Plugin interface — screenshot pending
De-esser

DeEsser

Steinberg

DeEsser is a specialized compressor designed to reduce excessive sibilance primarily for vocal recordings. It's positioned after the microphone pre-amp and before a compressor/limiter to prevent unwanted sibilants without affecting overall signal dynamics, making it ideal for close-proximity mic techniques where equalization alone isn't sufficient.

Key Features

01Adjustable frequency band (Lo/Hi borders) for precise sibilance targeting
02Solo button to isolate the frequency band during setup
03Diff mode to monitor removed sibilance content
04Threshold control (-50 to 0 dB) with Auto mode for dynamic adaptation
05Release time adjustment (1 to 1000 ms)
06Internal side-chain filter with frequency (25 Hz to 20 kHz) and Q-Factor control
07Live mode to disable look-ahead for zero-latency processing

Things to Try

  • 01Use the Solo button to isolate the frequency band and confirm you've captured the sibilant region correctly
  • 02Enable Diff mode to listen to what DeEsser is removing and verify only sharp s-sounds are being targeted
  • 03Activate Auto mode to automatically set an optimum threshold, or manually set Threshold between -50 to 0 dB for low-level signals below -30 dB peak
  • 04Position DeEsser in the signal chain after the microphone pre-amp and before a compressor/limiter to preserve overall signal dynamics

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DeEsser by Steinberg | Plugin Library