Harshness and air

To start - a ready example: air and a de-esser. Press Play, switch “As recorded” on and off, and hear the difference. The graph marks where to look.

Air+5.2 dBPresence+0.1 dBSibilance+0.1 dB

Hover over the graph: which sound and which frequency.

what soundsremoved by the de-esserthreshold

Recording

Make the voice brighterEqualizer. The top end is raised for intelligibility and openness, but “s” and “sh” rise along with the voice.

Air +6.0 dB

Presence 0 dB

Remove the harshnessDe-esser. Puts the sibilance back in place and leaves the brightness alone.

Sibilance

Depth −8.0 dB

Threshold −24.0 dB