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.

Our built-in antivirus checked this download and rated it as 100% safe. This PC program is suitable for 32-bit versions of Windows XP/7/8/10. Waves DeEsser lies within Multimedia Tools, more precisely Music Production. SPITFISH is a dead-easy to use de-esser, aimed mainly at mono or stereo vocal tracks. Just like classic analog de-essers, this unit dynamically filters out harsh, annoying s-like sounds that would. Spitfish is a dead-easy to usede-esser. Aimed mainly at mono or stereo vocal tracks. Just like classic analog de-essers, this unit dynamically filters out harsh, annoying s-like sounds that would otherwise ‘spit’ in your face.

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.

De Esser 64 bit download - X 64-bit Download - x64-bit download - freeware, shareware and software downloads.
De-esser, free, vst Update: I just finished the work on version 1.2, which I now offer as a free download below. This version brings an all new “decent” GUI, kindly created by DeLaMancha ( www.delamancha.co.uk ), the de-normal and multicore-problems are (hopefully) fixed.

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.

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

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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

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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

Spitfish De-esser Download

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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 di