"Softening" the SSSSSs in a recording

Post by **ezwa** » October 6th, 2006, 7:27 am

Does anyone know how one can "soften" the Ss in one's existing recording(s??).
Have looked around and can't find how to do it without recording the whole thing again (with a not "cheap low dynamic range" mic I don't have).

fae · Post by **fae** » October 6th, 2006, 8:50 am

ezwa, I'm listening now and it sounds like the esses could be plosives, that is the air from your breath is hitting the microphone as you speak.

Try putting the mic further away to the side of your mouth or above your nose and see if that doesn't fix the problem.

Post by **ezwa** » October 6th, 2006, 9:01 am

My mic is way to the side of my head so air (from my nose or mouse) does not hit it directly but the Ss seem to remain.

I'll look up for stories with snakes speaking. That might fix it all. Ha!

Gesine · Post by **Gesine** » October 6th, 2006, 9:37 am

I have the same problem, ezwa. Worse on same mics than on others. On the worst one, I put the input volume to 90% and that helps a little. I'd like to find a solution - does a de-esser work? Or is that a misnomer. I'm sure I've seen a de-esser thread, and have been meaning to look.

kristin · Post by **kristin** » October 6th, 2006, 10:12 am

I don't think it sounds excessive, I get S sounds like that and sometimes whistling ones as well. I just try to ignore it with the knowledge that their are very few people who will be bothered and my oppologies to those who are.

I had a look for the de-esser thread and can't find it, I think they were recommending spitfish or something like that.

jimmowatt · Post by **jimmowatt** » October 6th, 2006, 10:16 am

I know Kayray managed to do some fairly remarkable things with her voice using an equaliser.
I'm not sure exactly what she did but I suspect she boosted some bass frequencies and lowered some of the higher frequencies.

kri · Post by **kri** » October 6th, 2006, 10:18 am

Betsie has mentioned having problems with whistling S's. You should send a note on over to her. Also, do a search on the forum for "de-esser", and you should be able to find the forum discussion started about this.

kristin · Post by **kristin** » October 6th, 2006, 10:25 am

Ha, here's one. Closer than I remembered.

http://librivox.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2252

Post by **ezwa** » October 6th, 2006, 11:04 am

Thank you all and Kristin !!!

I'll have a closer look at the thread, download a few things and try it out.

Gesine · Post by **Gesine** » October 6th, 2006, 12:40 pm

if you find anything for the mac, let me know!

Post by **ezwa** » October 6th, 2006, 12:50 pm

I've got all the plugins (is it what they are called?) in the plugin folder of Audacity. I can see Spitfish in the Effect part of Audacity (sorry, no technical terms. I'm not into computers at all). It looks like I can even use spitfish when I select a part of a recording. But, whatever I do with it (figured I'm supposed to play with the depth and sense parts). It doesn't seem to do anything to the recording.
Anyone can explain it to me ?

PS : Gesine, they seem to have everything you need for Macs as well here : http://www.digitalfishphones.com/main.php?item=2&subItem=5

Gesine · Post by **Gesine** » October 6th, 2006, 2:07 pm

Ah thanks, ezwa. Will look later.

jimmowatt · Post by **jimmowatt** » October 7th, 2006, 9:52 am

Well, I've been having a play and I can't get spitfish to do anything in Audacity.
I've been messing around with some of your recordings but not getting far. The main plan of attack has been to try reduce the volume on some of the higher frequency sounds and bring up the volume of the lower frequency sounds. This did make the recording sound a little unreal.
Here's the link to a clip I've messed with and the original.

http://download.yousendit.com/0218B72D27C1568A
http://download.yousendit.com/D4A7523B67789404

Only thing I can suggest is to keep experimenting with the position of the microphone and maybe upgrade when circumstances permit.
The essing isn't too bad but I can understand the desire to try and reduce its impact.

Kind regards

Jim

Post by **ezwa** » October 7th, 2006, 1:31 pm

I'll see what I can do with my microphone for future recordings.

Thanks a lot, Jim !

wordplay · Post by **wordplay** » December 12th, 2006, 9:43 pm

I found something that helped my SSS's today. Stuffing-polyfil. I took a bit and wrapped it around my headset microphone. I sew and have bags of it. (If you are desperate, you could sacrifice a stuffed animal to the Librivox gods/goddesses.) It also eliminated the nasal el Nino of my breathing! Easy to change and keep germ free after lots of recording. I have a Plantronics DSP 400 noise reduction head set (Amazon.)

Becky