Free 64 Bit De Esser Vst

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  • A curated selection of the best free 64 bit emulations of analog synths in VST or Audio Unit format for Mac OS X or PC Windows. These VSTi can be used in Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Steinberg Cubase, FL Studio, Bitwig and all other daw and hosts that support VST plugins and AU. Click the plugin name or image of synth and visit the synthesizer page with the link for the free download.
  • Download DeEsser by Dead Duck Software Free De Esser VST Plugin. Win 32Bit, Win 64Bit.
  • Free 64-bit Deesser. Since my DAW (Cubase Elements) doesn't come with a Deesser, i'm trying to find a free one that works on 64-bit. But if you try his de-esser.
  • Loaded is available as a VST, VST3, and AU plugin on Windows and macOS. Do note that only 64-bit plugin hosts are supported. The plugin is still under development, but the latest 1.0 is a stable release. More info: Loaded (19.7 MB download size, ZIP archive, 64-bit VST/VST3/AU plugin format for Windows & macOS) More articles: Free Autotune VST.

Download waves deesser VST for free. Multimedia tools downloads - Waves DeEsser by Waves Audio Ltd and many more programs are available for instant and free download. Spitfish is a free de esser VST, Audio Unit plugin developed by digitalfishphones. Compatible OS (s): Windows 64b, macOS. Spitfish is a dead-easy to use de-esser. VST 4 FREE - Free Audio Plug-ins and Archives. Lisp is a free De-esser plugin developed by Sleepy-Time DSP. Wow thank you so much for this free plugin, it works great and is 64-bit. I think it works better than Tonmann De-esser and gives you more fine controls.

These days, most DAWs come with a host of built-in free VST plugins. These are generally designed to give you a good set of starting tools to make the most of your DAW. However, most DAW designers are very good at building DAWs and not as good at building VSTs. Whilst there are always a few stand out tools that every DAW user couldn’t live without, it’s quite common to find a large array of third-party plugins in professional studios. I know myself that over 95% of the plugins I use on a regular basis are third-party.Now I’m sure you’re thinking that it’s all good and well having third-party VSTs if you’ve got the money. This is where I step in. Today we’re going to take a look at 13 free VST plugins for windows that give the high-end gear a serious run for their money.

Free VST Reverbs

First off, let’s take a look at reverbs. This is probably one of the most abundant freeware plugin types on the market. However, there are some real duds out there. I’ve got two great bits of kit here that will really help bring some depth to your mixes.

epicVerb by Variety of Sound

The first of these is epicVerb. Designed for maximum flexibility, this algorithmic reverb does it all. From small, ambient spaces to luscious halls, you’ve got full control. With a built-in EQ and modulation controls, there aren’t many spaces you can’t recreate with this thing.

RoomMachine 844 by Silverspike

Another interesting reverb plugin is RoomMachine 844. This plugin appears to be modeled on a convolution premise in that it is designed to simulate speakers and microphones in a real space. However, as they are digital, we can assume it is still using algorithms to do the calculations and not impulse responses. However, it still has a unique premise. You are able to use the positions section to place to virtual loudspeakers and then dictate their stereo width and distance from the microphones. This lets you simulate real spaces that suit what you are trying to achieve. The controls are simple and you certainly won’t get as many unique tones out of this one but it’s still a fantastic free VST.

Time for Some EQ

There are a variety of different EQs types out there and every DAW comes with at least. This is typically a standard parametric EQ with fairly limited capabilities. As such, I can imagine that you might be wanting of a few more choices when using EQ.

