Nectar’s De-Esser is a powerful tool for controlling sibilance on vocal takes as well as other high frequency problems. Traditionally, De-Essing dynamically reduces loud sibilant noises by means of a threshold and ratio. Nectar’s hardware-modeled De-Esser is level-independent allowing you to consistently and transparently reduce sibilance on inconsistent audio like vocals.

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De-esser plugin for vocals The free Spitfish de-esser VST plugin by Digital Fish Phones is an easy to use de-esser effect, aimed mainly at vocal tracks (mono or stereo). Just like the classic analog hardware de-essers, the Spitfish de-esser dynamically filters out harsh, annoying s-like sounds that would otherwise 'spit' in your face.

Available for Download. Reset Vocals Pitch 10 Autotune 7 Multi-Effect 7 Pitch-Shifter 7 Compressor 3 Dynamics 3 Audio-Restoration 2 Channel-Strip 2 De-Esser 2 Delay 2 Modulators 2 Vocoder 2 Analog 1 Chorus 1 De-Noise 1 EQ 1 Envelope-Follower 1 Expander 1 FX 1 Gate 1. Sep 02, 2019 iZotope Nectar Features! Main modules include EQ, Harmony, Compressors, Dimension, De-esser, and Pitch & Auto Level. Vocal Assistant listens to your audio, then detects and makes corrections automatically. Unmask positions vocals front and center by moving other mix elements out of the way.

How Nectar’s De-Esser Works

Nectar's De-Esser performs its processing independent of the incoming audio level. Whether your vocals are loud or soft, the amount of De-Essing taking place will be the same. This is performed by analyzing the current level of the audio above the specified frequency parameter, and measuring how loud it is in proportion to the full-bandwidth signal of your vocal take. If a large difference is detected due to a sibilance, an amount of Ess gain reduction will be applied.

Controls

Ess

Sets the threshold and controls the amount of gain reduction that is applied to the incoming vocal take when a sibilance is detected. If the detected sibilance is over the threshold, the amount of gain reduction is relative to how high the signal goes above the threshold. This gain reduction is applied quickly and transparently to the entire incoming vocal take, instead of simply reducing the gain of a particular set of frequencies. This allows for much more natural sibilant reduction and prevents the effect of the singer having a lisp.

Ess Only

Allows you to audition the detected sibilance that is above the threshold. This can be useful if you find you need to adjust the Frequency control.

Frequency

The frequency control is used to set how the De-Esser is going to detect incoming sibilant material. This control serves as a cutoff point in which everything above the specified frequency will be used to detect sibilance, in proportion to the level of the full-bandwidth audio take. In general, this control can be left at its default value of 2500 Hz and should not need to be adjusted much in order to achieve excellent results on a wide variety of material.

Visuals

Gain Reduction Trace

The Gain Reduction Trace is a scrolling meter that displays the incoming signal’s waveform with a superimposed tracing that illustrates the amount of gain reduction taking place in real-time.

Mini-spectrum Display

Each module of Nectar features a display of the frequency spectrum at the top for reference while making changes to your audio within the module.

The Threshold Control

The Threshold Control is a meter that allows you to adjust the threshold of the De-Esser with a slider on the left side. Additionally, the Threshold Control allows you to monitor how the detected sibilance is being affected, by displaying gain reduction as it is taking place.

Two meters display the levels of the detected sibilance and the gain reduction. As gain reduction begins to take place, a gain reduction meter appears in red between the two level bars. The Threshold meter also displays the amount of gain reduction in real-time with a dB readout at the bottom.

Dynamic Curve Meter

The Y (vertical) axis of the graph represents the amount of gain reduction in dB being applied to your vocals. The X (horizontal) axis shows the difference in level between the high frequency audio content as defined by the Frequency control, and the overall level of the incoming audio.

Node

The meter features a node for the De-Esser’s threshold. The node is linked to the Threshold control and can be used to adjust the curve in a visual way, rather than setting it with the standard controls.

