How can i stop the SSSSS sound?

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Dresta187

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Wen i record on my mic i keep getting a Ssss on the playback..

could it just be the position the mic is in?
the position or the distance the vocalist is wen in front of mic?
i mean im not sure at all how to make the Ssss totally not there..

the equipment im using is Garageband(unfortunatly for now)
and the mic is the "AKG C414 XLS"

please any help would be much appreciated thanks
 
I just asked this a couple months ago. The general responses were:

-Keep the singer back a little, a foot or so is a good distance.
-Sing a little off-axis.
-Dont hiss, shorten the "S" consonant. Get on it, and get *off* it.
-Don't sing any lyrics with S's in them :D

The thread: https://homerecording.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=303421
 
When you say Ssss, do you mean a constant hiss from the mic, or exagerated Sss sounds from the singer. If it's the singer, along with what was mentioned above, look up de-esser
 
Washburn100 said:
When you say Ssss, do you mean a constant hiss from the mic, or exagerated Sss sounds from the singer. If it's the singer, along with what was mentioned above, look up de-esser
Click to expand...

naw its the SSsss after a word, for example if i said "Restless" its sounds like a high frequency and the end that Sssss at you ha.. \

but thanks everyone im goin to try to hit the mic at somewhat of an angle and get a little farther

if anyone got anymore opinions or help .. plz do
 
oh yeah also wen i do get the Ssss sound at the end of some words.. i put this eq on it called reduce "S" sound.. and it makes it go away but it makes the vocals sound muffed.. and i dont like the way it sounds.

it seemed to me like it was the high frequencies that were bothering with the "SSss"
so i would try to reduce the highs a little. but im not sure how much is a good amount
 
My last song had a ton of siblance, I went thru and did volume automation and just turned the problem S's down. They're ez to find, the waveform has a distinct look.. Pull the faders back a few db, sounds perfect... It's just dinking around you wouldn't have to do if you could eliminate it during tracking..
 
To get a good vocal sound recorded I use the classic Motown technique. a large condenser set back a foot and at a height just above the eyebrows and set a pop screen between. For some reason singers feel that to get a good recording you need the mic right up to their face, for them I will set up a dynamic mic, with the other set up behind, sometimes i might mix some of the dynamic in but usually it's a dummy or just for effects.
 
Another thing to consider

Aside from the physical recommendations mentioned above, and I almost hate to say this, but for someone with a siblance problem (siblance is what the 'ssss' problem your referring to is called), you also might want to try a different mic, preferrably a dynamic. While not specifically a mic problem, some mics have a tendancy to accentuate siblance more than others. While the 414 is certainly a stellar mic for many singers, IMO it tends to accentuate siblance. I hate to say it because I don't want you to think you can totally fix the problem just by changing mics. It's simply one more link in the chain of fixes to consider after applying the previously mentioned corrections.

Good luck.
 
I would try a different mic. Anytime you use a de-esser it's trade off and I'd avoid it, I've never used one. It's got to sound 99% of the way there with no eq, flat up. The problem is the mic/singer marriage - it needs a divorce.

I would avoid the common pantyhose type filters, the mic already has a pop filter, you shouldn't need a second, they take off valuable high end.
 
well i hav a dynamic mic i used to use before i got the mic i use now. But i didnt really like the dynamic sound compared to the condensor mic

Could the siblance in a recording be because of the program thats being used?
for instance i use garage band culd it be a preset eq im using or just the program it self??
 
A dbx263 is like magic on that...Ill just patch it in and bounce a troublesome track with it in the line...the best thing is that they go for about 20 bucks on ebay
 
Not sure how your recording sequence goes but you'll see this problem often with cheaper mics or with cardoids set wrong. You'll also get this if you're using a cheap sound card or not going through a preamp.

Not to worry though as stated you have quite a few solutions, when this happens in my studio it's usually just a matter of lowering the frequencies/highs of the recording, and or turning your gain down and bass/mids up. OR simply pay attention to your mic control more, move your head to the side a bit during the S's similar to when an artist belts and moves the mic away.

You should try to catch it BEFORE it gets into your machine so you don't have to process it too much or mess with the original.

Lastly, it could very easily also be your environment/the way your room is treated. Try recording (unless you're in a booth?) so whatever is behind the mic is not a wall that bounces the sounds right back - aim yourself towards an angle and try dampening your room (or even get a few blankets/towels/a fort around you to absorb the sound more - then you can move a bit further away from the mic and drop your highs easier).

EDIT: GarageBand - even get Audacity (free) so you can compare recording from one to the other - never tried GB or know what compressors if any they use so go for raw pcm recording.

.02
 
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Yeah...singing off-axis into the mic and being conscious of the SSSS words are your best approach.

You can sing on-axis, and then just gently tilt your head away for the SSSS words.
Or...place the mic up or down a little from where you mouth is, so you're not hitting a bull's eye with the SSSS's.
I like to tilt the mic just little left or right on its vertical position, so the capsule is something like \ or / (though that's too drastic looking)...just a couple of degrees, so I'm not hitting it straight-on like this "T"...get it?

The best thing is to try and make the SSSS's sounds, and then move ytour head around the mic until you find the positions that remove a lot of it but without dramaticlaly affecting ther rest of the vocal.
 
I love the weay all you helpful people have provided ideas and links.
Pity the OP didn't use the search 1st.
Excellent scatter of approaches to the problem.
 
eq down between the range 8000 - 9000Hz to get rid of your annoying SSS sibalance sounds.
But dont over eq otherwise you cant hear your sss.
 
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