How to reduce sibilance in voice recordings — online de-esser
- Step 1Drop your voice recording — Drop your close-mic'd voice recording.
- Step 2Set de-essing threshold and frequency — Set de-esser sensitivity around 6 kHz.
- Step 3Download de-essed audio — Download the less fatiguing, polished result.
Frequently asked questions
What frequency range should I target for de-essing?+
Most vocal sibilance sits between 5 kHz and 10 kHz, with the peak typically around 6–8 kHz for male voices and 7–10 kHz for female voices. Start with a centre frequency of 7 kHz and adjust by listening to where the 's' sounds become harsh. Apply the gentlest reduction that fixes the problem.
How much reduction should a de-esser apply?+
Typically 3–6 dB of gain reduction on sibilant peaks is sufficient. Over-de-essing (10+ dB) creates a lispy quality where 's' sounds are replaced with a 'th'-like sound. The goal is smooth, not absent — sibilance should be present but not painful on headphones.
Does de-essing work on music recordings?+
Yes — de-essing on lead vocal tracks is standard in music production. For podcasts and voice-over, it is especially important for close-mic recordings that capture sibilance very directly. De-essing also helps with cymbal harshness in drum mix-downs at similar frequency ranges.
Privacy first
All audio processing runs locally in your browser using FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly. No file is ever uploaded — only metadata counters are saved for signed-in dashboard stats.