De-Esser is also known as “frequency-dependent compression,” but no matter what you call it, the idea is to control excessive sibilance (exaggerated “s” sounds), which can be particularly problematic in vocal tracks.
Multiband capability is a feature that puts the De-Esser ahead of the competition, making it accurate and versatile as well as sounding good.
When set to 2-band mode, the De-Esser works more broadly, effectively reducing the high-end content of the area defined by the frequency selector. Switching to 3-track mode allows for greater precision and control, particularly useful in situations such as vocal tracks where sibilance is in a narrow range and where there is a need to leave most of it untouched by “air”. The dedicated control set also allows you to precisely modify the operating mode and test the action of the De-Esser, or the part of the audio spectrum that the processor is working on.
The main use of this processor is obviously in vocal tracks: this is where IK Multimedia's De-esser shines thanks to its multiband capability that allows it to zone the problematic frequency with extreme precision and bring it under control.
However, there are several other cases where a De-Esser can be a secret weapon, where an EQ would be too drastic a solution: hi-hat or attack cymbals can sometimes sound harsh or too bright in a mix; using an EQ would correct this, but would probably also affect the rest of the treble content of the mix. This is where frequency conscious compression comes to help: setting the De-Esser to the correct frequency and threshold allows you to reduce the harshness of overly bright cymbals only when they are played, and by precisely adjusting the release time, the action would be discreet and transparent to the rest of the mix.
