Overview
A de-esser can be used to control sibilance and tame other high frequency issues in a vocal track. Traditionally, a de-esser dynamically reduces loud sibilant content using a threshold and ratio. The Nectar De-esser module is a hardware-modeled level independent processer, allowing for consistent and transparent reduction of sibilance in signals with variable levels, like a vocal track. The De-esser works by analyzing the current level above a specified frequency cutoff and comparing that level against the level of the full frequency bandwidth of the signal. When large differences in level are detected, gain reduction will be applied to the entire incoming vocal signal.
Apr 20, 2017 How to Use Spectral De-ess in iZotope RX 6. Share; Tweet Start your FREE trial for instant access to our best mixing courses. In this video, I’m going to cover how to use the brand new Spectral De-Esser in RX 6 in a music production context, using a vocal sample. As expected, Nectar 3 includes iZotope’s AI learning technology, this time in the form of Vocal Assistant. After selecting from Vintage, Modern or Dialogue modes, and whether you want Light, Moderate or Aggressive intensity, the plug-in listens to your audio and spits out a custom-made preset including character EQ, level balancing, compression, subtractive EQ, de-essing and pitch correction. The De-ess audio plug-in and module in iZotope RX 6 attenuates or reduces sibilance, the harsh high-frequency sounds that come from 'S,' 'F,' 'X,' 'SH, and a soft 'C.' RX 6 includes two modes for handling sibilance: Classic and Spectral. Classic Mode detects sibilants and attenuates them with a broadband gain envelope. Spectral Mode is more transparent, intelligent, and frequency-specific than. De-esser plugin for vocals The free Spitfish de-esser VST plugin by Digital Fish Phones is an easy to use de-esser effect, aimed mainly at vocal tracks (mono or stereo). Just like the classic analog hardware de-essers, the Spitfish de-esser dynamically filters out harsh, annoying s-like sounds that would otherwise 'spit' in your face.
Module Interface Guide
Apr 20, 2017 The De-ess audio plug-in and module in iZotope RX attenuates or reduces sibilance, the harsh high-frequency sounds that come from 'S,' 'F,' 'X,' 'SH, and a soft 'C.' RX includes two modes for.
The image below outlines the controls and meters available in the De-esser module.
Controls
The De-esser module includes controls for adjusting the detection and reduction of sibilant frequency content. The controls are positioned on the right side (upper frequency range) of the De-esser module panel.
Detection Filter Cutoff
Determines the lower frequency boundary for the detection filter frequency band. Any frequency content that is above the cutoff frequency will be used for De-esser detection.
The detection filter cutoff can be set to frequency values ranging from 800 Hz (Hertz) to 8 kHz (kilohertz).
Adjusting the Detection Cutoff Frequency
The detection filter cutoff frequency can be adjusted using the following methods:
- Click and drag the node at the top of the De-esser module panel to the left (lower frequency value) or right (higher frequency value).
- Click on the cutoff frequency text readout display and enter a value manually in the inline edit field. The current frequency readout is located on the bottom edge of the De-esser module panel, to the right of the Detection Cutoff Frequency line.
- Double-click on the cutoff node handle to reset the Detection Cutoff Frequency to the factory default value.
Threshold
Determines the threshold level for ess reduction and the amount of gain reduction applied to the incoming signal when sibilance is detected.
When sibilance is detected and its level exceeds the Threshold level, the De-esser will apply reduction to the entire bandwidth of the incoming signal.
The amount of reduction applied to the signal depends on how much the sibilance level exceeds the Threshold. More gain reduction will be applied as the sibilance level increases farther above the Threshold level.
Adjusting the Threshold
The Threshold can be adjusted using the following methods:
- Click and drag the Threshold handle up and down to adjust the level.
- Click on the Threshold level readout text and enter a value manually in the inline edit field. The Threshold level readout is located on the right edge of the De-esser module panel, directly above the Threshold line.
- Double-click on the Threshold slider handle to reset the Threshold to the factory default value.
Listen
When enabled, the signal content that is being reduced by the De-esser is played back in isolation.
