Standalone de-esser...not a plug in

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 1:25 pm

I'm wondering if there are any standalone software programs that competently de-ess a wav file. I don't want to spend the money for a hardware de-esser when I rarely use need it.

I haven't been happy with the embedded software de-essers I've tried in SoundBooth and Sound Forge, but it is probably fair to chalk that up to stupid user error.

Give me a one knob squeezer any day! Laughing

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 4:57 pm

i use a couple of vst ones, but i often end up taming the ss manually with volume automation.

i heard sonnox has a really good which i have yet to try.

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 5:28 pm

Looks great, but I'm looking for a standalone, software de-esser...not one that plugs in to a software recording suite.

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 5:55 pm

The only software versions I know of are VST plugins for DAW software.

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 5:58 pm

That's pretty much what I surmised from my web searches, but some of you guys know where the bodies are buried...so I figured if it exists...y'all would know.

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 9:01 pm

Well, if you have a parametric EQ, and are able to eq the file before you save it; you may just solve your problem like this:

d essers are doing this in an automatic way. Dial in the nasty S frequency, and suck it out. Plain and simple.

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 10:35 pm

Yeah but...

Doesn't that put a big hole in that frequency? Of course, I guess it doesn't matter if it's just a speaking voice.

Confused

Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 10:52 pm

Well, yes... the parametric would be on all ( unless you have automation) the time where the desser, would move in and out ( depending on how good it is) and your settings.

I'm not the best at explaining things at times...

A desser is performing a similar function, like how a side chain works. What ever you are using to record, is most likely spiking in a particular freq. Or, you have a bit of an S when speaking etc. Easy to solve really.

example: 6k to 8k maybe. This is a typical issue created with less quality electronics. Using a parametric to dial in the spike, narrow it in and, pull it out is pretty much the same thing. Since you are only dealing with one voice, yes?
Cheap dessers are junk IMHO. They degrade the entire sound, not just the spike. If you can't afford something of quality, a parametric on hand may do it for you.

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 5:48 am

griz wrote:

I'm wondering if there are any standalone software programs that competently de-ess a wav file. I don't want to spend the money for a hardware de-esser when I rarely use need it.

I haven't been happy with the embedded software de-essers I've tried in SoundBooth and Sound Forge, but it is probably fair to chalk that up to stupid user error.

Give me a one knob squeezer any day! :lol:

And what exactly would you do with a knob squeezer?

You could try running a VST de-esser plug-in such as Spitfish stand-alone under VSThost:
http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem=5
http://www.hermannseib.com/english/vsthost.htm

I've never tried this, but you could also have a look at the possibility of running a VST de-esser plug in a standalone box such as one of the SM Pro Audio "V" range (V-Machine, V-Box, V-Rack etc). You would need to have a MIDI controller available to control the parameters. Not as cheap as free software, but would get you out of having to run DAW programs.

Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:28 am

Boswell wrote:

You could try running a VST de-esser plug-in such as Spitfish stand-alone under VSThost....

Sounds like an interesting experiment.

Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 5:15 pm

I know this is a bit old, and this has been covered before, and it's not exactly what you were asking, but....wait, why am I posting this?
The Massey de-esser is pretty amazing. I'll agree that most plugin de-essers aren't very good. Even the Waves de-esser isn't all that great (in my opinion). The Massey one is free to try (just can't save presets), and very cheap, if you do buy it. One of my top 5 plugins.

Dan

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