reducing sybillance... SSSSSSSSSS

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billisa

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My spelling has to be wrong, but can you tell me what frequency sybillance is strongest at, so I can reduce that parameter on my EQ. My SSSSS's are way too strong. Thanks.
 
billisa said:
My spelling has to be wrong, but can you tell me what frequency sybillance is strongest at, so I can reduce that parameter on my EQ. My SSSSS's are way too strong. Thanks.

I'd try some different mic placements first and or different mic's. Try placing the mic at about at the bridge of your nose in height and point it down a little towards the mouth. I believe the sibilance sounds are strongest at around 5kHz to 10kHz so try at about 8kHz or so.
 
sweep an EQ with a fairly narrow Q setting boosted around 10dB until you get the worst sounding esses. Then try cutting at that frequency.
 
or you could get a de esser.............but i think that 7 or 8 khz is where the most ssssss sound is..............i dunno though......i've only messed around with de-essing..........never really needed it yet.
 
Depends on the voice, I actually have a singer hold an sssss and then sweep the freq untill all the lights light up on the meter on my dbx263a. Which was a great deal at 12.00 on ebay.
 
if you're working on a DAW, there's a free de-esser for download on the dx files site. i can't find the link now.
 
ssssssssssssssssss

De-essers (software or hardware) will help solve the problem but you should attempt to find out why the "ssssssssssss" sound is so pronounced.
An experienced vocal coach can help with this.
Sometimes it's a "teeth" thing.
The best thing singers and announcers can do to prevent mouth problems is to take care of their teeth!
Nothing sounds worse on a song or hearing a radio announcer with clacking or whistling dentures or air moving through missing teeth.
Mic technique also can help.
Try going across the diaphram instead of directly into it or at an angle.
Raise or lower the mic, move it closer or futher away.
And remember, every time you add another piece of gear to the chain, the more chance of degradation there is to the final sound.
 
Yeah calling in a vocal coach is a swell idea, think of all the extra studio time could be spent teaching a singer technique , when the meter is running.:cool: :rolleyes:
 
Sibilance is commonly around 7.5 Khz so try a notch filter around there and see if that helps.

Tom
 
Actually when its mine, arround 4khz, and the highest soprano I ever did this for was right about 6.5khz. so the pitch does matter and its different for everyone.
 
If I remember correctly, a de-esser looks to compress a problem frequency when that frequency reaches a certain threshold... but does not reduce or compress those frequencies below the threshold.

By simply finding the problem frequency and attenuating it... you aren't really de-essing. You are shaping the frequency response... which will help with sibilance, but there will be some sacrifice as a result.
 

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