Tip
Engage Listen to monitor the difference between the unprocessed and processed signals. This outputs only the signal content being reduced by the De-esser. Try adjusting the Threshold and Detection Filter Cutoff until the Listen output only contains the ess sounds you are trying to reduce.
Global Module Controls
The module chain features common controls for each module, including Bypass, Solo, Remove, Reorder, and Wet/Dry Mix.
Global Controls Chapter
To learn more about the module chain and other global controls in Nectar 3, visit the Global Controls chapter.
Meters
The De-esser module features two spectrum analyzers (pre- and post-processing) and a gain reduction meter for monitoring the effect of the De-esser processing.
Spectrum Analyzer
Displays the magnitude of a signal across the frequency spectrum in real-time. The vertical ruler on the left edge of the module panel measures the amplitude of the signal in decibels (dB). The horizontal ruler along the bottom edge of the module panel measures frequency in Hertz (Hz).
Two spectrum analyzers are displayed in the De-esser module: the input to the De-esser module (displayed in dark grey with no border) and the output of the De-esser module (displayed in light grey with a white border).
Gain Reduction Meter
Displays the current average amount of gain reduction applied to the signal. This meter displays gain reduction in decibels (dB).
| Industry | Software industry/SIP licensing |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | , |
| Worldwide | |
| Products | audio middleware |
| Website | www.izotope.com |
iZotope, Inc. is an audio technology company based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. iZotope develops professional audio software for audio recording, mixing, broadcast, sound design, and mastering which can be used in wide range of Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) programs. In addition, iZotope creates and licenses audio DSP technology including noise reduction, sample rate conversion, dithering, time stretching, and audio enhancement to hardware and software companies in the consumer and pro audio industries.
Software[edit]
| Product name | Release date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Alloy 2 | August 14, 2012[1] | channel strip plugin with EQ, Transient Shaper, Dynamics, Exciter, Limiter, and De-Esser |
| ANR-B | May 10, 2007[2] | iZotope's only hardware unit — adaptive realtime noise reduction for broadcast audio |
| BreakTweaker | January 23, 2014[3] | drum sculpting and beat sequencing machine that blurs the line between rhythm and melody |
| DDLY Dynamic Delay | February 9, 2016[4] | responds to track musical dynamics to create unique delays |
| Insight | November 13, 2012[5] | CALM Act compliant essential metering suite |
| Iris 2 | November 19, 2014[6] | spectral sampling re-synthesizer featuring spectral selection tools |
| Nectar | November, 2010[7] | vocal production suite |
| Nectar 2 | October 18, 2013[8] | |
| Nectar 3 | October 16, 2018 | |
| Neutron | October 5, 2016[9] | audio mixing plug-in suite including advanced analysis and metering |
| Neutron 2 | October 5, 2017[10] | |
| Neutron 3 | June 6, 2019[11] | |
| Ozone 7 | November 3, 2015[12] | mastering suite with equalizer and dynamic eq, dynamics processing, exciter, spectral shaping processor, imager, maximizer, track referencing system and mastering assistant |
| Ozone 8 | October 5, 2017[10] | |
| Ozone 9 | October 3, 2019[13] | |
| RX 6 | April 20, 2017[14] | audio restoration suite |
| RX 7 | September 13, 2018 | |
| Stutter Edit | January 13, 2011[15] | sample stutter effects and slicing |
| Tonal Balance Control | October 5, 2017[10] | visual analysis tool measuring the distribution of energy across frequency spectrum, comparing audio to program-specific or custom-created targets |
| Trash 2 | November 19, 2012[16] | 64-bit modeling of guitar amplifiers, distortions, delays and filters |
| Vinyl | February 1, 2001[17] | record simulation and lo-fi effect |
Mobile applications[edit]
- Spire — iOS recording app
- iDrum and iDrum Mobile (acquired on December 4, 2006)[18] — virtual drum machine[19]
- Music and Speech Cleaner — audio cleanup and enhancement suite[20]
- Sonifi — mobile remix mobile application developed by Sonik Architects[21]
- The T-Pain Effect (released July 20, 2011)[22] — beat and vocal recording software with pitch correction
Third-party plugins[edit]
- Ozone Maximizer Rack Extension (released June 14, 2012)[23] for Reason — Reason 6.5 Rack Extension
- Mastering Essentials (released January 20, 2012)[24] for Acoustica Mixcraft Pro Studio 6
- Radius (released May 19, 2006)[25] — world-class time stretching and pitch shifting for Logic Pro and SoundTrack Pro
Discontinued products[edit]
- Ozone MP — analog modeled audio enhancement for Winamp and Windows Media Player
- pHATmatik PRO[26] — loop-based sampler
- PhotonShow — photo slideshow software
- PhotonTV — photo slideshow software
- Spectron (released March 6, 2003)[27] — 64-bit spectral effects processor[28]
Compatible software[edit]
iZotope's software can be used with Pro Tools, Apple's Logic Pro and GarageBand, Cakewalk SONAR, Nuendo, Digital Performer, WaveLab, Adobe Audition, Magix VEGAS, Reaper, FL Studio, Ableton Live etc.
