M-De-Esser is equipped with groundbreaking spectral shaping technology, flawlessly erasing harshness and sibilances from any source with remarkable transparency and accuracy. Elevate your tracks with a pristine high-end frequency balance. Try it and you'll love it!

The end of the search for the perfect de-esser is here. Equipped with unique spectral shaping technology designed specifically to enhance high frequencies of any sound.

Techivation M-De-Esser: Speed, transparency, precision. Try it now!

T-Puncher Free is the fastest way to control the sound’s transients to make your tracks punchier or softer with one single knob. Use this free plug-in and explore the T-Puncher premium for even a more pro sound.

T-Puncher Free is the fastest way to control the sound’s transients to make your tracks punchier or softer with one single knob. Use this free transient shaper plug-in and explore the T-Puncher premium for even more pro sound.

T-Puncher FREE: Techivation Transient Shaper Plug-in

T-De-Esser is a simple and easy-to-use natural sounding de-esser to help you achieve crisp and bright results, without any harshness or sibilance.

Techivation T-De-Esser is a free simplified and easy-to-use De-Esser plug-in that smoothes high frequencies while maintaining a natural and musical sound.

T-De-Esser: Free Musical Sounding De-Esser

The ‘Audition’ (Delta-listening) feature in T-De-Esser Plus allows you to listen to the selected frequency range modes, as well as letting you listen to the audio sounds that are being processed by the plug-in. This helps when it comes to making specific comparisons.

T-De-Esser Plus adds an extra feature "delta-listening" to the free T-De-Esser and it is still free to download and use! Download it now!

Techivation T-De-Esser Plus: Free Natural Sounding De-Esser

Brightness, airiness, clarity, harshness, and crispiness – these adjectives are frequently used by mixing engineers to describe the auditory qualities of certain tracks. While these descriptors can be applied to various audio sources, they are most often used to characterize vocals.

As humans, we are inherently sensitive to the nuances of vocal recordings. This is understandable given that we encounter human voices every day from the moment we are born. It's no surprise, then, that many engineers consider vocals to be the keystone of any song.

Vocal processing stands as a fundamental aspect of audio production. Among the tools utilized in this process, de-essers play a vital role. Whether it's singing, voiceovers, or dialogues in film and TV, de-essing finds its application across multiple formats.

For those unfamiliar, de-essing is the technique of managing sounds such as "s," "sh," "ch," or any other sibilant sounds that tend to carry harsh and unpleasant characteristics. While de-essing is often associated with vocals, it also finds utility in addressing high-frequency elements like cymbals, hi-hats, and even reverb effects.

In the years spanning from the 1950s to roughly the 1980s, engineers grappled with limited tools to control sibilance. This era demanded labour-intensive efforts and an astute ear to achieve natural-sounding results.

As technology advanced, new tools, including hardware units, emerged to streamline the process. These tools predominantly relied on compression-based techniques triggered by specific frequency ranges prone to sibilance. This approach offered more precise control in contrast to manually equalizing sibilant frequencies.

With the transition to digital audio, the development of advanced de-essing plugins gained momentum. These plugins empowered engineers to fine-tune parameters such as detection frequency range, compression ratio, and attack/release times, ultimately yielding more accurate and customizable de-essing solutions.

However, despite these advancements, many engineers still preferred to manually edit sibilant sounds in vocal recordings or use automation to lower the volume of sibilant sounds in vocal recordings.

And now Techivation has leveraged the latest advancements in digital signal processing to create a tool like no other – the M-De-Esser. It’s not just a de-esser; this is a shaping tool that can go far beyond de-essing and help you make your tracks sound more balanced, clearer, and without any harshness.

Watch the Techivation M-De-Esser Walkthrough video

Techivation M-De-Esser Walkthrough

So, let’s take a look at 10 ways you can use the M-De-Esser to significantly improve your mixes.

Vocals are the heart of any song, and ensuring their clarity and smoothness is essential. A regular de-esser can make a vocalist sound like they have a lisp, but with the unique spectral shaping from M-De-Esser, even more extreme settings sound smooth.

Let’s shift to a world of cinematic special effects. The great advantage of the M-De-Esser compared to traditional de-essers is that its algorithms allow for more creative sound shaping and control of certain frequencies. In this example, the M-De-Esser was used to control and shape high mid-range frequencies of the mid-channel in mid-side mode, bringing the sides forward and creating more depth.

