Use Dangan's 'Natural' mode for more human-sounding vocal resonance cuts
Problem: harsh or sibilant vocals
The 'Natural' mode in Dangan is designed to mimic how the human ear perceives sound, making it ideal for vocal processing. It avoids overly aggressive cuts and instead focuses on smoothing out harsh resonances in a way…
Use Dangan's 'Smart' mode to automatically detect and cut vocal resonances
Problem: inconsistent vocal resonance detection
The 'Smart' mode in Dangan automatically detects resonances in the vocal signal, regardless of the volume or dynamics. This is particularly useful when dealing with signals that have varying levels or volume automation,…
Use Dangan's 'Perceptual' mode to target the most irritating frequencies in the human hearing range
Problem: over-processing or under-processing of vocal resonances
The 'Perceptual' mode in Dangan is based on the Fletcher-Munson curve, which represents how human hearing sensitivity changes with frequency and volume. This mode focuses on cutting the frequencies that are most…
Use Dangan's 'Intense' mode for aggressive, surgical vocal resonance cuts
Problem: extremely harsh or sibilant vocals
The 'Intense' mode in Dangan is designed for extreme resonance cutting, making it ideal for situations where you need to drastically reduce harsh frequencies. This mode is best used for real-time processing, such as…
Use ribbon mics to naturally tame sibilance in vocals
Problem: excessive sibilance in vocal recordings
Ribbon mics naturally roll off high frequencies, which can help reduce sibilance in vocal recordings without the need for EQ or de-essing plugins. This is a useful technique for vocalists with naturally sibilant voices,…
Use a de-esser before EQ to avoid accentuating sibilance
Problem: harsh sibilance accentuated by EQ
Sibilance can be exaggerated by high-frequency EQ boosts, so it's important to address it first. By using a de-esser before applying EQ, you remove harsh sibilant frequencies (typically around 5-8kHz) and prevent them…
Use a de-esser to constantly manage top end
Problem: vocal sibilance is harsh or distracting
Instead of aggressively clamping down on sibilance, the speaker uses a de-esser (Y's de-esser) to continuously manage the top end. This approach prevents harshness while maintaining vocal clarity. The technique ensures…
Use high-frequency de-essing at 5K-7K for sibilance
Problem: harsh sibilance, listener fatigue
Cameron identifies sibilance as a common issue in vocal tracks, especially in pop and hybrid genres. By applying a de-esser at 5K-7K, he targets harsh high-frequency consonants without dulling the vocal's presence. This…
Use suppressor plugin to reduce sibilance
Problem: Excessive sibilance in vocals
A suppressor (likely a de-esser) is used to tame excessive sharpness in vocal tracks, preventing harshness that can distract from the vocal performance.
Use D-S-ing before 1176 compressor to manage sibilance
Problem: Spitty sounds overwhelming compressor
Applying a D-S-ing (likely a de-esser or dynamic EQ) before the 1176 compressor helps control spitty sounds, allowing the compressor to act more naturally without over-crushing the vocal.
Apply de-essing during mastering
Problem: sibilance, vocal harshness
The speaker explicitly mentions de-essing as part of the mastering process. This addresses sibilance issues that may have been overlooked during mixing, ensuring vocal clarity without affecting the overall frequency…
Apply de-essing to vocals for sibilance control
Problem: Harsh vocal sibilance
The speaker identifies sibilance as a sticking-out issue in vocals. De-essing is a targeted EQ solution that reduces harsh high-frequency content without affecting vocal clarity. This is a common fix for vocal tracks…
Combine Soothe with de-essing for full sibilance control
Problem: uncontrolled sibilance in vocals
After using Soothe for tonal smoothing, the speaker adds aggressive de-essing to handle specific sibilant moments. This two-step approach addresses both constant harshness and transient sibilance, ensuring vocals remain…
Use dynamic EQ for sibilance control
Problem: excessive sibilance in vocals
Dynamic EQ only affects frequencies when they exceed a set threshold, making it ideal for taming sibilance without dulling the vocal. Unlike static EQ, it preserves natural dynamics while reducing harshness. This…
Use a resonance suppressor like Sooth for vocal sibilance and harshness
Problem: harsh vocal, over-saturated recording
The speaker used Sooth, a resonance suppressor, to address harshness and over-saturation in a vocal track. This tool is more effective than basic EQ for removing problematic resonances. It helps clean up the vocal…
Use a de-esser to control sibilance in vocals
Problem: sibilant vocal, harsh high-end
The speaker used a de-esser as part of the vocal processing chain to control sibilance (sibilant frequencies like 5-8kHz). This helps prevent harshness and ensures the vocal sits well in the mix. It's an essential step…
Avoid overcomplicating with too many plugins
Problem: mix becomes cluttered with too many plugins
Using a minimal number of plugins, such as basic compression, EQ, and de-essing, can lead to a cleaner and more focused mix. Overusing multi-band EQs or excessive processing can introduce unnecessary complexity and make…
Use a compression sandwich: compress, EQ, de-ess, compress again
Problem: uneven vocal dynamics, harsh sibilance, lack of cohesion
The compression sandwich is a four-step vocal processing method: start with compression to even out dynamics, then use EQ to shape the frequency spectrum, apply de-essing to tame sibilance, and finish with another round…
Apply de-essing to tame harsh sibilance
Problem: harsh sibilance in vocal
De-essing is used to reduce harsh sibilant frequencies (typically around 5-8kHz) that can make a vocal sound unpleasant or fatiguing to the listener. This step is crucial in pop, R&B, and hip-hop production where vocal…
Use a de-esser to reduce sibilance in vocals
Problem: overwhelming sibilance in vocals
Sibilance in vocals can be distracting and overwhelming. Using a de-esser, especially with a band-pass filter set around 10kHz, helps reduce harsh sibilant frequencies. This is a common technique in pop and R&B to ensure…
Automate gain to control sibilance and breaths
Problem: overly loud sibilance and breaths
Sibilant sounds and breaths can be overly loud and distracting in a vocal track. By manually automating the gain on these sections, you can reduce their volume and make them sit more naturally in the mix. This technique…
Use a D-Esser to control sibilance
Problem: harsh sibilance
Sibilance can be a major issue in vocal tracks, especially in pop and R&B. A D-Esser is a specialized tool that targets and reduces harsh sibilant frequencies (typically around 5-10kHz) without affecting the rest of the…
Use a spectrum analyzer to help with de-essing
Problem: harsh sibilance
A spectrum analyzer can be a valuable tool for identifying and targeting sibilant frequencies during de-essing. By visualizing the frequency content of a vocal track, you can more accurately apply de-essing to reduce…
Use Pro DS for de-essing vocals
Problem: harsh or sibilant vocals
Ethan recommends using the Pro DS plugin with the 'DSing and Music' preset for de-essing vocals. This helps reduce harsh sibilance and smooth out the vocal's high-frequency content. It's a simple and effective way to…