De-esser in DP 7 ?

[dpdan]

you got it Phil
for pops too!
Dan

[Timeline]

In the Waves renaissance plugs their Deesser I find blows away UA or anything I can manufacture out of a multi-band DP plug but it's not cheap.

I use both Waves and UAD... I prefer the UAD

I have both as well. I can use many more waves than UA too which is another plus.

[Eleventh Hour Sound]

I've been using the Antares De-esser since that's all I have. I think that's a great observation that esses are usually at the same volume while the dynamics of the vocal may vary quite a bit. Anyone use the Eiosis E2Deesser? It seems pretty neat, but pretty complicated to set up.

[Eleventh Hour Sound]

Hi Phil,
If you have a solution that works that's great.

The thing that I wanted to point out, (if one doesn't have a specific de-esser plugin) is drawing a sharp "V" in the soundbite's EQ gain automation which will quickly cut the gain of an EQ set with a very narrow bandwidth..., this will probably yield better results. And assuming the frequency is dead on for the es' pitch, this will be more time consuming, but will better.
Once you draw a nice V that works well, you can copy it and paste it over all the esses.
It is good to realize that the "S" sound produced by a vocalist is usually the same volume regardless of the notes being sung. So, if this (home-made) de-esser was post volume automation, it would not be as effective.

I know this kind of anal editing is not for sissies,,, but the results are great, it just depends on how perfect one wants it to be.

just my 2 cents
Dan

Dan, I like the idea of what you're saying because sometimes there's some specific esses that bug me. To try your method, do I choose an EQ, find the offending freq and then then set the EQ's gain automation to cut at the right time? Which EQ do you recommend?

[Shooshie]

I know this kind of anal editing is not for sissies,,, but the results are great, it just depends on how perfect one wants it to be.

just my 2 cents
Dan

But, you are right, Dan. I wouldn't call fussy editing "anal," just good engineering. Sometimes to get really good results there are simply no shortcuts. But of course, when cost is a concern the shortcuts become necessary. A de-esser is one of those items I usually put in the "shortcut" category. I totally agree with you that careful automation usually yields better results for esses and also pops.

Phil

By all means, don't apologize for quality. I'm so sick of the mentality that thinks there must be something weird about people who do things right! If you're a member of the 90th Percentile or Above Club, let it shine in what you create and how you teach others.

Shoosh

[waterstrum]

I have been really concerned about de-essing in the past.
Then I listen to many current hit recordings and there are huge essess.
What is up with this?
I think there may be new rules.
The old school thing may not apply.

[Eleventh Hour Sound]

There's a free trial and a pretty interesting video demo of the eiosis e2deesser. It's pricey though, I think about $240 USD. I'm curious what you guys think...

http://www.eiosis.com/e2deesser

[Phil O]

I have been really concerned about de-essing in the past.
Then I listen to many current hit recordings and there are huge essess.
What is up with this?
I think there may be new rules.
The old school thing may not apply.

For some reason I have a high tolerance for esses. I tend to de-ess a lot less than is popular. If I find that a vocalist is prone to the "s" problem, I'll try to fix it with mic position. If esses are really annoying in the mix I'll do something about it, but the occasional one that pokes it head above the mix I'll pull back with automation a little, or I might just leave it alone. But, I think you're right. The trend seems to be towards more ess tolerance lately.

But, then again there was Herman's Hermits (in the olden days). "There's a kind of husssshhhh..."

Phil

[funkyfreddy]

Interesting discussion....... I wanted to add some observations about steel string guitars...... sometimes you a very high pitched sound similar a vocalist's s sounds when your hands slide across the strings..... especially when changing chords on certain guitars. This can be very problematic when recording acoustics, as problematic a vocalist's s sounds

I seem to remember a John Lennon recording that this stood out on, so much so that it irritated me at the time when i was listening to it. I guess I'm going to dig in with some eq automation next time I have this problem.....

Thanks for all of your observations!

[dpdan]

Hi recording arts..
I use DP's MW EQ. I set the bandwidth as narrow as I can get it,
then at the right exact moment via automation, the gain is lowered
during the "S".

Works great!
My favorite De-esser of all time is the DBX 902,
I sold my last one about a year ago on eBay.

It was not only for de-essing, but also lowering the screeeeatch
sound of fingers sliding on strings of guitars.

Shooshie, I know we are alot alike, I love sharing.
Dan

[HCMarkus]

I think the reason there is more tolerance for ess sounds is because we are no longer using analog recording media. Tape saturates and distorts with excessive HF content, one reason full-bandwidth de-essers used to be the rule... they would remove both the recorded ess and the low-frequency artifacts accompanying them.

[HCMarkus]

Whatever you do, DON'T give your artist a lisp by overdoing the de-essing!
Better a little too much ess than too little ess.

[ECmaj7]

Eiosis E²Deesser

http://www.eiosis.com/e2deesser

You have to try it.

[BKK-OZ]

FYI, essOOOess article on de-fffing