brooklyn:Brooklyn/Tech/Audio/Sibilance - Revision history

Gareth: Better image of dynamic gain reduction

2026-05-22T15:02:16Z

Better image of dynamic gain reduction

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:02, 22 May 2026
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	To address sibilance—the harsh, irritating "essss" sound—on a DiGiCo Sx1, one can use a dynamic EQ:		To address sibilance—the harsh, irritating "essss" sound—on a DiGiCo Sx1, one can use a dynamic EQ:

	<pic src="/images/a/a1/~~Sibilance.s31.dynamiceq~~.jpg" width="100%" align="text" caption="DiGiCo's S31 dynamic EQ: Here, the ~~green~~ band has the dynamic EQ turned on; here, around 5 kHz, the volume is currently being lowered." />		<pic src="/images/b/be/Dynamic_EQ_on_S31_for_sibilance.jpg" width="100%" align="text" caption="DiGiCo's S31 dynamic EQ: Here, the blue band has the dynamic EQ turned on; here, around 5.5 kHz, the volume is currently being lowered, which corresponds to the RTA frequency during the 's' sound." />

	=== Steps to follow: ===		=== Steps to follow: ===

Gareth: Instructions first, in more detail, to easily apply; theory later

2026-01-26T18:41:03Z

Instructions first, in more detail, to easily apply; theory later

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:41, 26 January 2026
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	== Sibilance ==		== Sibilance ==
	To address ~~sibilance on~~ a DiGiCo Sx1, ~~once~~ can use a dynamic EQ:		To address sibilance—the harsh, irritating "essss" sound—on a DiGiCo Sx1, one can use a dynamic EQ:

	~~<pic src="/images/d/d7/Dynamic_EQ_on_S31_for_sibilance.png" />~~		<pic src="/images/a/a1/Sibilance.s31.dynamiceq.jpg" width="100%" align="text" caption="DiGiCo's S31 dynamic EQ: Here, the green band has the dynamic EQ turned on; here, around 5 kHz, the volume is currently being lowered." />

	<pic src="/images/a/a1/Sibilance.s31.dynamiceq.jpg" width="100%" align="text" caption="DiGiCo's S31 dynamic EQ: Here, the green band has the dynamic EQ turned on; here, around 5 kHz, the volume is currently being lowered~~. For the purpose of de-essing, the mode (top right) must be set to 'Over' so that when the level at 5 kHz exceeds the threshold, then the level of the 5 kHz band is reduced~~." />

	=== Steps to follow: ===		=== Steps to follow: ===

	* Touch the "Show dyn EQ" button, and then switch one of the EQs to a dyanmic EQ		* Touch the "Show dyn EQ" button in the menu bar, and then switch one of the EQs to a dyanmic EQ
	* ~~The~~ EQ must be in "Over mode", i.e. arrow on threshold pointing to right, i.e. when level is higher than threshold, the ~~dynamic~~ EQ ~~has an effect~~		* Dynamic EQ must be in "Over mode", i.e. arrow on threshold pointing to right, i.e. when level is higher than threshold, the EQ adjustment is applied
	* ~~Compression~~ ratio of 2:1 to 3:1 has enough of an effect without influencing the sound too much		* Dynamic compression ratio of 2:1 to 3:1 has enough of an effect without influencing the sound too much
	* The compressor must typically be quite fast, i.e. short times, to sound as natural as possible		* The compressor must typically be quite fast, i.e. short times, to sound as natural as possible
	* ~~Centre~~ frequency typically in the range 3 to 7 kHz		* EQ frequency typically in the range 3 to 8 kHz
	* ~~Gain of compressor~~ should be ~~–10~~ to ~~–20~~ dB		* EQ gain should be –5 to –15 dB; if too much, intelligibility will be reduced
	* Q typically 1 or higher		* EQ Q typically 1 or higher

	=== What exactly is sibilance? ===		=== What exactly is sibilance? ===
	Sometimes a vocal can sound very ~~irritating—listen~~ to 10 s of this (start at 4:01):		Sometimes audio that has been pre-recorded and prepared for playback can have too much harshness:

			<youtube>mAlhPGCET8M</youtube>

			or a live vocal can sound very irritating, especially in Afrikaans—same video, [[https://www.youtube.com/live/mAlhPGCET8M?t=1383 later at 23:03]].

