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Sabine Smart Spectrum
®
Wireless
LIT-SWM6-7000-OG-EN-110203.indd
© 2011 Sabine
, Inc.
9. DE-ESSER
9.1. De-mystifying De-essers
Certain consonant sounds produced by the human voice contain more energy
than others, and have the potential to overload a microphone capsule. This
can produce a disproportionately harsh result when amplified through a sound
system, and/or recorded to analog or digital storage media. The most common
and obvious of these sounds (in English and many languages) is the “ssss”
sound, associated with pronunciation of both “s” and soft “c” consonants, also the
consonants “t,” “f,” “x” and sometimes “d.” The technical term for this particular
vocal sound is “sibilance,” and the devices that control such sounds are typically
called “de-essers” (or sometimes sibilance controllers). The frequency range of
sibilance will vary depending on the singer/speaker, the consonant involved, the
orientation to the microphone, the microphone itself, and the normal variations
in human vocalization. Cardioid- pattern condenser microphones are especially
susceptible to sibilance problems, but the problem can also occur with other types
and patterns of microphones. The range of frequencies affected by sibilance
starts above 2 KHz, and generally tapers off above 10 KHz; in other words,
sibilance is primarily a problem associated with higher frequencies (though not
the upper octave of human hearing).
9.2. The Sabine De-esser
The Sabine De-esser is essentially a type of frequency-band compressor, active
in the 2-10 KHz range, and inactive below 2KHz and above 10 KHz. Sabine’s al-
gorithm works by dynamically comparing band-specific and associated harmonic
energy levels to the total signal energy. When spikes are detected that correspond
to sibilance, a shelving filter is imposed on the appropriate frequency bands, and
remains in place only for the duration of the sibilance. High frequency energy
levels that remain below the comparison threshold do not trigger de-essing, and
lows and highs outside the sibilance range are also passed unprocessed and
unaffected. This means the Sabine De-esser is effective but transparent.
9.3. using the De-esser
Using the Sabine De-esser is simplicity itself. Turning the knob labeled “DE-
ESS CUT” counterclockwise will increase the amount of sibilance reduction, by
increasing the maximum depth of the shelving filter. The maximum allowable
cut is 24 dB.
Fig. 9a: De-esser
De-esser
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