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Description

Unleash the full potential of your vocal recordings with the Waves DeEsser plugin, a precision tool designed to tackle sibilance with ease and finesse. Inspired by vintage gear, this plugin effortlessly eliminates harsh "ess" and "shh" sounds without compromising the natural warmth of your audio. Whether you're polishing vocals or taming unruly cymbals, the Waves DeEsser's intuitive interface ensures smooth and subtle de-essing, making it a must-have for any serious audio engineer.

At the heart of the Waves DeEsser is its innovative side-chain filtering technology, which allows for precise frequency targeting. This feature is complemented by the plugin's ability to switch between wide-band and split compression modes, offering flexibility to suit any audio situation. Whether you’re working in a mono or stereo setup, the Waves DeEsser operates seamlessly up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution, making it an ideal choice for both studio recordings and live performances.

Join the community of musicians and producers who trust the Waves DeEsser to deliver crystal-clear audio, free from the distractions of unwanted sibilance. With its user-friendly design and powerful features, this plugin is your go-to solution for achieving pristine vocal tracks.

Key Features:

  • Classical hiss reduction inspired by vintage gear
  • Sharp side-chain filters for precise processing
  • Wide-band or split compression modes
  • Audio or sidechain monitoring options
  • Supports up to 24-bit/192kHz resolution
  • Compatible with mono and stereo components
  • SoundGrid license compatible with MultiRack Native, StudioRack Native, and more

Owner's manual

Waves DeEsser User Manual

Product specs

Software Type DeEsser
Platform Mac, PC
Upgrade/Full Full
Download/Boxed Download
Bit Depth 64-bit
Format AAX Native, AudioSuite, VST, AU, SoundGrid
Hardware Requirements - Mac Intel Core i7 or higher (M1 support), 8GB RAM minimum
Hardware Requirements - PC Intel Core i5 / AMD Quad-core or higher (AVX required), 8GB RAM minimum
OS Requirements - Mac macOS 10.15.7 or later
OS Requirements - PC Windows 10 or later (21H2), 64-bit

FAQs

What is the primary function of the Waves DeEsser plugin?

The Waves DeEsser plugin is designed to reduce excess sibilance, such as 'ess' and 'shh' sounds, from vocal tracks, providing smooth and natural-sounding de-essing.

Is the Waves DeEsser plugin compatible with my DAW?

The Waves DeEsser supports AAX Native, AudioSuite, VST, AU, and SoundGrid formats, making it compatible with most major DAWs on both Mac and PC platforms.

What are the system requirements for running the Waves DeEsser on a Mac?

To run the Waves DeEsser on a Mac, you'll need macOS 10.15.7 or later, an Intel Core i7 or higher (M1 support), and a minimum of 8GB RAM.

Can the Waves DeEsser be used for live sound applications?

Yes, the Waves DeEsser can be used in live sound environments through SoundGrid compatibility, allowing real-time processing with low latency.

What is the recommended frequency range to set on the Waves DeEsser for effective sibilance reduction?

For effective de-essing with the Waves DeEsser, it's recommended to set the filter frequency between 1800 Hz and 8000 Hz, depending on the specific vocal characteristics.

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Introducing Waves DeEsser

Video thumbnail for Introducing Waves DeEsser by Waves Audio

Introducing Waves DeEsser

Waves Audio

Waves Audio

Video thumbnail for Fixing HARSH vocals with a De-Esser by Mix With Jerry

Fixing HARSH vocals with a De-Esser

Mix With Jerry

Mix With Jerry

Reviews

PROS

  • Straightforward, user-friendly interface

  • Effective "S Chain" feature highlights frequency cuts

  • Works well on various vocal types

  • Intuitive presets enhance usability

  • Minimal resource consumption

  • Quick and easy integration with DAWs

  • Consistently reliable over years of use

  • Softens harsh sibilance while maintaining clarity

  • Versatile beyond vocal applications

CONS

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Waves DeEsser.

Comparisons

  • Some users find the Waves DeEsser more effective for live use due to its faster attack compared to Sibilance, which can struggle with quick sibilant sounds.

    Source
  • In some cases, when Sibilance didn't perform well, users switched to the Weiss De-Esser for a more suitable sound, although the Weiss generally isn't favored.

    Source
  • The Lindell 902 de-esser and Slate's FG-DS 902 both emulate the dbx 902 hardware model, providing an alternative to Waves DeEsser with a vintage touch.

    Source
  • Users note that the Waves R-DeEsser's "notch" shape can help with targeting sibilance effectively compared to the stock Pro Tools de-esser, which tends to darken vocals.

    Source
  • FabFilter's DeEsser is praised for its flexibility and the ability to avoid over-compressing vocals, making it a preferred choice over Waves for detailed control.

    Source

User experience

  • The Waves DeEsser is praised for its simplicity and transparency, especially in wide mode, with multiple users preferring it over Sibilance for its sound quality.

    Source
  • The Waves DeEsser is favored by some professionals despite having access to more advanced and expensive options, citing its effectiveness and simplicity.

    Source
  • Some users find Logic's built-in DeEsser problematic, producing audible issues, whereas Waves R-DeEsser consistently delivers better results without compromising vocal quality.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • Sibilance's interface is criticized by some users for not clearly displaying compression levels, making it less intuitive than the traditional DeEsser.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • For those who require moderate de-essing, some users prefer manual adjustments with clip gain in Pro Tools for remaining sibilance after using the DeEsser.

    Source
  • When using the Waves DeEsser, users often set it to wideband and adjust the threshold until sibilance is adequately controlled without noticeable artifacts.

    Source
  • Sonnox's Oxford Supresser is noted for maintaining the original audio quality while effectively controlling sibilance, making it a strong alternative to Waves.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Waves DeEsser remains functional without mandatory upgrades; however, users must pay over $100 for major OS updates after the first year.

    Source

Software and compatibility

  • Waves plugins are compatible across Windows XP to 11, but licensing software requires a newer OS version, potentially impacting usage decisions.

    Source
Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 16 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
M

Good Times

Easy to use - perfect Sound. I love it.

carlosfbanegas

great

It does the job.Totally

Artist usage

Add artist
See how M-22 uses Waves DeEsser

M-22

Music Producer, DJ

...
Verified via YouTube

At 8:49 this plugin seen on the lead vocals

See how Dave Audé uses Waves DeEsser

Dave Audé

Music Producer

...
Verified via YouTube

This is one of the plugins that Dave uses in this video, found in the video's description

See how Seth Firkins uses Waves DeEsser

Seth Firkins

Music Producer

...
Verified via Soundonsound

In this article, Seth reveals that he uses Waves De-Esser on his vocal tracks, to tame sibilance, in every project he works on.

See how Mark “Spike” Stent uses Waves DeEsser

Mark “Spike” Stent

Music Producer, Audio Engineer

...
Verified via AudioTechnology

In an interview with AudioTechnology, music producer and audio engineer Mark “Spike” Stent confirmed using the Waves DeEsser.

Vocals are cleaned, breaths taken down, and any de-essing is taken care of as well, using the Waves de-esser.

Genre Usage

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Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Waves DeEsser, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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