De-essing without using a de esser

[Melvin III]

Get an EQ and boost a few dB and where you hear the ess you narrow the q and drop a few dB. But an multiband comp would be ideal

[Grahamdwc]

Hi LaoTzu,
Check out this tutorial:

Techniques For Vocal De-essing

Hope it helps,
Graham

[LaoTzu]

i just want to know if its just me that hears this difference in signal degredation when a de esser is used.

[Bob Olhsson]

Nobody had de-essers before the late 1960s!

First and foremost it's about microphone choice. Teach the singer to turn slightly off-mike or pass their hand in front of their mouth during esses and pops. Sometimes just singing across the face of the mike works. A quiet studio and greater distance from the mike reduces (often eliminates) the amount of compression needed significantly and the amount of esses and pops with it.

[CappuCCino]

The best way is to manually make cuts around all separate eS's and pull 'm down a few dB.

[LaoTzu]

Originally Posted by CappuCCino

The best way is to manually make cuts around all separate eS's and pull 'm down a few dB.

that sounds like a lengthy process.

[tehlord]

Originally Posted by CappuCCino

The best way is to manually make cuts around all separate eS's and pull 'm down a few dB.

yup

It takes about 20 minutes to go through the whole track, but is a better fix than anything else I've come across.

[LaoTzu]

how do you make cuts without it popping from one cut to the next. its something cubase seems to do.

[donpakka]

John Lennon used to "flash" his esses while he was tracking. You wave your hand quickly in front of your mouth when you are singing an s sound. Very quickly of course. And only one flash per s...

You can also try to make your esses sound more like a z.

As far as editing the goes. If the offending "S" is at the beginning or end of a word/phrase, you can just cut and draw a fade in/out over it to subdue it a bit. Or you can use automation. There's a lot of ways to tame the wayward s, but the best way is to handle it on the way in. But I don't have any problem with a de-esser, if the track needs it.

[Ghosted]

Originally Posted by LaoTzu

how do you make cuts without it popping from one cut to the next. its something cubase seems to do.

I don't make cuts, I just draw in volume automation. No clicks/pops that way.

[LaoTzu]

Originally Posted by Ghosted

I don't make cuts, I just draw in volume automation. No clicks/pops that way.

much obliged that makes sense.

[Bunjji]

Only if the editor in Studio One was an automation editor as well . . . . this will take a while.

[LaoTzu]

Originally Posted by Bunjji

Only if the editor in Studio One was an automation editor as well . . . . this will take a while.

explain what you mean i currently use cubase 6.5 im thinking of moving to studio one so please do explain

[Bunjji]

Originally Posted by LaoTzu

explain what you mean i currently use cubase 6.5 im thinking of moving to studio one so please do explain

Oh, it is not a huge deal, but you can not edit automation in the edit window, you must use the arrangement window. It is a little annoying because I will usually never cut something out, just turn it down and I have to use the project page which is kind of distracting (you have other tracks and all that transport stuff, it just makes it harder to focus on editing the automation). Other than this, I am really happy with Studio One.

[LaoTzu]

Originally Posted by Bunjji

Oh, it is not a huge deal, but you can not edit automation in the edit window, you must use the arrangement window. It is a little annoying because I will usually never cut something out, just turn it down and I have to use the project page which is kind of distracting (you have other tracks and all that transport stuff, it just makes it harder to focus on editing the automation). Other than this, I am really happy with Studio One.

make a feature request to them im sure this bugs a few others too

[AndreBenoit]

There's a sound on sound review of some sE mic's that mentioned using an elastic band to hold a pencil vertically against the centre of the grill. I'm trying to find a link now, I just remember the quote "don't ask me why it works but it does"....I can't for the life of me think which mic's I was after a review of when it came up!


EDIT: http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/aug0...elecz3300a.htm found it!!

Andre

[Berserk539]

Originally Posted by donpakka

John Lennon used to "flash" his esses while he was tracking. You wave your hand quickly in front of your mouth when you are singing an s sound. Very quickly of course. And only one flash per s...

Beat me to it.

[LaoTzu]

Originally Posted by Bob Olhsson

Nobody had de-essers before the late 1960s!

First and foremost it's about microphone choice. Teach the singer to turn slightly off-mike or pass their hand in front of their mouth during esses and pops. Sometimes just singing across the face of the mike works. A quiet studio and greater distance from the mike reduces (often eliminates) the amount of compression needed significantly and the amount of esses and pops with it.

i have a nt2a rode. and an se ribbon mic

[perform/record]

May sound like a no-brainer, but be conscious of not over pronouncing the sounds that cause sibilance.
Back off the mike, turn away a little bit if necessary.
Compression can accentuate sibilance, especially if the release is too slow.
The high freq of the vocal's reverb will cause it also.
I find cutting the reverb at around 5 to 6k and above cleans the S up quite a bit.

Also, any sibilance in the mix will get pumped up by the final limiting.
If you are going to crush the final mix, try backing off on the vocal compressor a little.

[LaoTzu]

i would like proof of this flashing technique to go on words alone isnt enough

[work2do]

Originally Posted by Ghosted

I just draw in volume automation. No clicks/pops that way.

I find this to be the best way. Highlight > pull down

[LaoTzu]

i was told by a freind to use the de-esser on the reverb does this work?

[BillSimpkins]

Sing "S"s with your tongue against your bottom teeth (against the top teeth usually creates sibilance problems). This also helps with keeping air flow more continuous and may help with vocal fatigue.