Now let’s take a look at drums. Quite often, especially with virtual drums, hi-hats or overheads can sound very harsh, masking other elements of the mix. Employing the spectral processing of the M-De-Esser, we'll try to alleviate some of this unwanted sharpness.

Amplified guitars awash in distortion can swiftly transform into a source of harshness, leading to listener fatigue. Regular equalization can prove inadequate in taming this harshness. Tools like the M-De-Esser can work wonders in such cases, where you need to remove harshness without making guitars sound hollow.

Even with well-balanced vocals, you might find yourself in a situation where sending them to a reverb can introduce harsh sibilance to the overall sound. In cases like that, you might want to apply de-essing to the reverb itself, rather than the vocal track.

Electronic drum samples can frequently generate sibilant frequencies that exhibit harshness. And in cases like these, even attenuation with a high shelf might not remove the harshness. Dynamic spectral shaping of M-De-Esser once again becomes the ally, creating smooth, analogue-like tones.

Spectral de-essing works wonders on instrument groups. Rather than trying to smooth out each track one by one, you can efficiently apply it to a group track channel (or aux, or however it is called in your DAW of choice). Let’s take a listen to the M-De-Esser on a drum group in mid-side mode, focusing more on the sides.

Synthesizers are often imbued with a piercing quality due to intricate harmonic content. The M-De-Esser can work its magic, transforming these sharp synth sounds into much more ear-pleasing timbres, without compromising clarity and adding warmth to digital sounds.

When experimenting with creative distortion applications, such as parallel channels for drums, bass, or vocals, harshness can emerge swiftly with digital distortion. Integrating the M-De-Esser into these parallel channels can mitigate distortion's harsh impact and make it sound more analogue-like.

10. Control of Harshness in Woodwinds, Strings, etc.

Another area where de-essers are used quite often is controlling the harshness of instruments like strings, woodwinds, and brass. Here we have an example with a flute, where the M-De-Esser controlled annoying frequencies in the range of 1.4 kHz-6.6 kHz, creating a more balanced sound.

We hope you enjoyed these 10 tips on how to use the M-De-Esser to elevate your mixes, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In future articles, we will explore more ways of using the M-De-Esser, so stay tuned for that!

We are really proud of the M-De-Esser and truly believe that it can become the ultimate tool, offering you unparalleled control over sibilant and harsh frequencies while preserving the integrity of your audio, without introducing unpleasant artifacts. Embark on your journey with the <a href="/m-de-esser/">M-De-Esser</a> today by downloading  our <a href="/app/register/?type=m-de-esser-trial">14-day free trial</a>.

Written By Gleb Karpovich
- Mixing Engineer

Techivation has leveraged the latest advancements in digital signal processing to create a tool like no other – the M-De-Esser.

10 Essential Uses of M-De-Esser

M-De-Esser Walkthrough | Techivation

Watch the Techivation M-De-Esser's walkthrough:The end of the search for the perfect de-esser. Now available!

In recent years, we have seen the release of numerous advanced plugins designed to help mixing engineers in solving complex audio issues. These plugins are powered by sophisticated algorithms that dynamically react to audio signals, offering capabilities that were once unimaginable.

Regardless of where you stand on the analogue versus digital debate, it is clear that both approaches have the potential to deliver outstanding results while offering distinct characteristics.

This fact has been proven by top engineers who have transitioned to a fully in-the-box mixing workflow, using digital tools that combine emulations of revered analogue gear, pristine digital plugins, and innovative processors.

Before delving into the remarkable capabilities of M-Clarity and what it can do, let us take a moment to explore the analogue world. By gaining insights into its functioning, we can better appreciate how tools like M-Clarity effectively solve some of the challenges traditionally addressed by analogue gear.

If you have ever had the opportunity to mix on an analogue console, you may have noticed the ability to apply a 10dB boost at 6K to electric guitars without encountering harshness. While analogue emulations can sometimes introduce unwanted harshness in similar scenarios.

Analogue gear's intricate electrical interactions often result in what we can refer to as "additional free processing."In a classic analogue environment, comprising a console, outboard gear, and tape machines, audio signals go through multiple circuits, where various parameters are altered, including phase, frequency response, harmonic distortion, and noise.

