Fabfilter Ds Vs Izotope Rx

Fabfilter Mastering Pack vs Izotope Ozone 8 ADV. What's in these bundles: Fabfilter: Parametric EQ (Pro-Q2), Compressor (Pro-C2), Multiband Dynamics (Pro-MB), and a Peak Limiter (Pro-L2)-$499.00. Izotope: Ozone 8 Adv. Stereo Imager, Maximizer, EQ, Spectral Shaper, Dynamics, Exciter, Vintage EQ, Vintage Compressor, Vintage Tape, Vintage. Fabfilter Pro-DS FabFilter Pro-DS provides a comprehensive set of controls, yet it is very simple to use and sounds amazing. The scrolling waveform graphic at the top displays the sibilance reduced in yellow which helps users to quickly hone in on pesky harshness. FabFilter Pro-DS. The transparent sound quality, helpful visual feedback, and versatility of the controls on FabFilter plugins are virtually unmatched, and the Pro-DS is no exception. Despite being an incredibly deep and detailed plugin, loaded with parameters and unique features, I can fix sibilance with the Pro-DS quickly and easily.

Studio 1 is the ideal recording studio for cutting basic tracks as well as mixing for your latest album or single. The control room has the deepest array of analog outboard gear paired with an endless list of plugins unrivaled by any other U.S. music studio. An extensive collection of Neve, API and Chandler outboard gear provides a wide variety of sonic colors. The control room can also handle large playback sessions. The Exigy stereo monitors with their custom dual 18” subwoofers are the loudest, smoothest playback system with undeniable accuracy. The live room can accommodate a 5-piece rock band, a large vocal choir or a 20-piece string section. This studio has become one of the top vocal recording environments in New York City. What separates Studio 1 from any other recording environment is the complete privacy matched with the constant updating of its equipment and plugins. The Avid Pro Tools Ultimate 2021.3.1 system with three Avid HDX processing cards can handle large track counts based on the 64 input 64 output configuration, and its Antelope Atomic clocking. The Solid State Logic Duality δelta 48 offers the ability to seamlessly move inside and outside of the box with great ease.

EQUIPMENT

Solid State Logic Duality δelta 48 input analog console with Total Recall
Computer
Avid Pro Tools Ultimate 2021.3.1 HDX 3 w/ HD I/O 64/64
Avid HDX processing card #2
Apple Mac Pro (Cylinder) 3.0 GHz 8-Core/32GB w/Mojave
Sonnect Echo Express Iii rackmount thunderbolt PCIe chassis
OWC Thunderbay 4 four-bay thunderbolt HDD enclosure
Fabfilter Ds Vs Izotope Rx
OWC Drive Dock dual-bay thunderbolt/USB3.0 HDD docking station
Universal Audio UAD-2 Satellite Thunderbolt - OCTO Custom
Logic Pro X 10.2 Studio Music Production Software for Mac
**Source Elements Source-Connect Pro/Source-Live available upon request
I/O
Avid HD I/O #2
Avid HD I/O #4
Antelope Robidium 10M Atomic Clock & Isochrome Trinity
Lavry AD 122 96K MKIII stereo A to D converter
Monitors
Exigy S412G custom four-way system with dual 18' subwoofers
Yamaha NS 10M Studio
Avantone CLA-10 passive
Avantone MixCube
Genelec 8040B
Germano Acoustics APS AEON 2
APS Sub10 subwoofer
Bryston 4B SST & 2B LP power amplifiers
Avantone Pro CLA-200 studio reference amplifier
EQ/Mic-Pre/Channel Strips
API 7600 mono recording channel strip #1
Chandler REDD .47 tube mic-pre #1
Chandler TG MKII channel strip # 1
Chandler TG MKII channel strip # 3
Chandler TG 2 stereo mic-pre/DI
Neve 1081 four-band EQ/mic-pre # 1
Neve 1081 four-band EQ/mic-pre # 3
Neve 1084/1073 three-band EQ/mic-pre # 1
Neve 1084/1073 three-band EQ/mic-pre # 3
Focusrite ISA428 MkII 4-channel mic-pre
Neve 8051M surround 6-channel compressor
Neve 2254/R mono limiter/compressor #2
Chandler RS124 tube compressor #1
Chandler TG 1 stereo limiter
Tube-Tech CL 1B mono tube compressor
Retro Instruments Revolver 2-channel tube compressor
Universal Audio 1176LN mono limiting amplifier
Empirical Labs EL8 XS stereo distressor
Reverb/Delay
Bricasti M7 digital reverb #2
AMS RMX16 500 series digital reverb
API 560 ten-band graphic EQ module # 2
API 560 ten-band graphic EQ module # 4
Moog analog delay module #2
Sony MDR 7506
Audio-Technica ATH-M50x
Direct Sound Extreme Isolation EX-29
Sennheiser HD-280 Pro
Grace m903 reference headphone amplifier, DAC, monitor controller
Miscellaneous
Grace Design M908 High Fidelity 22.2 Monitor Controller
Cymatic Audio u24 24-track recorder/player interface
Brainstorm Distripalyzer SR-15+
A-Designs REDDI tube direct box