			Also, listen to 10 s of this (start at 4:01):

	<youtube>JEHmr1__AsM</youtube>		<youtube>JEHmr1__AsM</youtube>

	That “S” sound at the end of a word is called “sibilance”. It occurs typically in the 4 to 8 kHz range; that same range is needed to get clarity and presence in a vocal. Too much, almost like ~~symbols~~, very quickly becomes very irritating. However, too little, and a person ~~battle~~ to hear what is being said.		That “S” sound at the end of a word is called “sibilance”. It occurs typically in the 3 to 8 kHz range; that same range is needed to get clarity and presence in a vocal. Too much, almost like cymbals, very quickly becomes very irritating. However, too little, and a person battles to hear what is being said.

	<pic src="/images/e/e7/Sibilance.wy_of_wys.png" width=100% align=text caption="From the clip: This is the 'wy' of 'wys' in 'Wil ek vir jou wys wat leer...': the frequencies shown at the bottom correspond to the yellow cursor at the top."/>		<pic src="/images/e/e7/Sibilance.wy_of_wys.png" width=100% align=text caption="From the clip: This is the 'wy' of 'wys' in 'Wil ek vir jou wys wat leer...': the frequencies shown at the bottom correspond to the yellow cursor at the top."/>

	<pic src="/images/7/7e/Sibilance.s_of_wys.png" width=100% align=text caption="This is the 's' of 'wys' in 'Wil ek vir jou wys wat leer...'—note the portion that is significantly louder. The 5 kHz peaks at –50 dB, which was previously –63 dB—that’s a 13 dB difference, which represents more than four times the volume (6 dB is a doubling)."/>		<pic src="/images/7/7e/Sibilance.s_of_wys.png" width=100% align=text caption="This is the 's' of 'wys' in 'Wil ek vir jou wys wat leer...'—note the portion that is significantly louder. The 5 kHz peaks at –50 dB, which was previously –63 dB—that’s a 13 dB difference, which represents more than four times the volume (6 dB is a doubling)."/>


	The process of removing sibiliance is called “de-essing” or “desibilising” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-essing).		The process of removing sibiliance is called “de-essing” or “desibilising” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-essing).

	The first step in the process of improving sound is normally recording better quality sound at the sound, thus placing the microphone further away ~~(which Marthinus already does)~~, and aiming the microphone higher or lower (away from the mouth), as you can see in, for e.g. https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/managing-sibilance or https://urm.academy/death-to-sibilance/.		The first step in the process of improving sound is normally recording better quality sound at the sound, thus placing the microphone further away, and aiming the microphone higher or lower (away from the mouth), as you can see in, for e.g. https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/managing-sibilance or https://urm.academy/death-to-sibilance/.

	If one already has the sound, you can process it via an EQ. The challenge with this is that taking away too much of the “s” sound results in losing clarity and presence. Thus one wants to only take away the problematic portions when they are excessive, but leave them the rest of the time, i.e. compress that which annoys, but only when necessary.		If one already has the sound, you can process it via an EQ. The challenge with this is that taking away too much of the “s” sound results in losing clarity and presence. Thus one wants to only take away the problematic portions when they are excessive, but leave them the rest of the time, i.e. compress that which annoys, but only when necessary.

	<pic src="/images/c/c1/Sibilance.reaper.de-esser.png" width=100% align=text caption="Reaper’s built-in 'De-esser'"/>		<pic src="/images/c/c1/Sibilance.reaper.de-esser.png" width=100% align=text caption="Reaper’s built-in 'De-esser'"/>


	Reaper’s “De-esser” is a single-band dynamic EQ.		Reaper’s “De-esser” is a single-band dynamic EQ.

Nardus at 11:35, 26 January 2026

2026-01-26T11:35:23Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:35, 26 January 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	== Sibilance ==		== Sibilance ==
	To address sibilance on a DiGiCo Sx1, once can use a dynamic EQ:		To address sibilance on a DiGiCo Sx1, once can use a dynamic EQ:

			<pic src="/images/d/d7/Dynamic_EQ_on_S31_for_sibilance.png" />

	<pic src="/images/a/a1/Sibilance.s31.dynamiceq.jpg" width="100%" align="text" caption="DiGiCo's S31 dynamic EQ: Here, the green band has the dynamic EQ turned on; here, around 5 kHz, the volume is currently being lowered. For the purpose of de-essing, the mode (top right) must be set to 'Over' so that when the level at 5 kHz exceeds the threshold, then the level of the 5 kHz band is reduced." />		<pic src="/images/a/a1/Sibilance.s31.dynamiceq.jpg" width="100%" align="text" caption="DiGiCo's S31 dynamic EQ: Here, the green band has the dynamic EQ turned on; here, around 5 kHz, the volume is currently being lowered. For the purpose of de-essing, the mode (top right) must be set to 'Over' so that when the level at 5 kHz exceeds the threshold, then the level of the 5 kHz band is reduced." />

Gareth: More specific steps to address sibilance

2026-01-26T11:19:22Z

More specific steps to address sibilance

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 == Sibilance ==
 Sometimes a vocal can sound very irritating—listen to 10 s of this (start at 4:01):
@@ Line 20: / Line 35: @@
-Reaper’s “De-esser” is a single-band dynamic EQ. In the DiGiCo S31 we have this same functionality available via a dynamic EQ:
+Reaper’s “De-esser” is a single-band dynamic EQ.

