Okuzeka
Music vocabulary · Recording and Production

De-esser

Meaning in music, with examples

nounCommon term

In music, de-esser means: An audio processor that reduces excessive sharp sibilant sounds, such as strong S sounds in a vocal recording, when they occur.

In Turkish: de-esser, sibilans azaltıcı

How it is used

Used in vocal editing and mixing. Adjust it while listening to whole words so the voice does not lose clarity or sound unnaturally dull.

Example sentences

  1. Use a de-esser on the lead vocal because the S sounds become harsh in the chorus.

    The processor targets brief sibilant peaks rather than lowering the whole vocal.

  2. The engineer backed off the de-esser after the singer's words began to sound unclear.

    Too much processing has weakened useful speech detail in this take.

Common collocations

  • vocal de-esser
  • de-esser threshold
  • de-esser settings
  • vocalsThe singing parts of a piece of music, especially in pop, rock and jazz. The main singer sings the lead vocals, and others sing the backing vocals.
  • EQShort for equalisation or equaliser: adjusting the balance of low, mid and high frequencies in a sound, or the tool that does this.
  • mixTo balance and combine all the recorded tracks of a song into a final stereo version, adjusting volume, panning, EQ, effects and dynamics.

More terms: Recording and Production

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: