De-Esser by Harrison Consoles de-essing plugin interface

De-Esser: Sibilance Reduction Plugin by Harrison Consoles

Rated 4.5/5 on Plugin Boutique (167 ratings)

De-Esser is a de-essing plugin from Harrison Consoles that uses a fourth-generation algorithm to detect and reduce harsh sibilance while leaving other fricatives untouched.

VST3VST2AUAAXWindowsmacOSLinux

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01Overview

De-Esser is the Harrison Consoles plugin built around the company's fourth-generation de-essing algorithm. It targets sibilant frequencies, the harsh "s" and "sh" sounds in vocals and other sources, and attenuates them with adjustable threshold and depth. The developer describes the result as smooth and transparent. The plugin offers Band Solo and Auto-Solo tools to help you find the exact sibilant range before you cut it.

Best for

Vocal sibilance control
Live vocal processing
Mix cleanup
Dialogue and post work
Harsh high-frequency taming

Developer: Harrison Consoles
Category: De Essers
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Algorithm targets harsh sibilance and ignores other fricatives
Band Solo and Auto-Solo for dialing in the sibilant range
Up to 12dB of sibilance reduction
Adjustable threshold and depth for onset and strength
Six control dimensions accessible from the main graph
Zero-latency processing suitable for live use
Gain-reduction meter on Pro Tools and Studio One mixer strips
Momentary bypass and optional Vintage console theme

03In depth

Sibilance Control and Sound Character

The processor is designed to act only on harsh sibilance, so other fricatives are left alone. Harrison Consoles says the algorithm is tuned to detect and eliminate sibilance while keeping the signal natural.

Reduction reaches up to 12dB. The Attack control sets how quickly the processor moves from zero to full attenuation, ranging from 200 microseconds to 20 milliseconds. A Hi band shelf handles some higher-frequency content after the main sibilant band is treated.

Because processing is zero-latency, the plugin is suitable for live use as well as studio tracking and mixing.

Workflow and Key Controls

The main graph is the fastest way to work. Click anywhere in it to move the band depths and center frequency together, and scroll to change bandwidth. The Ess Freq control sets the low-frequency cutoff from 200 Hz to 8 kHz, and the Hi Freq control covers 2 kHz to 12 kHz.

The Ear icon engages momentary bypass so you can audition the unprocessed signal while holding the mouse button. The Gear icon opens options for resizing, theme selection and the plugin version number. A Vintage theme uses the colour scheme of Harrison's large-format console software.

In Pro Tools (AAX) and Studio One (VST3), a gain-reduction meter appears on the mixer strip.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Harrison Consoles
Type	Plugin
Category	De Esser
Formats	VST3, VST2, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS, Linux

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What formats does De-Esser support?

De-Esser is available in VST3, VST2, AU and AAX formats. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux.

What do I need to run De-Esser in my DAW?

Pro Tools requires version 10.3.5 or newer on Windows and version 11 or higher on Mac, with the AAX format enabled during installation. Logic needs the AU format enabled, Cubase needs VST and/or VST3, and most other workstations need the VST format enabled.