Sibilance is an exaggerated or harsh “S” and “T” sound in speech and singing caused by high-frequency emphasis around 2-8 kHz. It can make vocals sound overly bright, piercing, or lispy.
There are a few ways a sound engineer can manage sibilance:
Microphone choice/placement:
- Dynamic mics tend to be less sibilant than condensers. Aim the mic off-axis from the mouth slightly.
Equalisation:
- Reduce frequencies around 5kHz with narrow Q to control sibilance while preserving tone. De-essing compression can also be used.
Compression:
- Fast attack/medium release compression or dedicated de-essers can reduce volume spikes on sibilant sounds.
Limiting:
- A limiter with a fast attack can prevent sibilant transients from hitting painful levels.
Ambience:
- Adding reverb or delay to vocals can smooth out the harshness and make sibilance less pronounced.
Gain staging:
- Keeping overall gain structuring moderate can prevent excessive sibilance amplification.
Filters:
- A low-pass filter around 8kHz could remove extreme high frequencies contributing to sibilance.
In summary, listening carefully to identify sibilance problems and then using strategic EQ, compression, limiting and mic technique can help control harsh “S” and “T” sounds. Being aware of gain staging and ambience choices can also make a difference. The key is using just enough treatment to control sibilance while retaining tone and articulation.