Perceived and Preferred De-Essing of a Simple Recording

• Main Author: Nordblad, Gustav
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Technology; Teknik; Acoustics; Sound Engineering; De-essing; ARL-Step; Luleå
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-55159

When processing a vocal track a commonly used technique is de-essing, the process of attenuating sibilant sounds. This can be done in different ways namely; de-essing with a dedicated device, using automation or using an EQ. The various methods uses different ways to de-ess and this might result in an audible difference in the final product. To investigate if this is the case and if there is a preferred way of de-essing by the inexperienced music listener a listening test was designed and conducted using ARL-STEP software. The stimulis presented by to the listener was a snippet of a simple rendition of a Swedish visa called “Somliga går med trasiga skor” by Cornelis Vreeswijk recorded at Luleå University of Technology in both a male and a female vocal version. The test showed that there is a perceivable difference between a non-processed recording and a processed one if the singer is female but that there is no preferred de-essing technique. Validerat; 20120629 (anonymous)