Sibilance
Definition
Harsh, high-frequency sounds produced by consonants such as "s," "sh," "t," and "ch" in vocal recordings. Excessive sibilance is fatiguing and typically addressed with a de-esser or targeted narrow EQ.
In Simple Terms
The sharp, sometimes painful 'ssss' and 'shhhh' sounds in vocal recordings. Certain microphones and bright EQ settings make it worse. A de-esser fixes it without dulling the whole vocal.
In Practice
A vocal recorded close to a bright condenser microphone exhibits strong sibilance in the 7–10 kHz range, requiring de-essing before the track sits comfortably in a mix.
Sources & Verification
- Owsinski, B. — The Mixing Engineer's Handbook (4th ed., de-essing chapter)Bobby Owsinski Media Group, 2017
- Izhaki, R. — Mixing Audio (3rd ed.)Focal Press, 2017
Last verified: 2026-05-05