Luftikus by IJKB

Some of my favourite EQs to work on are also some of the simplest ones you can get. I’ve always loved mixing with hardware EQ and really using my ears to sculpt the tone of my signals. As such, fixed band EQs whilst limiting, give me fantastic results. Unlike parametric EQs, you have to work with the fixed bands and as such, be far more careful with your choices. Using your ears, you make minor adjustments and keep things musical, not clinical.Now, unfortunately, these types of EQs usually come at a cost. They are typically emulations of famous hardware and as such, yield similar prices. I’m talking about things like APIs and Pultecs. That was until I came across Luftikus.This multi-band fixed EQ comes with four half octave bells, one half octave high shelf and another high shelf with adjustable fixed frequency points. It’s generally very gentle and you will have to really crank the knobs to get it to do much. However, this is kind of what makes it great. It’s one of those tools that’s handy when you’re trying to be subtle, especially with subtractive EQ. Bus EQing and master channel EQing come to mind here.It also has three switches built into the bottom. One enables ‘mastering’ mode. This changes the EQ knobs from being adjustable by 0.1dB to being adjustable by 1dB. This means that each step on the knob will have a significantly more noticeable effect as it jumps. Very handy for final adjustments and mastering. We’ve also got an ‘analogue’ switch to emulate an analogue sound. Finally, there is a ‘keep gain’ switch designed to adjust the overall level of the signal as you make changes. This is really handy when you need to A/B the plugin.

Electri-Q (posihfopit edition) by Aixcoustic Creations

Now, if you’re more in the market for control over your EQ, you might like what I have next. Electri-Q (posihfopit edition)is a powerful, low phase parametric EQ with the capability to handle up to 64 bands. It also comes with a variety of filter types and the ability to switch between clean digital EQ and transformer modeled analogue EQ that’s a touch more colourful.Whilst most DAWS typically offer their own parametric EQ, this offers you a little bit more. With it’s added controls, expanded band allowance, and low phase calculations, it becomes a powerful tool for mixing and mastering. It’s not the prettiest of things to look at but then who really cares?

The Best Free Compressor VSTs

Compression is always a tricky one for beginners. Just like with EQ, most DAWs only come with one standard compressor that often has a one glove fits all approach. For anyone who understands compression, you’ll know that no single compressor is perfect for everything. Below are a couple of really great tools that I guarantee will operate far better than any built-in DAW compressor.

MJUC JR by Klanghelm

In a previous article, I addressed the different circuit types that you can typically find in compressors. One of the lesser knowns of these is the Vari-Mu. Often used in mastering, Vari-Mu (or variable-gain) is a tube based compression type. The original design is owned and trademarked by Manley and costs so much, you’d need to remortgage your studio. However, there are plenty of software alternatives out there. Obviously, these don’t use tubes so you’re not going to get that true vari-mu sound. However, the concept for the compression type holds true and there are even free versions on the market.The MJUC JR by Klanghelm is a great example of this. It has a simple and straightforward design just like a vari-mu should. We get one knob for the amount of compression and another for makeup gain. We also have a control for the recovery time and slew rate giving us control over different content types. Stacked up against the Waves Puigchild this thing performs pretty well. It works great as a glue compressor, however, I find it a little over aggressive for the circuit type.

Molot by vladg/sound

Another great compression plugin to have to hand is Molot. On the surface, this looks like a fairly typical optical compressor. However, once you chuck onto a channel it really comes into its own. This thing is far from transparent and offers a staggering amount of power. You’ve got the addition of a high-pass filter as well a limiter, mid scoop bell EQ, and multiple stereo image modes. For me, this is reminiscent of the Fairchild in its design but more like an 1176 in its sound. It’s something you’ll probably have to learn to use and then only implement when you know you need it. But when you need it, it’ll work wonders!Having a variety of compressors in your arsenal is imperative. Knowing how and when to use them is even more important still. Many DAWs come with one stock ‘one glove fits all’ compressor which is really no help. Grab these great free VST plugins to make sure you’ve got choices in your tool belt.

Moving on to Mastering Tools

Besides the typical things such as EQ and compression, mastering tends to deal with the subject of width and loudness. Here a few freebies that can help get your tracks into that commercial realm without costing you a penny.

