Main Detection Controls & Modes

The Main Detection Controls efficiently and easily offer way to tweak the Sibilants Detection Algorithm.

Choose the Mode best suited for the source, set the Sensitivity to detect the sibilants, and adjust the Amount to vary the sibilant processing degree… It’s as simple as that!

Mode

• Solo Vocal: Ideal for all kinds of vocal tracks, spoken or sung. The sibilant detection is applied to both the left and right channels equally. In this mode, the effect of the Auto spans a wide frequency range to automatically smooth out peaky resonances of the sibilants.

• Background Vocals: The sibilant detection is independent between left and right channels. This allows for separate processing of panned vocals across the stereo field. Do not use this mode to process a stereo, reverberant, solo vocal track, as the reverb can trigger the detection differently on the left and right channels. For reverberant, solo vocal tracks, use the Solo Vocal mode instead.

• Voice Over: This detection mode is more reactive than Solo Vocal, which is useful especially when the longest lookahead is not possible to be used in the mixing configuration. It can trigger a little more unwanted noise or breathing, so a Manual Idle Threshold should be used with this mode.

• Guitar Squeaks: Useful for removing guitar squeaks produced when the musicians  hand slides on the strings. Please note that the detection will not be able to discriminate squeaks that are produced while notes are played, but only when a squeak is played and all strings are muffled. This is because removing a squeak while strings are still resonating would produce audible pumping artifacts.

• Overheads: Useful to smooth stereo overheads. This mode can be used as well with the Sensitivity all the way up, then adjust the Auto, which will dynamically remove peaky resonances, typically in the cymbals and hihat high frequencies.

• Stereo Mastering: This mode is intended to fix issues with harsh elements in the mix without affecting the overall brightness. It’s very useful for taming loud sibilants and overly bright percussive elements at the same time.

• M/S Mastering: Use this mode when high frequencies need to be controlled in the Mid and Side channels independently. In this mode, the Auto knob is focused on the higher end of the spectrum. This mode is especially useful for Vinyl mastering.

• Mid Mastering: Focuses on the center channel only. This is very useful for de-essing centered vocals within a stereo mix. In this mode, the effect of the Auto is focused more on frequencies in the vocal range. This allows you to be able to accurately control sibilants within a mix without affecting other stereo elements.

Sensitivity

Sensitivity affects the responsiveness of the Sibilants Detection. At 0%, the detection is off, while at 100%, the detection is very drastic. To help visualize the Sibilants Detection, the external crown lights up in function of the intensity detected. By default, the Sensitivity is at 50%.

Amount

Amount controls the strength of the Sibilants processing by applying a coefficient to the following parameters:

• Sibilants Wide Band Gain
• Sibilants EQ
• Auto
• Smooth

At 0%, no processing is applied to the Sibilants path. At 100%, these different parameters are fully applied to the Sibilants path. By default, the Amount is at 50%.