PLUGINS

304C
Aural Exciter
BF Classic Compressors/Voce Bundle
BF Fairchild 660
BF Voce/Spin/Vibrato
bombfactory BF-3A
BF Tel-Ray
C1 Chorus/Vibrato
D-Verb
Downmixer
Reel Tape Saturation
Reel Tape Flanger
Dyn 3 De-Esser
EQ 3
ff d3 Compressor / Limiter
Flanger
JOEMEEK Compressor
Lo-Fi
Moogerfooger Bundle
moogerfooger Analog Delay
moogerfooger Ring Modulation
Pitch II
Pro Compressor
Pro Limiter
Pro Multiband Splitter
Pultec EQH-2, MQP-1A, MEQ-5
Reverb One
Sans Amp PSA I
Soundreplacer
Studio Reverb
Vibe Phaser
Clearmountain's Domain
Apogee FX Bundle
Fabfilter Ds Vs Izotope Rx
Waves Mercury (v11) + Studio Classics Collection
API 2500
API-550B
AudioTrack
Berzerk Distortion
BSS DPR-402
C1 Compressor
C4/C6 Multiband Compressor
CLA Bass
CLA Effects
CLA MixDown
CLA Unplugged
CLA-2A Compressor/Limiter
CLA-76 Compressor/Limiter
Codex Wavetable Synth
DeBreath
Doppler
Dorrough Surround
DPR-402
Eddie Kramer Drum Channel
Eddie Kramer Guitar Channel
Electric Grand 80 Piano
eMo D5 Dynamics
eMo Generator
Enigma
GEQ Graphic Equalizer
Greg Wells PianoCentric
Greg Wells VoiceCentric
GTR3 Stomps
GTR4 Tuner
H-Delay Hybrid Delay
H-Reverb Hybrid Reverb
IMPusher
InPhase LT
IR360 Convolution Reverb
IR-Live Convolution Reverb
JJP Cymbals & Percussion
JJP Guitars
JJP Vocals
Kramer Master Tape
L1 Ultramaximizer
L3 Ultramaximizer
L3-16 Multimaximizer
L3-LL Multimaximizer
LFE360 Low-Pass Filter
Linear Phase Multiband Compressor
M360 Surround Manager & Mixdown
Manny Marroquin Distortion
Manny Marroquin Reverb
Manny Marroquin Triple D
Maserati B72
Maserati GRP
Maserati HMX
MaxxBass
MDMX Fuzz
MDMX Screamer
Izotope
MetaFlanger
Morphoder
MV360
NS1 Noise Suppressor
OneKnob Driver
OneKnob Louder
OneKnob Pressure
OneKnob Wetter
PlaylistRider
PRS SuperModels
PuigChild Compressor
Q10 Equalizer
R360 Surround Reverb
Renaissance Bass
Renaissance Compressor
Renaissance Equalizer
Renaissance Vox
S360 Surround Imager & Panner
Scheps Omni Channel
Sibilance
SoundShifter
SSL G-Channel
SSL G-Master Buss Compressor
SuperTap
Trans-X
UltraPitch
V-Comp
V-EQ4
Vocal Rider
W43 Noise Reduction
Waves Tune LT
WLM Plus Loudness Meter
X-Click
X-FDBK
X-Noise
Abbey Road Chambers
Abbey Road TG Mastering Chain
EMI TG12345 Channel Strip
REDD
RS56 Passive EQ
{Octo Custom Thunderbolt Satellite}
API Vision Channel Strip
Manley Voxbox
Neve 88RS Channel Strip Collection
UA 610-A Tube Pre & EQ
Precision Limiter
Precision Multiband
Teletronix LA3A
dbx 160 Compressor/Limiter
Emprical Labs EL8 Distressor
Manley Variable Mu
Teletronix LA-2A Leveler Collection
Brigade Chorus Pedal
Galaxy Tape Echo
MXR Flanger/Doubler
Cooper Time Cube MkII
Harrison 32C/32CSE
Neve 31102/31102SE
API 500 Series EQ
Pultec Passive EQ
Precision Equalizer
