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Why not use a rack de-esser for home use?

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plaguebearer

New Member
I'm quite tempted to get and plug an audio compressor with de-essing functions (Behringer MDX2600) for playback on my home stereo. My preamp allows a pre-out main-in loop and everything appears to work at line level. The interconnects would be rca to 1/4. Ok, ok sibilance has to be attacked at its source, but conceptually, is there any reason why not have this as an option? Would it sound weird?

Now supposing it works, would it give me better results than a parametric eq that I already own? After a point, the eq masks good brilliance.
 
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I've found that Behringer and other low end stuff adds a lot of noise when used in a hifi, not the case with quality stuff tho, i had 2 Kawai parametric EQ's that were amazing.
 
At the radio station we kept our Volume Max units way past their time, because of the sound they delivered. I don't remember if it was Rane or Lexicon, but someone made a SS processor for PA systems that needed a lot compression and the de-esser worked really well. Maybe it was Klarke-technik? Its tough when you have a senior moment. I know DBX makes units today. I prefer to use my 10 band Graphic EQ.
 
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Welcome to AK, PlagueBearer. Good to have you aboard.

I'm curious about the need for de-essing recorded material. I can't remember ever hearing a recording from a major company that had a sibilance problem of enough note to require attention. Can you tell us what kind of recordings you are listening to? I'd love to look them up and hear this for myself.

Otherwise, the Behringer unit you cited should be an excellent solution. The reviews on it are sterling.

GeeDeeEmm
 
Hi, thanks
The old story: some vocals I feel could be better with just a bit of tweaking. The parametric eq gets me near to the sweet spot, but not quite and I felt that, why not a de-esser? The equipment exists, though for some reason its use appears to be very rare for home stereo playback. I thought that maybe some compatibility issues are at play. I've already done some sleuthing, subbing in and out components from my system, without much result (trying other speakers got me the biggest benefit with about 10% improvement): if a de-esser is a way out (do we really care if it's the easy, cosmetic way out?), I can put angst & speculation aside, move on and listen to music. Some vinyl, some cds; my favorite fm stations are the worst. Overall, my sibilance problem would rate about 5 on a 0-10 scale. Rounding it to 3 is my objective without dulling the music. Once again, if there's a box out there, why not avail of it?
 
Most such tools which are of consistent, dependable quality which don't add hiss, hum, distortion, and other artifacts tend to be priced beyond home users budgets. And also need skilled audio engineers driving them.
 
dbx makes a series of de-essers. They aren't very expensive, are easy to use, and are of studio quality. The 520 is small and dedicated, the 286S has several additional functions useful for vocals
 
any additional electronics are unnecessary and will degenerate the quality. the exaggerated sibilance can result from poor quality turntable, tonearm, or poor cartridge alignment. since i have had quality tt setups, i haven't heard sibilance in my system.

sometimes, poorly designed speakers will exaggerate sibilants and will sound that way on any material with hard Ss in the program. i once auditioned the Rogersound sub/sat system and they were using what they normally would use for a center, a d'apolito satellite. it was terrible so i suggested just the smaller monitor in the satellite positions. Howard Rodgers accommodated me and then it was excellent. from then on, i never saw them offered or demoed with the larger satellite.
 
plaguebearer said:
I'm quite tempted to get and plug an audio compressor with de-essing functions (Behringer MDX2600) for playback on my home stereo. My preamp allows a pre-out main-in loop and everything appears to work at line level. The interconnects would be rca to 1/4. Ok, ok sibilance has to be attacked at its source, but conceptually, is there any reason why not have this as an option? Would it sound weird?

Now supposing it works, would it give me better results than a parametric eq that I already own? After a point, the eq masks good brilliance.
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Old thread, but very interested, and confused on what's out there and how it would work in a home system. Did you have any luck? Suggestions?
 
rothwellaudio said:
De-essers are usually used at the multitrack stage to de-ess individual problem tracks. They're not usually used on a complete two-track mix.
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Agreed. To understand suitablility of any tool one should first understand the intended purpose and function. Change is easy, improvement is not.

That said with audio we learn from experimentation.
 
In my vast collection, I have come across just two things that had distracting essing/sibilance. Margo Timmins on some tracks on The Trinity Sessions, and Anna Lynne Williams in Tresspassers William ‘In a Song’.
 
Dazaa said:
I've found that Behringer and other low end stuff adds a lot of noise when used in a hifi, not the case with quality stuff tho, i had 2 Kawai parametric EQ's that were amazing.
Click to expand...
Also my impression of Behringer gear, but can't say I've used their rack compressors in my own setup. Could De-Essing be something you take care of in the box? De-essing stock or your own plugins, detailed compression, and/or EQ? I do that 2nd or so in the channel strip.
 
The Empirical Labs Distressor was the go to in the 90s.
I've used compressors on PA systems rented out at Raves, mostly for protection. Those DJs just can't help turning it up.
After a couple of blown subs, my rave days were over.
Never felt the need at home.
 
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