Nardus: Created page with "== Sibilance == Sometimes a vocal can sound very irritating—listen to 10 s of this (start at 4:01): JEHmr1AsM That “S” sound at the end of a word is called “sibilance”. It occurs typically in the 4 to 8 kHz range; that same range is needed to get clarity and presence in a vocal. Too much, almost like symbols, very quickly becomes very irritating. However, too little, and a person battle to hear what is being said.
2024-10-21T18:47:40Z

Created page with "== Sibilance == Sometimes a vocal can sound very irritating—listen to 10 s of this (start at 4:01): <youtube>JEHmr1AsM</youtube> That “S” sound at the end of a word is called “sibilance”. It occurs typically in the 4 to 8 kHz range; that same range is needed to get clarity and presence in a vocal. Too much, almost like symbols, very quickly becomes very irritating. However, too little, and a person battle to hear what is being said. <pic src="/images/e/e7/..."

New page
== Sibilance ==
Sometimes a vocal can sound very irritating—listen to 10 s of this (start at 4:01):

<youtube>JEHmr1__AsM</youtube>

That “S” sound at the end of a word is called “sibilance”. It occurs typically in the 4 to 8 kHz range; that same range is needed to get clarity and presence in a vocal. Too much, almost like symbols, very quickly becomes very irritating. However, too little, and a person battle to hear what is being said.

<pic src="/images/e/e7/Sibilance.wy_of_wys.png" width=100% align=text caption="From the clip: This is the 'wy' of 'wys' in 'Wil ek vir jou wys wat leer...': the frequencies shown at the bottom correspond to the yellow cursor at the top."/>

<pic src="/images/7/7e/Sibilance.s_of_wys.png" width=100% align=text caption="This is the 's' of 'wys' in 'Wil ek vir jou wys wat leer...'—note the portion that is significantly louder. The 5 kHz peaks at –50 dB, which was previously –63 dB—that’s a 13 dB difference, which represents more than four times the volume (6 dB is a doubling)."/>

The process of removing sibiliance is called “de-essing” or “desibilising” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-essing).

The first step in the process of improving sound is normally recording better quality sound at the sound, thus placing the microphone further away (which Marthinus already does), and aiming the microphone higher or lower (away from the mouth), as you can see in, for e.g. https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/managing-sibilance or https://urm.academy/death-to-sibilance/.

If one already has the sound, you can process it via an EQ. The challenge with this is that taking away too much of the “s” sound results in losing clarity and presence. Thus one wants to only take away the problematic portions when they are excessive, but leave them the rest of the time, i.e. compress that which annoys, but only when necessary.

<pic src="/images/c/c1/Sibilance.reaper.de-esser.png" width=100% align=text caption="Reaper’s built-in 'De-esser'"/>

Reaper’s “De-esser” is a single-band dynamic EQ. In the DiGiCo S31 we have this same functionality available via a dynamic EQ:

<pic src="/images/a/a1/Sibilance.s31.dynamiceq.jpg" width=100% align=text caption="DiGiCo's S31 dynamic EQ: Here, the green band has the dynamic EQ turned on; here, around 5 kHz, the volume is currently being lowered. For the purpose of de-essing, the mode (top right) must be set to 'Over' so that when the level at 5 kHz exceeds the threshold, then the level of the 5 kHz band is reduced."/>

=== General guidelines ===

To find the most appropriate centre frequency: while sweeping, boost the frequency so that it sound worse, because it’s easier to hear increased irritation than a reduction of irritation. In the S31-world one can do this in a live environment by routing the same input to an unused channel, and then mute and solo that channel, and listen for the most problematic frequency in the headphones. At Brooklyn Campus specifically, there is a channel named “Test” that you can use for this purpose.

The dynamic EQ threshold needs to be high enough to not influence other sounds too much, but low enough to result in a significant improvement in the sibilance.

The compressor must typically be quite fast, i.e. short times, to sound as natural as possible.