Precision K-Stereo
EMT 140 Plate
EMT 250 Electronic Reverb
Lexicon 224 Digital Reverb
Pure Plate Reverb
Precision Enhancer kHz
SPL Transient Designer
Precision Enhancer Hz
RAW Distortion
EL7 FATSO Jr./Sr, Tape Sim/Compressor
Moog Multimode Filter Collection
Studer A800
Neve Preamp
RealVerb-Pro
Neve 88RS Legacy
UA 1176SE Legacy
Vertigo Sound VSC-2
Teletronix LA-2A Legacy
Pultec EQP-1A Legacy
Capitol Chambers
Anthology XI
Blackhole
Crystals
Instant Flanger Mk II
MangledVerb
Physion
Shimmer Verb
Spring
Undulator
H910
H949
Omnipressor
Instant Flanger
H3000 Band Delays
Octavox
UltraChannel
EChannel
EQ65
Precision Time Delay
FabFilter
FabFilter Timeless 2
FabFilter One
FabFilter Pro-C 2
FabFilter Pro-G
Fabfilter Pro-L2
FabFilter Micro
FabFilter Pro-Q 3
FabFilter Saturn
FabFilter Simplon
Auto-Tune Unlimited
Auto Key
Auto-Tune Artist
Auto-Tune Hybrid
AVOX ASPIRE
AVOX DUO
AVOX PUNCH
AVOX THROAT
Harmony Engine
Altiverb 7
Focusrite
Red3
Melodyne Studio 4
Klanghelm
iZotope RX 8 Suite
RX 8 De-click
RX 8 De-crackle
RX 8 De-hum
RX 8 De-reverb
RX 8 Monitor
RX 8 Spectral De-noise
Vinyl
McDSP
Revolver
Futzbox
Compressor Bank (CB101, CB202, CB303)
G Console
G Equalizer
ML4000 (ML1, ML4)
Massey L2007 Mastering Limiter
Metric Halo
Komplete 10
Battery 4
FM8
Kontakt 5
Reaktor
Solid Dynamics
Supercharger
soothe2
Plugin Alliance
Acme Opticom XLA-3
ADA STD-1 Stereo Tapped Delay
AMEK EQ 200
Ampeg SVT3Pro
Ampeg V4B
bx_2098 EQ
bx_blackdist2
bx_boom
bx_console Focusrite SC
bx_console SSL 4000 E
bx_console SSL 9000 J
bx_delay2500
bx_digital V3 Mix
bx_dynEQ V2
bx_hybrid V2
bx_limiter
bx_megadual
bx_metal 2
bx_oberhausen
bx_opto pedal
bx_refinement
bx_rockrack V3
bx_saturator V2
bx_stereomaker
bx_townhouse Buss Compressor
bx_XL V2
Chandler GAV19T
Dangerous BAX EQ Mix
dearVR pro
Diezel VH4
elysia alpha master
elysia karacter master
elysia mpressor
elysia nvelope
ENGL E646 VS
fielder audio stage
Friedman DS40
Fuchs Train II
Lindell 254E
Lindell 6X-500
Lindell 80 Bus
Lindell Channel X
Lindell TE-100
Maag EQ2
Maag MAGNUM-K
Millennia TCL-2
Noveltech Character
Pro Audio DSP DSM V3
Schoeps Mono Upmix 1to2
Shadow Hills Mastering Compress
SPL De-Esser
SPL De-Verb Plus
SPL EQ Ranger Plus
SPL Iron
SPL Passeq
SPL TwinTube
Unfiltered Audio Byome
Unfiltered Audio Fault
Unfiltered Audio Indent 2
Unfiltered Audio LION
Unfiltered Audio Sandman Pro
Unfiltered Audio Triad
Vertigo VSC-2
Relab
Abbey Road Brilliance Pack
Soundtoys
Crystallizer
FilterFreak (1,2)
Little AlterBoy
Little Radiator
PanMan
Tremolator
Devil-Loc Deluxe
PrimalTap
Source Connect
Source Connect Pro
Steven Slate/Slate Digital
Trigger 2
Virtual Mix Rack
TC2290-DT Delay (w/Desktop Interface)
Xfer Records
RC-20 Retro Color

