software DeEssers that don't suck

raal · 18th September 2005, 08:48 AM

was working on a vox track yesterday and after i got through EQing the esses were pretty prominent, so the obvious solution:

Waves DeEsser - but it seemed to do weird things to the sound even when the threshold was at the point that nothing was happening. soon as i bypassed the plug, things opened up again, so i tried the Digi DeEsser - same thing - i never heard these things futz with the sound so much before - are my ears getting sharper or am i imagining things?

anyone know of a software DeEsser that doesn't do weird things to the sound? thanks.

aussie_techie · 18th September 2005, 09:33 AM

the side-chain on the sony oxford dynamics is good

**toolskid** · 18th September 2005, 09:49 AM

You many find that manually de-essing is the most effective way of combating both sibilance and any problems you have with plug-in solutions

everybody's x · 18th September 2005, 11:08 AM

try spitfish at digitalfishphones.com

opentune · 18th September 2005, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raal

i never heard these things futz with the sound so much before - are my ears getting sharper or am i imagining things?.

Did you try your DeEssers on other vocal tracks? Maybe the one you´re working
on needs special treatment for some reason....

In case you have a friend with Cubase SX around, try the built in SPL unit.
Very nice DeEsser.

Another vote for the Spitfish. Also get the other two "fish fillets". Absolutely
worth the downloading time!

audiomichael · 18th September 2005, 01:28 PM

The Waves Ren De-Esser is much better than the original Waves De-Esser...check that out.

shangoe · 18th September 2005, 01:42 PM

DAW automation.....

mogWai · 18th September 2005, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shangoe

DAW automation.....

This is the only way to go for something that doesnt do "weird things to the sound". De-essing is in nature a weird process to do.

I use the SPL de-esser in Cuase SX (because I really cant be arsed to use the automation method). It does what it says on the tin, but only in small amounts. I find I have to have reduction at about 2 - 3 to stop losing any high-end in the vocals.

Bang · 18th September 2005, 09:49 PM

I compared both waves dessers to the dbx hardware and they were right on for me.

Steve

Jenre · 18th September 2005, 10:01 PM

Digi de-esser works fine on vocals for me.

jdunn · 18th September 2005, 11:28 PM

This is one of the reasons I keep a TC Intonator around. It has a pretty gentle de-esser that doesn't f#@! with your sound too much. At least IMHO.

Those Fish Fillets are must have freebies for sure though. The compressor is cool.

Fish Fillets

Toad · 19th September 2005, 06:23 AM

Waves Ren!

raal · 20th September 2005, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toad

Waves Ren!

thanks for all the posts - i'm using ren deesser now, but that and the digi deesser, when not in bypass really mess with the sound (IMHO), even when the threshold is so high there's no deessing happening at all. as soon as they're bypassed it's all there again.

aussie techie mentioned the oxford sidechain. any tips on how to get the thing working quickly? i tried it - made the Q narrow as possible, attack fast as possible, but it seems to be compressing the whole deal for some reason... not just the offending freq....

thanks again for your time guys.

Toad · 20th September 2005, 07:30 AM

Hey Raal, I'm just curious what it's doing to the track? I find it very transparent.
Is it a reduction in high end?

raal · 20th September 2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toad

Hey Raal, I'm just curious what it's doing to the track? I find it very transparent. Is it a reduction in high end?

yeah... kind of like a blanket on the sound if you know what i mean. when i bypass the plugs (ren or digi), the sound goes back to normal.

maybe it's subtle but after a long time mixing the sound for this documentary, it seems very apparent to me - it hadn't before this project. it's workable for sure, but i'd rather no coloration other than what it's supposed to be doing (deessing).

thanks guys.

robmix · 20th September 2005, 06:53 PM

I've tried most fo the software de-essers out there and I just can't get used to them. They just make everything sound wierd. I still use my DBX 902's, maybe I'm just used to the way they sound but I think they kill all the soft versions.

jonnyclueless · 20th September 2005, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robmix

I've tried most fo the software de-essers out there and I just can't get used to them. They just make everything sound wierd. I still use my DBX 902's, maybe I'm just used to the way they sound but I think they kill all the soft versions.

