SPL De-Essers

The SPL De-Esser Collection Kicks “Ess”

This collection contains 2 Analog Code plugins that emulate both the classic single and modern dual band versions of SPL’s analog hardware de-essers - considered by many to be the very best in professional recording. Just like the hardware versions, no other de-esser plugin gets the job done as easily and precisely while maintaining the character of the original source.

Traditional de-essers compress the frequency range where esses typically occur. Without constant knob-tweaking, these de-essers can deliver lispy- or nasally-sounding vocals, especially on tracks with high amounts of sibilance. SPL´s Auto Dynamic De-Esser eliminates these challenges by monitoring the entire frequency spectrum and automatically detecting the sibilant frequencies. The bandwidth is set so narrowly around the range of the sibilance that neighboring frequencies remain unaffected. This frequency band is mixed back into the main signal phase-inverted to cancel out the sibilance. The result is precise de-essing that is incredibly simple to apply, while preserving the original character and timbre of the voice - even at high reduction settings.

The SPL De-esser plugins also contain features not found on the original hardware, such as an M/S Stereo mode that allows you to de-ess a full mix and without losing the high frequencies of cymbals, guitars or keyboards. This makes the SPL De-Esser a valuable tool during mastering.

The Analog Code
During listening tests of this technology, a hardware developer remarked that SPL had “cracked the Analog Code!” and in the process, coined the name of SPL’s software product line.