MICROPHONES

Telefunken ELA M 251 E tube/valve
Telefunken U47 'CineMike' tube/valve
Neumann M149 tube/valve
Telefunken ELA M 260 tube/valve
Telefunken M82 dynamic
Telefunken M60 FET condenser
Neumann U87ai condenser {matched pair}
Neumann U87 40th Anniversary condenser
Neumann KM184 condenser
Sony C-100 hi-res condenser
Sony ECM-100U hi-res condenser
Royer R-121 ribbon
AEA R44C ribbon

Fabfilter Ds Vs Izotope Rx Plus

Coles 4038 ribbon
Coles 4038 ribbon
Beyer Dynamic M160 ribbon
DPA d:facto II w/ 4018 capsule
DPA d:vote 4099 condenser
DPA 2011C condenser
DPA 4011C condenser
AKG C414 XL II condenser
AKG C451B condenser
AKG D112 dynamic
Austrian Audio OC818
Beyer Dynamic M88 dynamic
Electrovoice RE20 dynamic
Tul G12 dynamic
Sennheiser MD 421 MKII dynamic
Sennheiser MD 421 MKII dynamic
Sennheiser MD 421 MKII dynamic
Sennheiser MD 441-U dynamic
Sennheiser MKH-40 condenser
Sennheiser MKH-800 P48 condenser
Sennheiser AMBEO VR condenser
Shure BETA 98D/S condenser
Shure SM81LC condenser
Shure SM57LC dynamic
Shure SM57LC dynamic
Shure SM57LC dynamic
Shure SM57LC dynamic
Shure SM57LC dynamic
Shure SM58CN dynamic
Shure SM7B dynamic
Avantone Pro KICK

KEYBOARDS

Dave Smith Prophet 6 synthesizer
Moog Little Phatty
Roland RD-2000 digital piano
Roland TR-09 Rhythm Composer
Roland VP-03 Vocoder
Roland K-25M keyboard unit
Roland JP-08 sound module
Roland SE-02 sound module
Roland TR-08 sound module
Novation SL61 MK2 MIDI controller
Novation SL61 MK3 MIDI controller

DJ EQUIPMENT

Rane SL-4 Serato interface
Technics SL-1200 MK5 turntable #2
Shure Whitelabel DJ record needles

