1629 De-esser and Compressor

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Questions and Answers

What is the purpose of a de-esser in audio recordings?

To minimize sharp, sibilant sounds (correct)

To eliminate low-frequency tones

To enhance the bass frequencies

To amplify sibilant sounds

Why is the placement of the de-esser before the compressor in the signal chain considered beneficial?

It eliminates the need for adjusting male or female settings

It helps reduce the sibilant sounds before compression (correct)

It amplifies the sibilant sounds before compression

It requires less effort to process the sounds

What role does a DSER play in reducing sibilant sounds in male and female voices?

It adjusts the bass frequencies in female voices

It amplifies the sibilant sounds in male voices

It focuses on enhancing the low-frequency tones

It eliminates specific frequency bands with multiband compressing (correct)

What is the purpose of make-up gain in audio compression?

To boost the level of the compressed audio signal to match the original signal Signup and view all the answers

How should make-up gain be set in audio compression?

Set it to match the output level before compression Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to compress a lead vocal?

To even out the volume of the vocal performance Signup and view all the answers

What effect does compressing a lead vocal have?

Reducing the dynamic range of the vocal Signup and view all the answers

In audio compression, what is the effect of incorrectly setting the make-up gain?

It may result in a loss of perceived loudness in the final audio output Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the threshold in audio compression?

It determines the level at which the compressor starts to reduce the audio signal Signup and view all the answers

How does adjusting the threshold affect the compression of an audio signal?

It determines how much gain reduction occurs in response to input levels Signup and view all the answers

In audio compression, what happens when the input signal level exceeds the set threshold?

The compressor starts to reduce the input level according to the ratio setting Signup and view all the answers

In audio compression, what is the 'knee' referring to?

The transition region around the threshold where the compression ratio increases gradually Signup and view all the answers

What happens when the input signal level exceeds the set threshold in audio compression?

The compressor gradually increases the compression ratio within the 'knee' Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of make-up gain in audio compression?

To restore the level lost during compression Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

A DSER (De-Esser) is a tool used to minimize sharp, sibilant sounds in audio recordings, particularly those with dominant S, T, F, C, and Z sounds.
The sharpness of these sounds is influenced by the microphone used and the amount of compression applied to the recording.
Equalization (EQ) can also amplify these sounds, especially in the 7 kHz region, depending on the vocal quality of the person recorded.
Most DSERs have one or two functions, depending on the model and brand, allowing users to select male or female settings and adjust certain frequencies.
They eliminate specific frequency bands using multiband compressing or side chain compressing to reduce the presence of high-frequency tones where sibilant sounds are commonly found.
Using a compressor followed by a DSER is less effective than putting the DSER before the compressor in the signal chain, as it requires more effort to process the sounds.
The DSER aims to compress the higher frequency range of an audio recording, eliminating the high-frequency tones where sibilant sounds are most prominent.
Male and female voices may have different S tone frequencies, so adjusting the DSER settings accordingly can improve the recording quality.
Using a DSER before a compressor in the signal chain is beneficial as it helps smooth out the sibilant sounds before the compression process begins.

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Description

Explore the function and usage of DSER (De-Esser) in audio recordings, particularly in reducing sharp, sibilant sounds like S, T, F, C, and Z sounds. Learn about its impact on microphone selection, compression, equalization, and the process of eliminating specific frequency bands.