For instance, a tape machine can significantly affect the phase, while harmonic distortion can emphasize specific frequencies. Even just passing a signal through a piece of gear can yield a pleasing effect, particularly when using transformer-based gear.

Consider the impact of harmonic distortion in analogue gear. Observe its frequency response and the notches that often correspond to frequencies perceived as harsh or unpleasant. You might even notice a resemblance to Fletcher-Munson curves.

If you are unfamiliar with Fletcher-Munson curves, they are a set of experimentally determined graphs that illustrate the loudness, measured in dB SPL, required for sounds at different frequencies to be perceived as equally loud. In essence, they reveal how loud a frequency must be compared to another frequency to achieve a perceived equal loudness. It is a fascinating concept to explore how the non-linear behaviour of analogue gear can fix issues like harshness or muddiness.

Moreover, analogue gear has dynamic qualities that adapt to audio signal levels. Sometimes, we obtain unexpected improvements in audio quality through analogue gear that are byproducts of its operation. However, it is important to note that high-quality analogue gear comes at a considerable cost, so such improvements are far from being truly "free."

The Techivation team has developed advanced digital tools that address issues such as muddiness, harshness, and unpleasant resonances.

So, how can we achieve the same level of sweetness in our digital mixes? What processing tool can unlock the full potential of our tracks?

The answer lies in M-Clarity—a revolutionary spectral processor. Imagine the thrilling effect of running your audio sources through high-quality Class A analogue gear, transforming the character of your tracks, and infusing them with excitement. M-Clarity achieves a similar outcome by eliminating unpleasant resonances and revealing the true character of your tracks, all without introducing unwanted artefacts.

You may wonder why spectral shaping is a crucial consideration. Can't a regular notch filter suffice in removing unwanted resonances? Or dynamic EQs and multiband compressors?

While regular EQ can indeed address such issues, it has certain limitations. Even dynamic EQs fail to dynamically track resonances. While you can configure a dynamic EQ band to respond to specific frequencies, the frequency choice remains fixed. Moreover, the adjustments made by regular EQs tend to be broad and lack the precision and complexity offered by spectral shaping.

This is where M-Clarity excels. It dynamically shapes audio sources, making intricate adjustments across the entire frequency spectrum. Such precision is nearly impossible to achieve manually using conventional tools like dynamic EQ or a multiband compressor. With M-Clarity, you gain precise control over its behaviour, enabling you to focus on specific frequency ranges and define how it treats your audio signals.

Let us delve into one of my favourite use cases for M-Clarity:muddy vocals. Consider a scenario where you encounter a boomy vocal plagued by irritating resonances in the low end. While you could try to address these issues with a regular EQ or a multiband compressor, often the problem extends beyond simply removing a few troublesome frequencies. In such cases, you need a tool that can dynamically shape the sound, addressing the fundamental issues at hand.

Now let’s do a similar test, but this time with male vocals and see what M-Clarity can do with it.

In these examples, we deliberately used more extreme settings to accentuate their impact, enabling us to observe the full extent of M-Clarity's capabilities. However, in actual mixing scenarios, a more subtle approach would be preferred, and M-Clarity shines even then—retaining its pristine performance without introducing any undesirable artefacts. This is where many processors often falter—struggling to maintain quality under extreme settings. But with M-Clarity, you can trust in its reliability, no matter the intensity of your adjustments.

M-Clarity embodies the essence of the finest analogue gear—its ability to dynamically respond to audio sources, transforming them into something more pleasing to our ears. While M-Clarity does not emulate analogue gear, it captures the essence of analogue warmth and smoothness, shaping audio in a manner that evokes the finest analogue processing.

In addition to its impressive capabilities, M-Clarity features a user-friendly GUI. It has been thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of modern producers working on computers equipped with screens, keyboards, and mice. Its intuitive interface ensures that harnessing the power of M-Clarity becomes a seamless and enjoyable experience.

With M-Clarity, every element is strategically positioned to promote speed and efficiency in audio processing. The interface embraces a sleek and modern design, featuring a clean layout that allows for quick navigation and seamless workflow.

