"s"

[Kyleseglin]

I'm new to vocal recording and I'm wondering if anyone can give me some pointers. My recording is coming out with "s" sounds being very high and some words being said with more emphasis than others and thusly being louder. Im using GarageBand and logic. Is the solution to this in the mixing or in the recording process itself? Thanks

[ritelec]

You are in the wrong forum...... go to mixing.

Try de'esser. Or go throw section by section, Grab the "s". Create region. Copy to another track. Mute the original "s" region. Lower volume on copied "s" region.

[Audioactive]

poor singing technique is the problem.

In the mixing process, De essing and Automation could be a partial solution

The solution is in both mixing and Recording.

[Kyleseglin]

I mean.. Is that the best way to de-ess a recording?

[Audioactive]

automation+de esser, that's the best way to fix the "s" !

[SörenHjalmarsson]

Recording:
Try to tilt your microphone slightly so that it isn't in a 90 degree relation to the singer. S-sounds are HF energy, and as we all know, HF energy is directive. By off-setting your mic slightly you prevent the s-sounds from going straight into the membrane, thus, reduce them. Experiment with the distance/angle to/from the mic...

Mix:
Just beware that too much de-essing can result in f-sounds instead of s-sounds - Automation enables you to reduce the volume of the S without destroying the S-character...

MVH
Sören

[Kyleseglin]

Awesome thanks sören I'll try that

[Torea]

Originally Posted by SörenHjalmarsson

Recording:
Try to tilt your microphone slightly so that it isn't in a 90 degree relation to the singer. S-sounds are HF energy, and as we all know, HF energy is directive. By off-setting your mic slightly you prevent the s-sounds from going straight into the membrane, thus, reduce them. Experiment with the distance/angle to/from the mic...

Mix:
Just beware that too much de-essing can result in f-sounds instead of s-sounds - Automation enables you to reduce the volume of the S without destroying the S-character...

MVH
Sören

Way to give a subforum appropriate response haha


To add on, that "s" sound is called sibilance. That should make it easier to search for other techniques, I'm sure there's a few threads on this massive site about sibilance

My personal worst favorite thing singers do is fading the word off and at the very last second blast out an "s"
"...in herrrr eyyyyyyeSSS

[SörenHjalmarsson]

Originally Posted by SörenHjalmarsson

Mix:
Just beware that too much de-essing can result in f-sounds instead of s-sounds - Automation enables you to reduce the volume of the S without destroying the S-character...

MVH
Sören

Did i type AUTOMATION?? I meant EDITING!! Why would you use automation to get rid of prominent syllables? That would only eat up computer power... Offline editing is what you would use: Cut on either side of the syllable... X-fade the cuts... adjust the syllable to an appropriate level... (Another reason is that in most sequencer programs, the volume automation takes place AFTER the signal chain, so your compressors etc., would STILL have to deal with the transient syllables... )

Always follow this order:
1. Editing
2. Signal Processing
3. Automation

Originally Posted by Torea

Way to give a subforum appropriate response haha

You know me, always try to help where i can, regardless of topic (how's your backhand by the way Torea ).


MVH
Sören

[Audioactive]

Originally Posted by SörenHjalmarsson

(Another reason is that in most sequencer programs, the volume automation takes place AFTER the signal chain, so your compressors etc., would STILL have to deal with the transient syllables... )

Always follow this order:
1. Editing
2. Signal Processing
3. Automation