DRUMS & PERCUSSION

Gretsch 14x20 kick drum
Gretsch 4.5x14 snare drum
Gretsch 8x12 rack tom
Gretsch 14x14 floor tom
Gretsch 6.5'x14' Bell Brass snare drum
Ludwig 6.5'x14' Acrolite snare drum
Paiste 22' Signature Traditionals Light Ride cymbal
Paiste 18' Signature Traditionals Thin Crash cymbal
Paiste 14' Signature Traditionals Medium Light Hi-Hat cymbals
LP Aspire Bongos
LP Plastic Tambourine
LP Maracas
LP Shaker
LP Cabasa
LP Cajon
Meinl Wooden Tambourine
Rhythmtech Plastic Tamborine
Peal Woodblock

GUITAR

Gibson Les Paul Custom 1960 Reissue
Gibson Hummingbird acoustic
D'Angelico Lexington-Dreadnought acoustic
D'Angelico Jumbo acoustic
G&L SB-2 bass
Peterson SSHD Strobostomp tuner
BOSS CE-2w Chorus Waza Craft
BOSS TR-2 Tremolo
BOSS DC-2w Dimension C Waza Craft
BOSS CH-1 Super Chorus
Plus
BOSS OD-1X Overdrive
BOSS BD-2w Blues Driver Waza Craft
BOSS DD-7 Digital Delay
BOSS TU-3 Chromatic Tuner
BOSS DM-2w Delay Waza Craft
BOSS JB-2 Angry Driver
BOSS RV-6 Reverb
BOSS CS-3 Compressor Sustainer
BOSS ML-2 Metal Core
BOSS DD-3 Digital Delay
BOSS LMB-3 Bass Limiter Enhancer
BOSS SY-1 Synthesizer
BOSS RT-20 Rotary Sound Processor
BOSS DD-500 delay
BOSS GT-1000 multi-effects
MXR Distortion
BBE G Screamer
BBE Soul Vibe Rotary Simulator
BBE Tremor Optical Tremolo
BBE Opti Comp Optical Compressor
BBE Chinese Wah
Fulltone Clyde Deluxe Wah
Radial Big Shot PB-1
TC Electronic Nova Repeater RPT-1

AMPLIFIERS

Winfield Cyclone head w/ Winfield 2 x 10 cabinet
Fender '59 Bassman LTD Vintage Re-issue combo
Aguilar Tone Hammer 700 head
Aguilar SL 410 cabinet

MONITORS

Exigy S412G custom four-way system with dual 18' subwoofers
Avantone CLA-10 passive
Avantone MixCube
KRK Rokit 7 G4
Yamaha NS 10M
Genelec 8040B
Germano Acoustics APS AEON 2
RCF NX-12 SMA stage monitor

STUDIO 1 FLOORPLAN

SSL DUALITY

Article Content

The human voice is a wonderfully complex instrument. A typical sentence — whether its spoken or sung, is actually composed of several sonic components, some generated in the lungs and chest cavity, others a result of the resonance of the larynx (which we also refer to as our “voice box”), and even more that occur higher up in the anatomy (think tongue, lips, etc.)

When recording the human voice, it’s essential to be mindful of how each of these components is working together. Some microphones do a better job of capturing and reproducing the rich, full, low frequencies of a voice, others are airy, silky, and articulate.

Context is everything, of course, and whereas one of my favorite microphones, the AKG C414 XLII works like a dream on certain singers, I’ve found it to be overly “bright” on other performers. When I say bright, I’m referring to how the microphone reproduces high frequencies, specifically, “esses”.

Esses can be generated by a human voice when the tongue is placed on the upper palate, directly behind the top teeth. When air is generated and passes through, the resulting sound consists of mostly high frequencies. Different voices have different tendencies, and combining a vocalist who generates an abundance of high frequencies with a microphone that was designed with an emphasis on capturing these same frequencies can result in a displeasing sound.

Ideally, the recording engineer will get it right at the source, but in some cases, the mix engineer simply has to make do with what they’ve been provided — moreover, with modern music production and mixing aesthetics tending to call for liberal usage of compression, saturation, and additive EQ (especially in the high frequencies), sibilance can quickly become a problem.

