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.