My problem with the 902 was that it colored the sound too much and was too noisey. but I guess it's an issue of different coloring and what sunds bad to one person is good to another and vice versa. I was happy when the software ones came out and I didnt have to use the 902 anymore. The only thing I don't like is that I haven't really found a usable d-esser I can track through when it comes to over siblant singers (only mic and compressior selection can minimize it).

jdunn · 20th September 2005, 11:00 PM

Sonalksis is supposed to be working on it.

genlock · 20th October 2005, 02:48 PM

Voxengo's Voxformer has a De-Esser included that's pretty good. Much better than any plug-in I know. Unfortunately it's PC only. There's a demo version http://www.voxengo.com/product/voxformer/

parasitk · 20th October 2005, 02:55 PM

I second DAW automation - PITA yeah, but worth it.

Mr Edit · 23rd October 2005, 10:00 PM

If a studio has it I quite like the side chain C1 plugin as a De Esser.

Lanstar Zero · 24th October 2005, 12:19 AM

Find an intern and have him do all the automation!

raal · 24th October 2005, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Edit

If a studio has it I quite like the side chain C1 plugin as a De Esser.

hmmm...have it and didn't even think to try it since the ren desser is supposed to be their 'high end'. will try it it next time i'm at the studio though... thanks.

T_R_S · 24th October 2005, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lanstar Zero

Find an intern and have him do all the automation!

Ace of Dubs · 7th February 2006, 02:50 PM

Pardon the noob question, but how exactly do you automate for de-essing?

Is it just a simple matter of automating the volume of the track or is there more involved?

Thanks

mrbowes · 7th February 2006, 03:22 PM

Same question here as above - what does DAW Automation entail? Does this mean creating a macro for editting the actual audio files in the sequencer?

raal · 7th February 2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ace of Dubs

Pardon the noob question, but how exactly do you automate for de-essing?

Is it just a simple matter of automating the volume of the track or is there more involved?

yes. you just automate fader moves to your liking. one way to do it but very time consuming.

**toolskid** · 7th February 2006, 03:27 PM

just duck the offending esses, breaths, articulation etc.. that you want to deal with

theother · 7th February 2006, 03:46 PM

Waves Ren Deesser

I checked with Waves and you can't buy just this one plugin.

you have to buy the whole damn bundle, and let me tell you..it ain't cheap!

No surprise people are using cracks!

Reggie Love · 7th February 2006, 05:08 PM

Spitfish is pretty good, and free.

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18th September 2005, 08:48 AM	#1
raal Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: mexico Posts: 3,615	software DeEssers that don't suck was working on a vox track yesterday and after i got through EQing the esses were pretty prominent, so the obvious solution: Waves DeEsser - but it seemed to do weird things to the sound even when the threshold was at the point that nothing was happening. soon as i bypassed the plug, things opened up again, so i tried the Digi DeEsser - same thing - i never heard these things futz with the sound so much before - are my ears getting sharper or am i imagining things? anyone know of a software DeEsser that doesn't do weird things to the sound? thanks.

18th September 2005, 09:49 AM	#3
toolskid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: london Posts: 2,123	You many find that manually de-essing is the most effective way of combating both sibilance and any problems you have with plug-in solutions __________________ Emre Ramazanoglu http://www.emremusic.com the wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision the whole universe. The fool, however, will just lie down on some seaweed and roll around until he's completely draped in it. Then he'll stand up and go "Hey, I'm vine man"

18th September 2005, 11:08 AM	#4
everybody's x Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: kansas city Posts: 1,594	try spitfish at digitalfishphones.com __________________ Dave

