, ‘z’, ‘ch’, and ‘sh’. The de-esser works by detecting and attenuating these frequencies, typically in the range of 3kHz to 10kHz, where sibilant sounds are most prominent. By applying dynamic processing techniques such as compression or frequency-dependent gain reduction, the de-esser effectively smoothens out the vocal performance, resulting in a cleaner and more intelligible sound without compromising the natural tone of the voice.