There isn’t a singular solution to this issue, but a “de-esser” is one of the most common tools used to tame harshness in vocals. Traditionally, a de-esser works as a compressor that has been fed an EQ boost via a sidechain, making it more responsive to the frequency range at which the EQ boost has been applied. Once the de-esser detects that the amplitude has surpassed a set threshold, attenuation occurs.

Beneath is a breakdown of some of the terminology you’ll typically find on a de-esser and a roundup of my favorite plugins used for de-essing. I want to be careful to clarify that not all of these are designed specifically for the task of de-essing, but plugins have come such a long way in a short time, and several of these handle sibilance brilliantly.

De-Esser Controls and Terminology

Threshold

Much like the threshold control on a compressor, this determines the point at which the processing takes place. Once the amplitude of the signal “crosses” the threshold, de-essing will occur.

Range

This determines how much de-essing will take place once the amplitude crosses the threshold. Lower values may sound more subtle and natural but might not do the job entirely. Higher values can create undesired artifacts and sometimes leave the vocalist sounding “lispy”

Lookahead

This feature allows the de-esser to predict incoming sibilance by “looking ahead” a certain amount of milliseconds. For rapid-fire vocal performances, this might be a useful feature to handle sibilance. I’ve found lookahead to be helpful when mixing several Hip-Hop projects.

Wide vs. Split-band

Wide-band is great for general de-essing tasks and is a great starting point. It will attenuate all areas of the frequency spectrum evenly. Split-band will attenuate a smaller range of the frequency spectrum, generally the high frequencies where sibilance occurs. I suggest experimenting with both when mixing, and discovering which works best for the specific performance.

Some de-essers feature a function that allows you to hear only what the processor is doing, which can be helpful for determining if the de-esser is working at the correct area of the frequency spectrum. This function is sometimes identified as “audition”, “delta”, or “monitor”.

Additionally, certain de-essers allow you to choose at which frequency range the sidechain EQ boost is applied, so keep an eye out for this control, which is sometimes named differently depending on which plugin you’re using.

My Favorite De-Esser Plugins …

1. oeksound soothe2

The original soothe plugin from oeksound was a subtle game-changer for me. Normally, the plugins that really excite me are the ones that add some unique characteristic saturators that growl, equalizers with character, or compressors that really smack. But the original soothe (and its recently-released successor) are subtractive by nature, and were designed to remove unwanted frequencies, and not really add anything whatsoever.

Described s a dynamic resonance suppressor, soothe2 will only attenuate unwanted frequencies when it detects an abundance of them. The user places individual bands at the offending frequencies, and then dials in the depth, sharpness, and selectivity controls to transparently attenuate, resulting in a sound that keeps what you want, and removes what you don’t. Soothe was a mainstay for me on mix-buss, sub-groups, and when mixing vocals, and soothe2 is even more powerful. It was re-coded from the ground up and sounds cleaner and more transparent than its predecessor.

soothe 2 is a fantastic update to the original, with new features and capabilities that include:

  • The ability to affect the entire human hearing spectrum, rather than just the high-mids and highs
  • You can now work in mid/side mode, which is great for mix-buss and mastering duties
  • Attack and release parameters, which makes working on material with prominent transients much easier
  • A new ‘soft mode’ which allows for more transparent processing

Mix Tip

The new mid-side mode is so useful. I typically use mid-side equalization when processing the mix buss to enhance clarity and space. I now use soothe in this way as well, hunting down harshness that only exists straight up the center of the mix, and attenuating that that frequency range as to not alter the content on the sides. I then find unwanted resonances in the sides, and attenuate there, preserving what is up the middle. It’s a subtle process, but one that truly improves the depth and width of mixes and/or masters.

How to Tame Harshness in a Mix with oeksound soothe

The human voice is a wonderfully complex instrument. A typical sentence — whether its spoken or sung, is actually composed of several sonic components, some generated in the lungs and chest cavity, others a result of the resonance of the larynx (which we also refer to as our “voice box”), and even m

2. FabFilter Pro-DS

The transparent sound quality, helpful visual feedback, and versatility of the controls on FabFilter plugins are virtually unmatched, and the Pro-DS is no exception. Despite being an incredibly deep and detailed plugin, loaded with parameters and unique features, I can fix sibilance with the Pro-DS quickly and easily.

