Sharp "S" sounds in recording.

I'll go out on a limb here, and suggest [drum roll] a *de esser*

Search among your plugins sir and you shall find! 😉

The DeEsser is in the "dynamics" section of plugins. They have presets which work very well with most esses. Play around with the settings a little if needed.

One trick to try: if you have to use an extreme setting (high strength) to get rid of esses, then use 2 instance of the plugin. Use one at a specific frequency that gets rid of some of the ess, then followed by another that gets rid of the other ess frequency. This way each one only compresses a little, and this can make for a smoother sound.

Use the "monitor" button on the plugin to hear the esses it's going to take out.

BTW, the Logic Instruments and Effects Manual has great info on it.

Logic's Deesser isn't really very useful but the Multicompressor will do the job very well. So setup the third band of the Multipressor, set it's frequency borders to the spectrum where the ssssss occurs (usually between 3-8 khz), set threshold to e.g. -30dB, ratio to e.g. 1:10 and the attack time to pretty short (like 1-2 ms), release to e.g. 20 ms. All other bands must be set to zero threshold and no ratio (1:1). No this third band will surpress the ssss whenever they occur.

The best way to avoid s's is to either use a popscreen, or to sing over or under the mike instead of (blowing) directly into it. Mentally picture your voice emanating from your nosebridge (may improve resonance of your voice too).

IMO The best way to de-s a vocal afterwards is by selecting the sss-es +by hand+ and apply a Low Pass filter on them. It's more work than a de-esser, but you have much more control over the result.

regards, Erik.

WEll, I suggested the DeEsser because it's simple to use. And the results can be just fine, depending on the program material. Setting the multiband is a lot more tricky.

I do not think a surgical procedure like apply lowpass filters is a good suggestion for someone like the OP who is obviously new to recording. Besides, lowpass will cut harmonics over the voice in addition to the esses.

And popscreens have little effect on esses, mostly they effect plosives. And they don't do much to those. As for singing over or under the mic, sure -- that helps -- but I'd much rather let a singer go crazy and get a good performance than worry about where they're singing. Especially since esses can be so easily gotten rid of.

Speaking of advanced, I use the Precision DeEsser on my UAD-2 card. Very transparent.

Also the Sonnox Deesser works like a charm, but I wanted to suggest something to the OP which is possible inside Logic without buying more Plugs.

Hi,

If I had an UAD card I would probably alssso use that... you're wrong about the lowpassss filter though... If I ssssing "Sssssorry" I will ssselect only Sssss in my Wave editor (Peak) and lowpassss it <5kHz/7kHz, or notch it or jussst bring the gain of it down by ± 50 %. Sssince the Ssss is almost pure white noissse, nothing isss lossst in the Consssonating partsss of the vocal, sssince I do not procccesss that at all. But if a vocal isss littered with sssibilanccce, a de-essser is probably a quicker way. But lesss accurate. And a popssscreen often worksss becaussse it alssso tendsss to keep the sssinger at a dissstanccce from the mike, ssso it preventsss directly blowing into it...
Anyway, any sssinger ssshould learn sssome miking techniquesss to avoid it... having to ussse a de-essser live would be... well... awkward. -isshh.

regardsss, Erik.

Messssage was edited by: Erikssssimon

I believe that sibilance can be best controlled at the recording stage with choice of mic, technique and vocal position. But if you're stuck with a track that has to be used, then I wouldn't suggest Logic's de-esser. Unlike most Logic plug-ins, I think this one is a dog. FWIW, I have heard good things about Eiosis de-esser.

IMO, the best way is to painstakingly apply automation to the offending parts,or to actually edit the audio file, changing gain on the sibilant parts. I know, it's really time consuming, but I think you'll get a better result.