YouLean Loudness Meter

Being able to measure loudness and dynamic range accurately is one of the most important things a mastering engineer has to do. You can easily pay hundreds on histogram tools with fully customizable features. Or, you can grab the Youlean Loudness Meterfor absolutely nothing.A truly marvellous tool that does everything that you need a LUFS loudness meter to do. Easy to understand short-term and integrated loudness metering with a dynamic range readout and a true peak detector. It also provides measurements in mono and stereo and has a detailed and adjustable histogram. Seriously, you couldn’t ask for much more out of something like this, especially when it’s completely free.If you don’t already have some form of loudness metering software, this is a great place to start. I routinely chuck this on my master channel even when I’m doing production or mixing work. It’s a really easy way to make sure you’re not clipping and a fabulous tool for identifying dynamic contrast in your work. Equally, it’s very handy when it comes to examining reference tracks. If you’re one for commercial loudness and being competitive in the market, this plugin is going to set your mind at ease in a heartbeat.

TT Dynamic Range Meter

Another great little tool to grab is the TT Dynamic Range Meter. Far simpler than the loudness meter above but it does a great job at measuring dynamic range and peak levels. For a low CPU quick mix checker, it’s definitely worth having. Especially before sending your material off for mastering.

Ozone Imager by Izotope

Another notable mention for freebies is the Ozone Imager. A slightly simpler version of the one that comes with the paid suite, this little gem is a great mastering tool for stereo width. It’s not something that I’m a huge advocate of because of the phase issues that these things can cause. However, used subtly for a little bit of separation, it can yield great results. It has a beautiful, simple design with a fader for width and another for the amount of stereoization. The vectorscope is a lovely thing to watch and really easily helps to show you exactly what’s going on under the hood. Grab this while it’s going free and get to work on widening your mixes. Just remember to check the mono mix afterward!

A Great Set of Free VST Plugins for Beginners

Now this tenth plugin is a little more than just a single tool. As I mentioned early on, many DAWs come with plenty of built-in tools. However, sometimes they are a little lacking or you’re simply missing a few of the essentials. If this sounds like the problem you’re having, I suggest you check out Dead Duck Software.With a plain but appealing GUI, Dead Duck provides 24 free VST plugins for all your production and mixing needs. From a full channel strip to a ring modulator, this plugin bundle encompasses a really great set of tools. You’ve probably got alternatives for a lot of them already but where you don’t, they make a really strong addition. The simple design makes them great for beginners and they won’t let you down in what they can do.Even if you’re thinking that you’ve got all the basic tools already, there is one real stand out here. The Utility plugin. This is something that lives on my master bus by default nowadays. Being able to quickly flick between your stereo, mono, and mid/side mix is super helpful. Also, it’s great for checking out the separate sides of your mix independently as well as their phase. Do yourself a favour and have a play around with some of these. I’m certain you’ll find something worth keeping in your toolbox.

A Few Additional Mentions in the Free VST World

Amongst the typical tools listed above, there are also a variety of specialist tools that can come in handy in certain situations. The ones I’ve sourced below for you are particularly useful because they aren’t commonly available in the typical DAW.

Vinyl by Izotope

The first of these is a plugin by the name of Vinyl. Known as “The Ultimate Lo-fi Weapon”, Vinyl is a multi-parameter plugin designed to simulate the grit and noise of old analogue formats. This is one of those plugins that you can strap onto your master channel and use to dial in a bit of noise and ambience. It’s designed to give your tracks a little bit of character and edge. Now, this won’t be for everyone. I know plenty of people love a clean, modern sound and are thankful that gear has moved on from the noisy old bits of kit we had to use before. However, if you’re all about a bit of retro and lo-fidelity, then you are going to love this free plugin.You’ve got controls for mechanical noise, electrical noise, dust, scratch, and warp. Not only this but you can dial in the amounts of each that you want as well as adjusting the whole plugin to replicate a different part of history. From the 1930’s to the 2000’s, Vinyl is capable of emulating an incredibly authentic sound for any genre at its high point. This is going to be especially great for those of you looking to get a really gritty 90s sound.