Hardware[edit]
Izotope recently launched an iPhone-driven physical recording device competing with Zoom and Tascam, branded Spire Studio. It works wirelessly with the Spire IOS app and includes 4Gb of storage and XLR/TS ports for instrument jacks and mics in addition to the on board, internal mic. It is small, portable and not rack mounted and appears to be targeted to smaller bands and single musicians as well as home studios, as well as the podcasting and meeting sectors.
Licensing[edit]
iZotope has recently branched out its business to include software and technology licensing after ten years of developing audio processing algorithms and tools for their own software. iZotope offers development of technology for Mac and Windows platforms, Mobile, Video Game, and Embedded DSP. Clients have included Sony, Adobe, Xbox, Harmonix,[29]Smule, Sonoma Wire Works, and most recently, Blue Microphones.[30] Algorithms are delivered as a plugin or SDK for easy implementation. To date, iZotope technology has shipped in nearly 68 million products worldwide.[31]
Licensed technologies[edit]
- Mac/PC[32]
iZotope has audio technology readily available in the form of VST, DirectX, AudioUnits, RTAS or AudioSuite plug-ins. Typical uses for licensed technology for Mac or PC applications include audio finalizing, music production, audio for video, presentation audio, metering to address broadcast loudness standards, and media playback. Categories of available licensed technologies include audio enhancement, voice enhancement, audio repair tools, creative tools, DJ tools, audiophile tools, time manipulation and audio for video.
- Video Games[33]
iZotope has developed plugins for use directly in Audiokinetic WWise for audio enhancement, voice effects occlusion and room modeling. In addition, iZotope has developed sound design tools and special effects for sound designers using the FMOD middleware engine. For middleware engines supporting XAudio and Multistream formats, iZotope has a collection of licensable DSP for use in music related games or karaoke.
- Mobile SDKs[34]
- Core FX
- Audio Repair
- DJ FX
- Vocal FX
- Trash FX
- Fun FX
- Embedded[35]
Noise reduction DSP is available for use in hardware using Analog Devices SHARC and Blackfin processors. In 2012, iZotope embedded Adaptive Noise Reduction and Keyboard Click Reduction technologies on Blue Microphones' Tiki USB Mic.[36]
- Other
- Omega — realtime time and pitch control
- Radius — natural time stretching technology. Integrated into Digidesign's Pro Tools Elastic Time as well as Cakewalk SONAR. Available as a plug-in for Apple Logic Pro.
- SRC — 64-bit sample rate conversion.
