harsh vocals/de-esser different freqs

[THC480]

So I am mixing a pretty dope song right now, only one problem. The rapper is sibilant to begin with and it was tracked on a bluebird ...the problem is, the sibilance is at like 3 different frequency ranges, one de-esser does not do the trick... I have linked like 3 of them up at the appropriate ranges and am doing it this way, has anyone else ran into this before? And how did you deal with it? _thanks

[evilpeezy]

3 damn? dude has to be really silibant to use 3 de-essers

[Bender412]

The best de-esser is good old manual editing. Tedious but VERY effective.

http://www.mindbenderproductiongroup.com/

[morejaylesswar]

I run into this problem with myself.

My S's are REALLY harsh just in speaking and I don't know how to process them when mixing my own music. I just came to the conclusion the other day that the thing that separates my songs from a really well mixed record are the S's.

I don't know how to properly DeEss myself (or anyone else for that matter). I watched tutorials and it always seems to come out perfect for them. "Slap a DeEsser on... Move this. Drop this. Done." And then I try to go in PT and mess around with it, but it never works. I still have ear piercing S's.

I mean, it's to the point where I try not to write many S words or soft C words in my lyrics.

[Retinal]

I find not so uncommon to have to work on at least
two diff frequencies for deessing on male vocalists, and usually
the most annoying tend to be the lowest of the two,
but it also happened to work of three yes, especially if tracked
with a not-so-fitting mic.

In those cases I had no problems setting 3 deessers, definitely
more natural result than try to do the job with only one.
Actually, I've always wanted the SPL de-esser module/500 version
because is dual band.

But I agree, manual editing is the way to go, altho' i think
is even better if you do both, edit manually and then set the
deessers in a way they just shave the peaks some more,
sometimes it works to set it/them as wide-band instead of
notching out a specific freq (I sometimes use SSL Ch with the
eq in dyn sc for that)

[Ol' Betsey]

For simpler jobs I usually use editing too but for multiple frequency work you should really give these a try... Really nice plug-ins.

MeldaProduction MDynamicEq, the ultimate to-do parametric equalizer

MeldaProduction MAutoDynamicEq, the ultimate automatic to-go parametric equalizer

MDynamicEq and MAutoDynamicEq released with riddiculous introductory prices!

P.S. What's up with the "link" button? Doesn't seem to be working here?

R.

[Cabrone]

I have this issue all the time.

The best way I've worked out doing it as far as de-essers verses manual, is to use the de-esser then go manual for what the de-esser isn't picking up. Manual alone is tedious and can be inconsistent, pesonally I prefer a more consistent ess removal.(Not saying you can't do it manually, I just don't have the patience lol and de-essers work)

Another big thing I learned is putting the de-esser before compression(incase you aren't doing it, try it) I'd always be putting it after, struggling to get rid of the esses and harshness, then I tried it before and it was like woaah, gone, simple.

IQ4 is a dynamic EQ that I used to use for it and found effective but got buggy in Cubase(system overloading) so stopped using it but If I found another low cpu MULTIBAND dynamic EQ, I'd probably take that over multiple de-essers. And it's free, try it out if you haven't.

My 2 cents.

[chris carter]

I've had that happen a couple times where I've had to use two de-essers. Never three. But hey, if it sounds good then no problem.... whatever works.

[David Ray]

+1 dynamic eq

Hofa iq-eq is awesome for this type of thing.

[Storyville]

This totally happens... though I tend to shy from de-essing in favor of manual rides. Sometimes it is a tonal issue where you want the vocal brighter and more present - except at certain times tones jump. I find that I may use a split-band higher de-esser (up in that 8k+ range) - and then use frequency dependent compression like wideband de-essing lower down in that upper mid becoming treble zone (the 3k,4k,5k kind of area).

I'm pretty big on frequency depending wideband compression (ie filtering the sidechain to react more strongly to a certain range). I haven't totally perfected it yet - but I find if I need REALLY present vocals a good way to do it is to compress more from the upper mids, and then boost the upper mids afterwards.

[THC480]

Thanks for everyones input, I will use all suggestions and go back into it! I might put a before and after up when I have done what I can to show others and learn myself. Appreciate! Hope yall have a good Monday D:

[EDF]

Try more selective EQing too.

[illsoulprod]

Waves C1 SC.
- Pensado's Place - Into The Lair #19 - DeEssing Vocals - YouTube
check it out in action

and thank me later

[A DJ]

Try putting the De-Esser before EQ and compression. And if you're using the stock Digidesign one, try clicking the high filter button.

[Alex Niedt]

If three de-essers is what works, don't let people tell you not to use them. Not that it even matters, but I've heard multiple top guys say they'll often de-ess in two ranges. I personally prefer clip gaining the esses and using a touch of de-essing afterward to just smooth things out, but do whatever works for you.