Bark of Dog by Boz Digital Labs

One of the most common things I find I have to do when mixing and mastering my client’s works is dealing with the low end. I’m often met with comments like “the tracking went well but we couldn’t get much low end from the kick“. Learning to position microphones and get the sound you want is a skill in itself. As much as it’s good to get it right at the time, some things can be improved in the mixing stage. Enter bass enhancement plugins.As a big fan of Waves, I’ve always opted for using things like Renaissance bass for my low-end reinforcement. However, I was recently let on to a free VST plugin by the name of Bark of Dogthat does the exact same thing that my Waves plugin can do. Naturally, I was curious to see whether a free plugin could keep up with the likes of Waves.Whilst the GUI isn’t as pleasing to the eye, the plugins actually have an almost identical setup. Frequency selection, input gain, and output gain. Where the Bark of Dog plugin has an edge is that it also allows you to control the wet/dry mix of the plugin. I see this as fairly redundant as I typically just dial in the amount of gain that I want. If I need less, I’ll dial less in as opposed to varying the wet/dry. However, it’s still an extra tool that Waves doesn’t provide.In use, these plugins perform at an exceptionally parallel level. There are very minute tonal differences between the two but I found that the Waves plugin was slightly better at dealing with sonically dense tracks. However, for a free plugin, Bark of Dog is 100% worth downloading if you’re working on a budget. Try it out on full mixes and on individual channels and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at what it can do.

CamelCrusher by Camelaudio

For those of us mixing in the box, distortion and saturation plugins have always been a tricky one. If you’re lucky enough to have some decent outboard then you’re probably alright. Unfortunately, those of us working in the digital realm haven’t got as many options. This is even truer when it comes to free VST plugins. However, there is one that’s always served me well in a pinch. CamelCrusher not only offers fantastic distortion tones but it comes with a handy filter and compressor section to help you sculpt the results.Offering tube distortion as well as mechanical distortion, CamelCrusher gives you multiple tone options for no money. The low pass filter isn’t anything special. It’s another great way to control your distortion without the need for further plugins. Again, the compressor is pretty simple and applies some soft-limiting to smooth out dynamic range. The phat mode button essentially applies smoother results. I find that it seems to almost always work better when turned on. I wouldn’t use this compressor as a first choice but it’s a handy little tool for smoothing out the effects of the distortion if it’s a bit too aggressive.

TL;DR

There is a multitude of free VST plugins out there that really are worth having. More so than that, some of them can honestly compete with the big names like Waves and Slate. This list doesn’t encompass everything out there but it’s a good place to start. To summarise we’ve got: epicVerb and RoomMachine844 reverbs; Lufitkus fixed EQ and Electri-Q low phase parametric EQ; Klanghelms MJUC JR vari-mu compressor and vladgs Molot; The Youlean Loudness Meter, TT Dynamic Range meter, and Izotopes Ozone Imager; the entire DeadDuck VST package; and Izotope Vinyl, Bark of Dog, and CamelCrusher. So, what are you waiting for? Go get downloading and start to have a play around!PreviousStereo Microphone Techniques: 5 Ways to Record in Stereo
NextWhat is a De-esser? De-essing Your Vocals

In this guide we’ll take a look at the best de-esser plugin software on the market today. The kind that the pros and semi-pros use.

We’ve looked at as many de-esser plugins as possible and whittled it down to only 5 of the most recommended online by the pros and those who’ve used them, making it much easier to choose.

Quick answer: unless you’re new to music production or you’ve had your head under a rock, the FabFilter Pro-DS name should be very familiar to you, and it comes out on top.

64 Bit Vst's

This is followed by the Oxford SuprEsser, while the McDSP DE555 and Waves Renaissance DeEsser are popular options for cheap.

The rest of this guide will look at these plugins more in-depth and weigh their strengths and their weaknesses.

Let’s take a closer look 🙂

Table of Contents

Find more great gear here:

De-Esser Plugin Buying Guide

What is a De-Esser?

A de-esser is a type of vocal compressor that works to reduce or eliminate the harsh “ess” or “shh” sounds known in the audio world as “sibilance”.

