Sibilance

Sibilance refers to the excessive presence of “s” and “sh” sounds (sibilant sounds) that become harsh or piercing, especially in recorded vocals. It typically occurs in the high frequency range (around 5 kHz to 10 kHz) and can be unpleasant to the ear, particularly when vocals are compressed or poorly recorded. To fix it, a de-esser is used—a dynamic processor that automatically reduces sibilance without affecting the rest of the vocal signal.