Deessere

Deessere refers to the process of removing or reducing sibilance from audio recordings. Sibilance is characterized by sharp, hissing sounds, often produced by the letters "s," "z," "sh," and "ch," and can be particularly noticeable in vocal performances. While a natural part of speech, excessive sibilance can be distracting and unpleasant for the listener.

De-essing is commonly employed in audio post-production, particularly in music and voice-over work. The primary goal is to make the audio more palatable without compromising the overall clarity of the speech or vocal. Various techniques and tools are used to achieve this.

One common method involves using a de-esser, which is a specialized audio processor. De-essers typically work by identifying specific frequency ranges where sibilance occurs, usually between 4 kHz and 10 kHz. When the audio signal in this frequency band exceeds a certain threshold, the de-esser automatically reduces the level of those frequencies. This is often achieved through a form of dynamic range compression that is frequency-specific.

Another approach involves manual editing, where an audio engineer selectively reduces the volume of offending sibilant sounds. This can offer more precise control but is more time-consuming. The effectiveness of de-essing depends on the source material and the skill of the audio engineer. Over-processing can lead to a muffled or unnatural sound, so a careful balance is usually sought.