An oftentimes unwanted element in recorded audio, sibilance is commonly heard in vocal tracks, although they may be present in cymbals and/or percussion tracks as well. Sibilance typically falls within the 4Khz to 10Khz range of frequencies, and the effect can be unpleasant and distracting, even at moderate levels. (Learn more about sibilance from Wikipedia.)

De-essers reduce the volume level of sibilance by compressing its specific frequency range. In most cases, excessive sibilance can be reduced by simply defining the range of unwanted frequencies and setting the threshold control to the appropriate setting. However, it may sometimes be necessary to employ equalization and automation in conjunction with de-essing in order to achieve more natural-sounding results.

What Features Should You Look for in a Good De-Esser Plugin?

Among the most important features to have in a de-esser are threshold and release controls.

‘Threshold’ essentially sets the level at which the sibilance will be reduced.

‘Release’ determines how soon the compressor will cease to affect the signal.

It would also be helpful to have a frequency control, which will enable you to specify the range of frequencies to compress. You can read more about the basics of what a compressor is from this post to get a better understanding of some of those features.

How to Choose a De-esser

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a good de-esser plug-in. For starters, you will want a plug-in that is quick and easy to setup, yet still has enough control for precision tweaking.

A good range of features is also nice to have, although you would have to weigh the possibility of unneeded features getting in the way of simple and straightforward operation.

In any case, it might be prudent to shop for a de-esser plug-in that does more than what your stock DAW compressor and sidechain combination is capable of. Otherwise, you may as well save yourself the trouble, and simply devise your own de-essing chain.

Best DeEsser Plug-Ins – Overviews

FabFilter Pro-DS

Check price at Plugin Boutique

From the noted plug-in developer comes the FabFilter Pro-DS, which has a pretty wide range of features and capabilities all wrapped up in a modern visually-attractive package.

Since FabFilter is known for its world-class set of plug-ins that offer precise control and informative visual displays, they’ve pretty much upped the ante with a feature list that includes an intelligent detection algorithm, wide band and linear-phase processing, a 15 millisecond look-ahead option, stereo linking with mid-only or side-only options, and more. With its range of cutting-edge features and sonic transparency, this might just be the only de-esser you will ever need, to be honest.

Specs and useful features
  • Two detection settings: “Single Vocal” and “Allround”
  • Real-time display
  • Adjustable threshold, range and detection, filtering settings
  • Program-dependent compression/limiting
  • Wide band or linear-phase split band processing
  • Optional look-ahead up to 15 milliseconds
  • Adjustable stereo linking
  • Mid-only or side-only processing
  • Up to four times linear-phase oversampling
  • Side-chain input meter
  • Real-time spectrum analyzer
  • GPU-powered graphics acceleration
  • High-quality 64-bit internal processing
User impressions

The FabFilter Pro-DS is frequently praised for being easy to use and having great visual feedback. Many users appreciate its informative and helpful displays, which show you exactly how–and how much–the signal is being processed via real-time waveforms. Many reviewers also mention the precise degree of control possible with the Pro-DS. There’s pretty much no criticism as far as this is concerned.

Bottom-line

The Pro-DS is another great addition to the FabFilter line of quality plug-ins. Like the other products in the range, the FabFilter Pro-DS stands out with a user interface that is not only efficient and informative, but visually impressive as well. This is especially so for beginners. The precise degree of control combined with intelligent sibilance detection and total transparency make this one of the best de-esser plugin software that money can buy. Well worth considering even with the somewhat high price tag.

Demonstration

Oxford SuprEsser

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The OxfordSuprEsseris a simple and intuitive solution that gets rid of offending frequencies in vocal tracks and all other types of source audio. It has an extremely focused frequency-conscious compressor, so it can identify and eliminate harsh sibilance to a remarkably precise degree. Also, the ability to operate between 20Hz and 20KHz makes it capable of handling tasks other than rudimentary de-essing. If you’ve solely been reliant on a fixed EQ to get rid of sibilance in your tracks, you will appreciate the more natural results that you can achieve with the SuprEsser.