Notable licensing partners[edit]
| Mac and PC | Video games | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
Artist references[edit]
- iZotope receives credit from Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails on the album credits of Year Zero.[37]
- American record producer Just Blaze mentions using Ozone on his latest project with Jay-Z.[38]
- Rock band from the US Garbage refers using Stutter Edit, Ozone, and Trash.[39]
- American DJ Skrillex discusses about using Ozone on his tracks.[40]
Awards and accolades[edit]
- Emmy Award Technology & Engineering Emmy (2013) — RX 2[41]
References[edit]
- ^'Izotope Alloy 2'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'Izotope ANR-B'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope Break Tweaker'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope release free DDLY Dynamic Delay'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'Izotope Insight'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope Iris 2'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'Izotope Nectar'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope Nectar 2'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope Neutron'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ abc'iZotope Neutron 2 & Ozone 8'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope announces Neutron 3'. Visuals Producer. June 6, 2019. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
- ^'iZotope Ozone 7'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope Ozone 9 Released - New AI Based Features - Exclusive Demo And Review'. Production Expert. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope RX6'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'Izotope Stutter Edit'. Sound on Sound. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^MusicTech.net (February 6, 2013). 'Trash 2 Review'. MusicTech. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^'iZotope Releases Free Vinyl Plug-In'. iZotope, Inc. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^McConnon, Brian. 'IZOTOPE ACQUIRES IDRUM AND PHATMATIK PRO'. iZotope, Inc. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^'iDrum'. iZotope, Inc.
- ^'Music and Speech Cleaner'.
- ^'Sonifi iPhone App lets your fingers remix music'. Los Angeles Times. November 17, 2009.
- ^McConnon, Brian. 'T-Pain and iZotope Introduce The T-Pain Effect'. Music Marcom. Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^McConnon, Brian. 'iZotope Releases Ozone Maximizer Rack Extension for Reason'. Music Marcom. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^McConnon, Brian. 'iZotope Introduces Mastering Essentials'. Music Marcom. Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^McConnon, Brian. 'iZotope Releases iZotope Radius for Logic'. Music Marcom. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^McConnon, Brian. 'iZotope Acquires iDrum and pHATmatik PRO'. Music Marcom. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^'Introducing iZotope Spectron'. iZotope, Inc. Archived from the original on February 24, 2013. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^'Spectron'. iZotope, Inc.
- ^McConnon, Brian. 'iZotope Technology Licensed for Inclusion in Rock Band 3'. iZotope, Inc. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
- ^'tiki FAQ'. Blue Microphones.
- ^'Powered By iZotope'. iZotope, Inc. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^'Mac/Win'. iZotope. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^'About iZotope | Audio Software, Plug-ins, VST'. Izotope.com. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^'Audio for iOS'. iZotope. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^'Embedded Audio Repair Tools'. iZotope. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^'AES12: iZotope Technology Embedded Into Microphones'. Sonicstate.com. October 30, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^'Year Zero'. NinWiki. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^'Red Bull Music Academy'. Red Bull Music Academy. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^'Archived copy'. Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^'Winners Announced for the 65th Primetime Emmy Engineering Awards'. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
Further reading[edit]
- Frakes, Dan (October 7, 2008). 'Editors' Notes – An array of audio offerings at AES – iZotope iDrum Hip-Hop Edition and iDrum Club Edition:'. MacWorld. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- Rogerson, Ben (October 6, 2008). 'iZotope Ozone 4 promises better mastering A pro sound from within your DAW?'. MusicRadar.com. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- Alexander, Jason Scott (June 1, 2008). 'Field Test: iZotope RX Advanced Restoration SoftwareEASY-TO-USE MODULES OFFER TRANSPARENT, MUSICAL RESULTS'. Mix. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- 'IZotope Ozone 4 en janvier...'PC Music (in French). October 7, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- 'iZotope Ozone 4 en enero de 2009'. Hispasonic (in Spanish). Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- 'RX Review in Mix Magazine - June Issue'. MixMagazine. Archived from the original on January 7, 2009. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- 'ANR-B Review in Sound on Sound Magazine - April'. SoundOnSoundMagazine. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- 'RX featured in Electronic Musician 'Noises Off' - August'. ElectronicMusician. Archived from the original on October 20, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
- 'Ozone 3 review in Mix Magazine- Mar.2004'. MixMagazine. Retrieved October 28, 2008.