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The advantage of using the DeEsser rather than an EQ to cut high frequencies is that it
compresses the signal dynamically, rather than statically. This prevents the sound from
becoming darker when no sibilance is present in the signal. The DeEsser has extremely
fast attack and release times.
When using the DeEsser, you can set the frequency range being compressed (the
Suppressor frequency) independently of the frequency range being analyzed (the Detector
frequency). The two ranges can be easily compared in the DeEsser’s Detector and
Suppressor frequency range displays
The Suppressor frequency range is reduced in level for as long as the Detector frequency
threshold is exceeded.
The DeEsser does not use a frequency-dividing network—a crossover utilizing lowpass
and highpass filters. Rather, it isolates and subtracts the frequency band, resulting in no
alteration of the phase curve.
The Detector parameters are on the left side of the DeEsser window, and the Suppressor
parameters are on the right. The center section includes the Detector and Suppressor
displays and the Smoothing slider.
DeEsser Detector Section
• Detector Frequency knob and field: Sets the frequency range for analysis.
• Detector Sensitivity knob and field: Sets the degree of responsiveness to the input signal.
• Monitor pop-up menu: Choose Det(ector) to monitor the isolated Detector signal,
Sup(pressor) to monitor the filtered Suppressor signal, Sens(itivity) to remove the sound
from the input signal in response to the Sensitivity parameter, or Off to hear the DeEsser
output.
73Chapter 4 Dynamics Processors