Specs and useful features
  • Linear phase dynamic EQ
  • Transparent and accurate frequency control
  • Automatic level tracking
  • Wet/dry control for quick parallel processing
  • Full audio spectrum operation (20Hz – 20KHz)
User impressions

User impressions of the Oxford SuprEsser tend to be generally favorable, with the most frequently praised feature being the detailed display. The plug-in also gets high marks for being easy to operate, which is all the more impressive considering the many controls available.

Users also praise the SuprEsser’s ability to preserve the quality of the source audio, even with considerable amounts of gain reduction. In fact, one user reported routinely using it on non-vocal tracks in order to get rid of harsh frequencies.

Bottom-line

The SuprEsser is a well-equipped and very capable de-esser that offers a precise degree of control. Although not quite as detailed as the FabFilter Pro-DS, the SuprEsser’s display does a good job of providing visual feedback. It is also versatile enough to use in a wide variety of applications, including taming the frequencies of non-vocal tracks. With a lower price tag than the Pro-DS, the SuprEsser is a cost-effective de-esser plug-in that warrants serious consideration.

Demonstration

McDSP DE555

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Are you bored with the typical de-esser? Want something that’s not just for vocals? Well McDSP proudly proclaims the DE555 to be part of the “new generation of de-essing technology.” It has a range of cutting-edge features, transparent sound, and a whole-lota flexibility. Being fully-featured, it still remains simple and easy-to-use. The DE555 utilizes an algorithm called “intelligent signal analysis.” This effectively processes source audio of any level, without the need to adjust the input threshold manually. Outlaw vst plugin. Controls are also provided for adjusting ratio and release, and there is even a high frequency-only mode that lets you reduce sibilance while leaving the rest of the audio untouched.

Specs and useful features
  • Advanced de-essing technology
  • Key filter focus and de-essing controls
  • Real-time metering
  • Key filter response plot
  • High frequency only option
  • Double precision processing
  • Ultra low latency
User impressions

Flexibility and transparency are among the qualities that endear the DE555 to users. Often used on non-vocal tracks, it has the ability to reduce and eliminate unwanted frequencies without affecting the audio in a noticeable manner. Many users reported being able to use the stock presets without further tweaking, although the precise control in terms of setting parameters and curves also garnered a fair bit of praise.

Bottom-line

The Oxford SuprEsser is a noticeably transparent de-esser that effectively gets rid of excessive sibilance in vocal tracks, but it is flexible enough to use on other audio sources as well. Many of the presets can be used ‘as is’ without further editing, but precise control over the various parameters is there if you want. The Oxford SuprEsser is also pretty affordable, making it a good choice to add to your suite of mixing plug-ins.

Demonstration

Waves Renaissance DeEsser

Check price at Waves Audio

Waves Renaissance DeEsser has been a familiar sight in many professional studios for over a decade, and for good reason. Even with the advent of more advanced and more fully-featured de-esser plug-ins, Renaissance continues to find use as a simple, straightforward, and yet remarkably effective solution for getting rid of harsh sibilance.

64 Bit Vst Plugins Freeware

Although there are controls for getting the most out of the processor, even the bundled presets can do a good job of cleaning up problem vocal tracks. There are even presets intended specifically for male and female voices, giving you a good starting point for more intensive tweaking.

Specs and useful features
  • Designed for recording, mixing, live sound, and broadcast
  • Frequency-dependent dynamics
  • Adaptive threshold control
  • Adjustable gain reduction control
  • Phase-compensated crossover
  • Audio and side-chain monitoring
  • Double precision bit resolution processing
User impressions

The Waves Renaissance DeEsser is a venerable studio standby that still gets plenty of use today. For many users, this particular plug-in is a more effective de-essing solution than the standard Waves DeEsser. One user was especially in love with the Renaissance’s ability to pinpoint and eliminate problem frequencies, while another praised the inclusion of settings for male and female voices.

Bottom-line

Although it has been around for over a decade now, the Waves Renaissance DeEsser is still an effective de-esser that continues to find use in a typical studio setup. Equally suited for recording and mixing as it is for live sound and broadcast, it has all the features you need for basic de-essing applications.