But don't just take our word for it—experience M-Clarity firsthand. <a href="/app/login/?type=m-clarity-trial">Download a 14-day free trial</a> and embark on a journey of audio refinement. Discover how M-Clarity swiftly becomes an indispensable tool in your sonic arsenal.

Unleashing Spectral Brilliance. Discover the power of M-Clarity.

Unleashing Spectral Brilliance. Discover the power of M-Clarity:Read the blog.

Redefining Analog Smoothness:M-Clarity, The Cutting-Edge Spectral Processor

A powerful bundle of all Techivation plug-ins to help you take your audio quality and workflow to a whole new level.

Techivation Full Bundle: All Techivation Plug-ins

M-Clarity is a dynamic resonance suppressor plugin designed to suppress unwanted muddy, boxy, and harsh frequencies and resonances in any sound. It combines simplicity and power, employing a unique spectral shaping algorithm to deliver accurate results.

Techivation M-Clarity: Spectral Shaping Plugin

M-Loudener is the ultimate tool for increasing loudness while preserving dynamic range and clarity. Get ready to create more headroom for your tracks with ease!

NEW! Increase the loudness of your tracks transparently without compromising their sound quality or dynamic range, with the least effort.

Techivation M-Loudener

You want to pass the limits and make the brightest sounds clean and smooth, with no artifacts. You want more control over the sibilances. It’s time to upgrade the way you clean your hi-frequencies. Let the T-De-Esser Pro fix any harshness and sibilances in a whole new way for you. Forget about the fear of lisping or artifacts when you have this powerful tool.

T-De-Esser Pro provides the ultimate solution for professional audio cleanup. It fixes the harshness and sibilances of sounds while keeping them musical.

Techivation T-De-Esser Pro:Natural Sounding De-Esser

T-Imager is the ultimate musical stereo-imaging solution for enhancing the sound's wideness, depth, and width. Boost the stereo imaging of your mixes with no artifacts, and make your sounds sit nicely together.

T-Imager is the ultimate musical stereo-imaging solution for enhancing the sound's wideness, depth, and width. Make your sounds sit nicely together.

Techivation T-Imager: Stereo Imaging Controller

The T-Puncher is designed to provide a musical punch and power to your drums while remaining natural. Forget about dialing too many knobs and getting lost with an artifactual sound. You'll feel the punch, power and musicality once the T-Puncher is on your tracks.

T-Puncher is a versatile, yet easy-to-use transient designer plug-in, which give you great results when it comes to making drum tracks or overall mix punchier or smoother.

Techivation T-Puncher: Musical Transient Shaper

With incredible audio saturation capabilities, the T-Warmer will add weight and warmth to your tracks while keeping them sound musical.

T-Warmer is a saturation plug-in that injects unique musical harmonic saturations to low and mid frequencies to make the sound warmer, thicker, and fuller.

Techivation T-Warmer: Bass Enhancement Plug-in

There is plenty of scientific jargon that could explain the technologies behind the T-Exciter, but you’ll understand it as soon as you turn the knob and notice the extra clarity, crispiness, and air it adds to the sound, making it more pleasant and musical to the ear.

Our T-Exciter plug-in helps to add extra clarity, crispiness, and air to the sound, making it more pleasant and musical to the ear without causing harshness.

Techivation T-Exciter: Hi-end Frequency Enhancer Plug-in

Your time is value, and you don’t want to waste hours fixing audio issues. Having a clean mid-range is hard to achieve but essential. No more waste of time and effort. Thanks to the simplicity and efficiency of the T-Clarity for enhancing the mid and low-mid frequencies.

T-Clarity is a simple yet effective plug-in for cleaning muddiness and boxiness from the low & mid frequencies, with a musical and natural-sounding result.

Techivation T-Clarity: Midrange Frequency Enhancer Plug-in

A fully transparent and clean compressor? Or a colorful and analog-style sound? Modern & minimal way of controlling settings? Innovative serial processing? You’re at the right place.

T-Compressor is an innovative audio compressor plug-in offering you serial chain processing and a new smart way of controlling audio dynamic processing.

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10 Essential Uses of M-De-Esser

Techivation M-De-Esser Walkthrough

Redefining Analog Smoothness:M-Clarity, The Cutting-Edge Spectral Processor