18th September 2005, 11:28 PM	#11
jdunn Head of Bumping Security (B.S) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: in the hills of Southern California Posts: 2,698	This is one of the reasons I keep a TC Intonator around. It has a pretty gentle de-esser that doesn't f#@! with your sound too much. At least IMHO. Those Fish Fillets are must have freebies for sure though. The compressor is cool. Fish Fillets __________________ Jason Dunn 5 Sonic Productions

18th September 2005, 09:33 AM	#2
aussie_techie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,040	the side-chain on the sony oxford dynamics is good

18th September 2005, 01:28 PM	#6
audiomichael Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: L. A.-ish Posts: 1,320	The Waves Ren De-Esser is much better than the original Waves De-Esser...check that out.

18th September 2005, 01:42 PM	#7
shangoe Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: berlin Posts: 467	DAW automation.....

18th September 2005, 09:49 PM	#9
Bang Lives for gear Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 2,292	I compared both waves dessers to the dbx hardware and they were right on for me. Steve

18th September 2005, 10:01 PM	#10
Jenre Gear maniac Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Bristol, UK Posts: 221	Digi de-esser works fine on vocals for me.

19th September 2005, 06:23 AM	#12
Toad Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 497	Waves Ren!

20th September 2005, 07:30 AM	#14
Toad Gear addict Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: The Great Northwest Posts: 497	Hey Raal, I'm just curious what it's doing to the track? I find it very transparent. Is it a reduction in high end?

20th September 2005, 06:53 PM	#16
robmix Lives for gear Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 1,984	I've tried most fo the software de-essers out there and I just can't get used to them. They just make everything sound wierd. I still use my DBX 902's, maybe I'm just used to the way they sound but I think they kill all the soft versions.

20th September 2005, 11:00 PM	#18
jdunn Head of Bumping Security (B.S) Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: in the hills of Southern California Posts: 2,698	Sonalksis is supposed to be working on it. __________________ Jason Dunn 5 Sonic Productions

20th October 2005, 02:48 PM	#19
genlock Gear interested Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Cologne, Germany Posts: 26	Voxengo's Voxformer has a De-Esser included that's pretty good. Much better than any plug-in I know. Unfortunately it's PC only. There's a demo version http://www.voxengo.com/product/voxformer/

20th October 2005, 02:55 PM	#20
parasitk Gear maniac Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: NYC Posts: 208	I second DAW automation - PITA yeah, but worth it.

23rd October 2005, 10:00 PM	#21
Mr Edit Gear nut Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 84	If a studio has it I quite like the side chain C1 plugin as a De Esser.

24th October 2005, 12:19 AM	#22
Lanstar Zero Gear nut Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 122	Find an intern and have him do all the automation!

7th February 2006, 02:50 PM	#25
Ace of Dubs Gear interested Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 21	Pardon the noob question, but how exactly do you automate for de-essing? Is it just a simple matter of automating the volume of the track or is there more involved? Thanks

7th February 2006, 03:22 PM	#26
mrbowes Lives for gear Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 939	Same question here as above - what does DAW Automation entail? Does this mean creating a macro for editting the actual audio files in the sequencer?

7th February 2006, 03:27 PM	#28
toolskid Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: london Posts: 2,123	just duck the offending esses, breaths, articulation etc.. that you want to deal with __________________ Emre Ramazanoglu http://www.emremusic.com the wise man can pick up a grain of sand and envision the whole universe. The fool, however, will just lie down on some seaweed and roll around until he's completely draped in it. Then he'll stand up and go "Hey, I'm vine man"

7th February 2006, 03:46 PM	#29
theother Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: London & Ibiza Posts: 1,638	Waves Ren Deesser I checked with Waves and you can't buy just this one plugin. you have to buy the whole damn bundle, and let me tell you..it ain't cheap! No surprise people are using cracks!

7th February 2006, 05:08 PM	#30
Reggie Love Gear addict Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Knebworth Posts: 323	Spitfish is pretty good, and free. __________________ Patience, n. A minor form of despair, disguised as a virtue.

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