Best De-esser

[jamcat]

Try as I might, I’ve never found a software de-esser that works as well as my old hardware DBX 263x. I still use it to this day, via an external send/return loop into my DAW. Basically, a one knob affair that just works. Yes, not a convenient plug-in solution…but an excellent sounding alternative for all kinds of troublesome sibilant vocals.

Have you tried Lindell Audio 902 De-Esser?
It models the dbx 902.

[osiris]

https://www.kvraudio.com/product/lisp-b ... y-time-dsp

I use Lisp. Old but good at what it does.

[Weasel-Boy]

Try as I might, I’ve never found a software de-esser that works as well as my old hardware DBX 263x. I still use it to this day, via an external send/return loop into my DAW. Basically, a one knob affair that just works. Yes, not a convenient plug-in solution…but an excellent sounding alternative for all kinds of troublesome sibilant vocals.

Have you tried Lindell Audio 902 De-Esser?
It models the dbx 902.

I've used both the hardware 902 and 263x. The 902 doesn't work or sound like the 263x. Two different animals. The only thing they have in common is the DBX name. I'm sure Lindell did a wonderful emulation of the 902, but there is something magical about how well the hardware 263x just nails it in seconds. I'd love to see someone take a shot at a 263x emulation and see how close they get.

[mixtur.se]

Melodyne or Izotope RX are my go-to:s but I
sometimes alao use the IKM multi band de-Esser https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/trdeesser/

[Lesha]

Look no further
https://hofa-plugins.de/en/plugins/iq-deesser/

[noiseboyuk]

General comment, not pointed at anyone in particular - it's amazing how many context-less recommendations you get on threads like these (that, of course, all disagree with one another).

I've yet to find the ideal de-esser, I do wonder if one really exists. The singer I usually works with needs modest amounts of de-essing, and for that Oxford Supressor seems to work ok. But she has also has an occasional strong whistle. I've given up trying to set any gear for that, and instead paint those right out in RX (they light up super-bright, just single frequencies and very easy to spot). If I set a de-esser to handle those bad boys, everything else would sound terrible. Automating that amount of discrepancy of level and frequency range would be far more trouble than its worth.

To do everything in RX feels OTT, but imo a mix of not-too aggressive real time and some offline spectral-tweaking is the best compromise.

[cryophonik]

General comment, not pointed at anyone in particular - it's amazing how many context-less recommendations you get on threads like these (that, of course, all disagree with one another).

Good point, but to be fair, how many people have the time and willingness to write paragraphs responding to every “what is teh best [effect/instrument]?” thread on this forum (and similar forums)? This is not the first time this exact same question has been asked in the Effects subforum and it won’t be the last, so I can’t blame people for either not replying at all or just naming their favorite de-esser(s) and leaving it at that.

[sqigls]

I've had my eye on the Weiss Deesser for a while.
I see that both the Sonnox SuprEsser and the SSL DeEsser are on sale at the mo...

Anyone have experience with these three De-Essers that can offer a quick comparison?
cheers

unfortunately my iLok trial has long since expired for all three so i can't demo them anymore.

[jules99]

Weiss De-Esser is on sale right now, I've trialed it for a week and it's by far the cleanest, unobtrusive de-esser. I used to use the one from Eiosis, but that one is still tied to the iLok dongle I seemed to have lost.

Soothe is OK-ish, but it always does more than de-essing, which at times takes away character from a vocal recording.

[sqigls]

i'm leaning towards the SSL because of the price good reviews too. it's at JRR for cheap chips.
Weiss for sure, but the cheapest i've seen it is $65... and it's the only one not on sale at Softube website right now... also, does it suffer major latency? apparently the Sonnox de-esser introduces a ton of latency. that could be a concern.

cheers

[Lesha]

Give HOFA DeEsser a try.

[sqigls]

"Only 99,90 €"
i could buy the fabfilter one for that price

how does it go on cymbals?

[Etienne1973]

Roll your own de-esser for every situation like I do with free TDR Nova 4-band parallel dynamic equalizer.

Example: If you have harsh cymbals then reduce annoying resonances with up to 4 selective dynamic notches, steep bell Nova eq bands.

https://www.tokyodawn.net/tdr-nova/

[sqigls]

preaching to the choir

looking for a high end de-esser, and assessing the recent sales prices really.
cheers

[Etienne1973]

Sorry. Yes. I can't contribute to your 3 de-essers you have an eye on, sqigls.

But I have tried almost all other payware of this special category tools.

Not sure if considered high-end but Waves Sibilance on vocals and dialogue is best by far.

Most unobtrusive and natural sounding automatic processor.

You don't lose high-end frequency content through its re-synthesis algorithm.

https://www.waves.com/plugins/sibilance