Demonstration

Waves DeEsser

Check price at Waves Audio

For those with even more basic de-essing requirements, the Waves DeEsser might just have all the features and capabilities that you need. Just as simple and straightforward as the Renaissance de-esser, this one employs a subtle and natural approach to de-essing audio, getting rid of sibilance without thrashing your vocal take. Waves DeEsser is also effective on splashy high-hats and cymbals, gently reducing unwanted frequencies from even the most problematic audio sources.

Specs and useful features
  • Sharp side-chain filters
  • Selectable wide-band and split compression modes
  • Audio or sidechain monitoring
  • 24-bit/192kHz resolution
  • Mono and stereo components
User impressions
Vst

Users of the Waves DeEsser appreciate the plug-in’s effectiveness in softening harsh sibilance in vocal tracks. Even though it lacks many of the features of its more modern counterparts, it is still a useful and easy to use de-essing tool that is made more attractive by its affordable price tag.

Bottom-line

The Waves DeEsser is a pretty basic de-esser that does the job and does it well at more moderate settings. Although many users prefer the Waves Renaissance DeEsser, the standard DeEsser is still worth considering for its simple and straightforward operation, good sound, and low price.

Demonstration

Weiss Deess De-Esser by Softube

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Softube’s Weiss Deess De-Esser is a bit-by-bit software reproduction of the legendary Weiss DS1-MK3 hardware unit that has graced many mastering and mixing suites over the years. Like most Softube plug-ins, it has a beautifully-rendered interface that closely models the look of the actual hardware unit.

Although the “faceplate” only has a modest number of controls, Weiss Deess is a versatile and very capable de-esser that handles a varied array of tasks. Whether for cutting out the sibilance in a vocal track, taming an overly bright hi-hat, or reducing harshness on the overall mix, Weiss Deess does the job cleanly and efficiently.

Basic specs and useful features

Most de-essers have only a single band for dealing with sibilance–Weiss Deess has two completely independent ones. This gives Weiss Deess the ability to handle most types of sibilance, most of which occupy more than a single frequency. For situations where most de-esser plug-ins fall short–such as with complex audio material–Weiss Deessor handles the job like a champ.

Weiss Deess also has a handful of filter shape options available. Combined with the precision band-width control, this enables you to treat a very narrow range of the audio, leaving the rest unscathed.

Visual feedback is provided by a large colored display, from which you can see FFT data and filter shapes. There is also a side menu that adds even more options for tweaking the plug-in’s parameters.

User impressions

Users were pleasantly surprised by the Weiss Deess’ sound quality, which compares favorably with even the most highly-regarded hardware units. The ability to get rid of sibilance without adversely affecting the rest of the signal is especially impressive, making the plug-in ideally-suited for de-essing detailed and complex material.

The plug-in’s intuitive interface also appealed to many users, particularly those that have struggled with overly-complicated units in the past. With the Weiss Deess, it was easy to achieve great results, even with only a few tweaks to the default settings.

Bottom-line

The Weiss Deess hides a surprising amount of power in a seemingly simple and straightforward interface. The display is especially helpful, providing immediate visual feedback on the effect of de-essing on the audio signal. A versatile plug-in that adds more functionality to the standard de-esser capabilities.

Waves Sibilance

Check price at Waves Audio

Waves Sibilance is a step up from the brand’s other de-esser plug-ins, utilizing an innovative technology known as “Organic ReSynthesis”. While other de-esser plug-ins take a somewhat heavy-handed approach to eliminating sibilance, Waves Sibilance works only on unwanted frequencies. The result is exceptionally clear and present audio with the sibilance removed and the original qualities preserved.

Basic specs and useful features

Sibilance makes removal of unwanted “s” and “sh” sounds quick and easy. The Organic ReSynthesis engine targets only these specific frequencies, leaving the rest of the audio information untouched. You could therefore boost the EQ on your vocal tracks to add back some of the brightness, and still get sibilance-free audio without a hint of harshness.

