How to Make Your Own De-esser in Ableton | You Suck at Mixing #11

Hi, I'm Underbelly, and You Suck at Mixing. If we don’t want our ears to bleed, we’re gonna have to put a de-esser on our vocal processing. Whenever we make them, air travels through a very small opening in our mouth holes very quickly, so mics pick up on them disproportionately. This is especially problematic for people like myself who have a chronic whistling disorder.

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About Underbelly: Trained in classical piano since the age of 7, Underbelly started producing electronic music when he was 14 and teaching online when he was 17. His YouTube Channel, You Suck at Producing, now has over 85,000 subscribers. His tutorials and original productions have been featured in publications such as DJ Tech Tools, Earmilk, NEST HQ, Pyramind, and more. He has toured internationally and supported artists such as Lido, Tchami, Keys N Krates, Sango, and Giraffage. He uploads new tutorial videos every Thursday and does a livestream every Sunday. You can submit tracks for the livestream by joining his Discord.

[victorcoyenn]

Before: I suck at mixing.
After: I thuck at mikthing.

[MFKitten]

Here's my trick: use a compressor that lets you filter the sidechain. Listen to the filtered signal, and set the low and high pass to where it's isolating the S as much as possible. NOT focusing on the harshest peak where it sounds the würst, but isolating the highs where only those S sounds do anything at all in a human voice, so the difference between S and everything else is as big as possible. We're talking 10K and up, potentially. Now slam the threshold down, use a fast attack and 20-30ms release maybe, and then turn the ratio uo until it sounds nice but also natural.

YES you are now compressing the full range of the signal. But only when you say S. And you are never saying those sounds while also using your voice. So it's totally fine!

The end result just sounds like the S sounds aren't as loud as they used to be.

[papa_da_engineer]

"It's also the frequencies at which Derrick screams so we can't ignor his calls for help"😭😂🚀

[internetuser]

Underbelly I just want to say you look particularly handsome in this episode

[roro_fosho]

wowww needed a quick refresher on how to build a de-esser. The no-script icon there... wow, that's the most immaculate and cool thumbnail I've ever seen maybe.

[daniandre]

Coincidentally I was watching this while installing the Waves De-esser in the background #Oof

[THATsparkymark]

Another fantastic tutorial. Thank you for educating me and keeping it to the point! Awesome stuff

[fakshen]

TDR Nova VST. It's free for the basic version. It's great for de-essing... I like it better than most dedicated de-essers.

[kelvincristi]

I was waiting for a smile in the final, but did not expected it

[DaDa-kfvp]

This was so dope, thanks so much man.

[sixheartsmusic]

can you do a vocal chain video? having trouble with vocal processing

[zanotron]

This just improved my final mix SOOO much. Thank you!!! Thank you!!!

[weareone]

This was great! Exactly what I needed and concise, clear, and easy.

[SpellhausChannel]

This channel is so fucking helpful, thank you for everything, and happy Thanksgiving bab.

[framebadger]

Any tips for what to do if your 's' is like - 9-11kHz?

[shortpianopieces]

If my mixes sound like an ass, can I make a de-asser?

[Travistabeling]

Hey Underbelly! Just wanted to thank you for all of your content and tell you that you've helped me greatly with the production of my new vlog Saltwatersickness where I composed all of the music myself. I really enjoy your music and the way you teach. Thanks again for all your help on my journey! I suck a little less now I think.

[CWBskateteam]

brilliant, thank you sir you're saving lives

[fernandoazeredo]

Love your vids, but it would be cool if u did more "You Suck at Music Theory"

[marioneinter]

If you translate all in italian i give you my Sister