Tracking vs. Mixing Mode

In Mixing Mode, Nectar’s De-Esser module will make use of lookahead in order to provide the most transparent results. However, this mode requires a small amount of latency (delay). In Tracking Mode, the De-Esser will use very little latency to assist in tracking, but will be less transparent.

Overview

A de-esser can be used to control sibilance and tame other high frequency issues in a vocal track. Traditionally, a de-esser dynamically reduces loud sibilant content using a threshold and ratio. The Nectar De-esser module is a hardware-modeled level independent processer, allowing for consistent and transparent reduction of sibilance in signals with variable levels, like a vocal track. The De-esser works by analyzing the current level above a specified frequency cutoff and comparing that level against the level of the full frequency bandwidth of the signal. When large differences in level are detected, gain reduction will be applied to the entire incoming vocal signal.

Module Interface Guide

The image below outlines the controls and meters available in the De-esser module.

Controls

The De-esser module includes controls for adjusting the detection and reduction of sibilant frequency content. The controls are positioned on the right side (upper frequency range) of the De-esser module panel.

Detection Filter Cutoff

Determines the lower frequency boundary for the detection filter frequency band. Any frequency content that is above the cutoff frequency will be used for De-esser detection.

The detection filter cutoff can be set to frequency values ranging from 800 Hz (Hertz) to 8 kHz (kilohertz).

Adjusting the Detection Cutoff Frequency

The detection filter cutoff frequency can be adjusted using the following methods:

Izotope De Esser

• Click and drag the node at the top of the De-esser module panel to the left (lower frequency value) or right (higher frequency value).
• Click on the cutoff frequency text readout display and enter a value manually in the inline edit field. The current frequency readout is located on the bottom edge of the De-esser module panel, to the right of the Detection Cutoff Frequency line.
• Double-click on the cutoff node handle to reset the Detection Cutoff Frequency to the factory default value.

Threshold

Determines the threshold level for ess reduction and the amount of gain reduction applied to the incoming signal when sibilance is detected.

When sibilance is detected and its level exceeds the Threshold level, the De-esser will apply reduction to the entire bandwidth of the incoming signal.

The amount of reduction applied to the signal depends on how much the sibilance level exceeds the Threshold. More gain reduction will be applied as the sibilance level increases farther above the Threshold level.

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Adjusting the Threshold

The Threshold can be adjusted using the following methods:

• Click and drag the Threshold handle up and down to adjust the level.
• Click on the Threshold level readout text and enter a value manually in the inline edit field. The Threshold level readout is located on the right edge of the De-esser module panel, directly above the Threshold line.
• Double-click on the Threshold slider handle to reset the Threshold to the factory default value.

Listen

When enabled, the signal content that is being reduced by the De-esser is played back in isolation.

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Tip

Engage Listen to monitor the difference between the unprocessed and processed signals. This outputs only the signal content being reduced by the De-esser. Try adjusting the Threshold and Detection Filter Cutoff until the Listen output only contains the ess sounds you are trying to reduce.

Global Module Controls

The module chain features common controls for each module, including Bypass, Solo, Remove, Reorder, and Wet/Dry Mix.

Global Controls Chapter

To learn more about the module chain and other global controls in Nectar 3, visit the Global Controls chapter.

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Meters

The De-esser module features two spectrum analyzers (pre- and post-processing) and a gain reduction meter for monitoring the effect of the De-esser processing. Learn guitar garageband ipad.

Spectrum Analyzer

Displays the magnitude of a signal across the frequency spectrum in real-time. The vertical ruler on the left edge of the module panel measures the amplitude of the signal in decibels (dB). The horizontal ruler along the bottom edge of the module panel measures frequency in Hertz (Hz).

Two spectrum analyzers are displayed in the De-esser module: the input to the De-esser module (displayed in dark grey with no border) and the output of the De-esser module (displayed in light grey with a white border).

Gain Reduction Meter

Displays the current average amount of gain reduction applied to the signal. This meter displays gain reduction in decibels (dB).