Basics of Mixing – 6.6 De-Essers and Multiband Compressors

Hello, I’m Jooyoung Kim, an engineer and music producer.

Today, we’ll delve into two subtypes of compressors: De-Essers and Multiband Compressors.

Let’s get started!

De-Essers

A De-Esser is a type of compressor that reduces “ess” sounds, also known as sibilance. Waves even has a De-Esser named “Sibilance” specifically for this purpose.

Sibilance typically falls between 3kHz and 10kHz. A De-Esser works by activating the compressor when the sound in this specific range exceeds a certain threshold. Unlike using an EQ, which reduces the selected frequency range across the entire source, a De-Esser targets only the problem area. You can think of it as a single-band compressor.

De-Essers are not only useful for reducing vocal sibilance but also for taming harsh high frequencies in acoustic guitar strums and other similar sounds.

For instance, the Oxford SuprEsser by Sonnox offers a wide range of frequencies to adjust, making it versatile for various applications beyond its primary function of reducing high frequencies.

Multiband Compressors

A Multiband Compressor allows you to set different compression parameters for different frequency ranges. This is particularly useful when dealing with audio sources containing multiple instruments, which can be challenging to manage with a simple compressor.

For example, you might use a Multiband Compressor on a drum bus or to handle looped sources from platforms like Splice. It’s also commonly used in mastering.

Sidechain functionality in these compressors can add an interesting and effective dynamic to your tracks. For example, you can sidechain the low frequencies of other instruments to duck when the kick drum hits, or use it to carve out space for the vocal’s frequency range.

I’ll cover sidechain techniques more thoroughly in a future post, but mastering sidechain within dynamic plugins can significantly enhance the fun and effectiveness of your mixing. I’m not an expert yet, but I’m learning alongside you.

That’s all for today. See you in the next post!