Organic ReSynthesis is what makes Sibilance different from other de-esser plug-ins, many of which simply act as sort of narrow-band compressors. The problem with narrow-band compression is that so much of the desirable signal is often cut out along with the sibilance, resulting in glitch and unnatural sounding audio.

Sibilance neatly avoids this problem by working only on the sibilant sounds. You therefore get all the benefits of a good de-esser, while still retaining the resonance and timbre of the original audio.

Sibilance comes with a fairly modest set of controls, the highlights being the threshold and sensitivity features. Processing is variable from wide to split bands, and there is a helpful sibilance detection graph that lets you see how much processing is required.

User impressions

Users find Sibilance to be very quick and easy to set up, with noticeable improvement in the quality of the audio immediately. Even with only a few minor adjustments of the threshold and range controls, sibilance is totally removed from the affected track. In fact, Sibilance makes de-essing so easy that many voice actors and singers often do the processing themselves, before sending vocal tracks over to a mix engineer or producer.

Many other users find Sibilance to be a much more effective alternative to the standard de-esser that comes with their DAWs. The intuitive and informative display makes this an even more welcome addition in the studio.

Bottom-line

Waves Sibilance is better suited for de-essing individual tracks rather than for processing stems and entire mixes. Nevertheless, it is versatile enough for tracking and mixing duties, and it is pretty easy to get good results.

Final thoughts

As far as deesser plug-ins go, you simply can’t do better than the FabFilter Pro-DS. It’s an all-around winner with its combination of features and functionality, sound quality, precise parameter control, and detailed user interface. The Pro-DS is the one to beat, regardless of its price.

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Somewhere in the middle are the Oxford SuprEsser and the McDSP DE555, which are both pretty solid performers any way you cut it. The SuprEsser is an especially impressive plug-in that even rivals FabFilter’s Pro-DS in some aspects, and the DE555 is no slouch either. Put simply, you can’t go wrong by going with any one of these two for a broad range of de-essing needs.

Finally, the Waves DeEsser and Waves Renaissance DeEsser still continue to impress despite now being a bit long in the tooth. Although both plug-ins have largely been superseded by more recent releases, they are can still do a good job of ridding your audio of nasty sibilance.

Softube Weiss Deess De-Esser takes a decidedly classy and elegant approach to de-essing, with a simple interface that hides a surprising amount of power and functionality. Like all of Softube’s plug-ins, this one has an attractive interface that gives of the impression of a dependable piece of hardware. The look of the interface doesn’t affect the audio in any way of course, but the eye-catching interface is definitely a nice touch.

Thankfully, the Weiss Deess does sound great. In fact, many experienced users praise its ability to approximate the sound and responsiveness of a good hardware de-esser, with no adverse effect on the audio whatsoever. The display is also one of the best we’ve seen on a plug-in, and certainly better than those on most de-essers. Weiss Deess is equally handy at taming high-frequency content of non-vocal tracks, giving it added versatility in a studio setting.

Waves Sibilance is worth a mention mainly due to the innovative Organic ReSynthesis technology, which simply doesn’t exist in any other de-esser plug-in. This feature gives Sibilance a precision and accuracy that other de-essers simply can’t compare with, and you will immediately notice how much better it makes problematic vocal tracks sound.

Most de-esser plug-ins are marketed as being able to preserve the transients and high-end frequencies of audio, but few are as capable of the job as Sibilance. The spectral filters that are central to the Organic ReSynthesis function identify only the unwanted sibilant frequencies in the audio. They could therefore be removed entirely without any effect on the other frequency content. With Sibilance, you could get pretty aggressive with the de-essing when the need calls for it, without having to worry about your audio getting thrashed in the process.

Like many other de-essers, Sibilance isn’t just limited to vocal tracks. It can be used on drums, guitars, and any other transient-heavy material that can be prone to brightness. Although perhaps less effective on full mixes and stems, it is nevertheless versatile enough to deserve a place in your plug-in collection.