The Pro-DS shows you how it’s working via a scrolling waveform that becomes yellow/green when attenuation is required, and a small strip in the lower left corner that indicates exactly where in the frequency spectrum it detects sibilance. It’s details like this that make FabFilter plugins extremely helpful and educational, visually speaking. The different modes, look-ahead and external sidechain options put it a cut above most other de-esser plugins.

Mix Tip

Try it on non-vocal sources. The “all-around” mode and ability to control the stereo linking make the Pro-DS a great option for taming unwanted harshness on cymbals, acoustic guitars with excessive fret noise, and virtually any source that suffers from unpleasant high-frequency content.

Introduction to FabFilter Pro-DS intelligent de-esser

The human voice is a wonderfully complex instrument. A typical sentence — whether its spoken or sung, is actually composed of several sonic components, some generated in the lungs and chest cavity, others a result of the resonance of the larynx (which we also refer to as our “voice box”), and even m

3. FabFilter Pro-Q 3

Not technically a de-esser, but with the addition of the dynamic EQ mode, the Pro-Q 3 makes this flagship equalizer from FabFilter even more versatile. Essentially, when this mode is engaged, the Pro-Q 3 applies attenuation only when the plugin detects amplitude at a specific frequency over a set threshold.

For instance, if you’re hoping to tame sibilance in a vocalist, which let’s say hypothetically is most prominent at roughly 8 kHz, but you don’t want to attenuate at that frequency when the singer isn’t singing sibilant lines, this feature would be perfect, as the attenuation would only occur once the singer vocalizes an ess, ch, etc.

Mix Tip

Try the Pro-Q 3 on a vocal buss, or even the 2-buss. This plugin also features a helpful M/S mode, allowing one to process the sides separate from the center, which makes it great for mix buss processing and even mastering. The spectrum analyzer also detects and displays peaks, giving one valuable visual feedback as to where exactly in the frequency spectrum sibilance is occurring.

4. Weiss Deees

The Weiss DS1-MK3 bundle from Softube, which is a line-by-line code port from the highly sought after hardware unit, is a fantastic set of mastering tools. Weiss Deees features two independent bands, in case your program material suffers from sibilance at multiple frequency ranges. Add to that, helpful metering and pristine sound quality, making it one of the best plugin de-essers currently available.

Mix Tip

Use on an individual track or during mastering. As advertised, these are mastering grade tools, so it’s common to place across an entire program, but the Weiss definitely excels when placed on a lone vocal, high-hat, or similarly harsh audio track.

5. UAD Manley VOXBOX

The VOXBOX, an emulation of a beautiful boutique hardware unit from Manley Labs, is designed to be an all-in-one solution to vocal recording and processing. The preamp section is rich and full, the Pultec-style EQ is great for broad-stroke tonal sculpting, and the compressor can go from smooth and transparent, to grabby and aggressive.

Additionally, the plugin has a fantastically simple de-ess section. One can choose at which frequency the de-esser is applied, and set the threshold. Interestingly, setting the frequency control to “LIMIT 10:1” turns the section from a de-esser into a colorful-sounding limiter.

Mix Tip

With the preamp, EQ, and compression section, it’s certainly the most sonically versatile tool on this list. While obviously designed for work on vocals, the VOXBOX works fantastically on pretty much anything including bass, acoustic guitars, and drums. The de-essing section can actually do wonders on brittle acoustic guitars, or overly-crisp high-hats.

Fabfilter Ds Vs Izotope Rx

5-Minute UAD Tips: Manley VOXBOX Channel Strip Plug-In

The human voice is a wonderfully complex instrument. A typical sentence — whether its spoken or sung, is actually composed of several sonic components, some generated in the lungs and chest cavity, others a result of the resonance of the larynx (which we also refer to as our “voice box”), and even m

6. Pro Tools Dyn3 De-Esser

Sometimes, this thing just works. The bland, gray user interface and lack of fancy controls don’t really deter me from using the Dyn3 when it sounds right. Of the crop of de-essers that came out before plugins started to get really flexible and impressive, I’d choose the Dyn3 as my go-to.

Mix Tip

Use the “HF ONLY” feature to apply de-essing to frequencies above a certain frequency. I’ve found that the resulting sound (at least on this plugin) is far more natural and transparent.

7. Sonnox Oxford Supresser V3

Available both as a native plugin and from Universal Audio, the Oxford Supresser V3 is one of the most feature-laden and precise de-essers that I have ever come across. The Supresser is a dynamic equalizer, meaning that the user has the ability to set a threshold at which the processor will apply attenuation once it detects signal that passes that threshold. It responds to frequency-based content in a way that is similar to a compressor, but performs the function of an equalizer, so if you need surgical control when removing sibilance from a vocal performance, the Supresser is hard to beat. While the learning curve is a tad steep, and it’s not a 5-second ‘set it and forget it’ tool, the resulting sound is transparent and free of sonic artifacts that plague certain de-essers. If I am absolutely committed to preserving the source material with no coloration whatsoever, I’ll reach for the Supresser.

Mix Tip

Fabfilter Ds Vs Izotope Rx Login

One of my favorite features of the Oxford Supresser is the ‘listen’ section, which allows you to hear everything within the range that you’re affecting, everything outside the range you’re affecting, as well as the final ‘mix’ of the two. I find toggling through these and critically listening really great for really dialing in the area at which I’ll be applying reduction with intense precision. The Supresser excels on individual sources, but I’ve also obtained quality results when using it on the vocal buss where all of my vocals are summed through.

Additional Tips

One of the tools that I often use for manual de-essing is using clip gain. In some cases, sibilant sounds (ss, sh, ch, etc.) can cause compressors, saturators, and exciters to behave erratically, and the resulting sound is even more unpleasant than with no processing applied.

Sometimes I’ll go in and use clip gain to manually de-ess, bringing the sibilant parts of phrases down to taste (generally 1-2 dB). Sibilance is pretty easy to spot in waveforms-due to it being higher in frequency, the waveform for a sibilant passage is”fuzzy” in appearance, (see figures beneath). Because clip gain is pre-any-plugin-processing, I am minimizing a problem before it even starts.

A word with sibilance at the end. Clip gain is used to bring down the sibilance.

I also regularly use parallel processing, especially on vocals. It’s not uncommon for me to have a “smooth” vocal layer with multiple types of processing, a “hot” layer, a “bright” later, etc. To save DSP, I often “commit” these multiple layers to audio. The buildup of sibilance when using this method can be very apparent. When this issue arises, I’ll group the committed audio tracks, make breaks around each sibilant sound, and bring them down to taste by using the clip gain line.

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Traditional volume automation, which reduces the track level after any inserts that have been applied is another method I often use to minimize how sibilant lines negatively affect an overall mix. I always perform fader rides when mixing, especially on vocals, so I keep esses in mind, and react accordingly with fader movements when I reach this stage of my mixing process.

To be honest, a mix free of harsh sibilance is a result of a delicate application of several of the aforementioned tools and techniques — careful and deliberate processing with de-essers, subtle use of clip gain and automation, and knowing when you’ve pushed a vocal a bit too far with compression, saturation, etc. are all essential in creating a smooth, intelligible, professional-sounding vocal.

While some may argue that, because of loudness normalization as incorporated by major streaming services, the loudness war has been “won” by those who prefer their music dynamic and natural-sounding, modern productions are still loud and bright compared to musical releases from decades past.

I still serve clients who want their assets delivered in the -8 LUFS range and to be as perceived as louder than the competition. Because of the aggressive compression, high-frequency boosting, and limiting needed to achieve these results, vocals can often become harsh and fatiguing if not treated with extra care, and subsequently, de-essers are arguably more important than they’ve ever been to modern music makers.