#201: What If Your De-esser Plugin Could Do More Than Fix Sibilance?

Music Production and Mixing Tips for Beginner Producers and Artists | Inside The Mix

What if your go-to vocal de-esser plugin could do so much more?

In this episode, Marc Matthews and Tim Benson break down the creative power of de-essers and why they might be the secret weapon missing from your mix.

We kick things off with how de-essers work (spoiler: it’s more than just “s” sounds), before diving into smart, non-traditional de-esser techniques—like taming harsh cymbals, controlling boxy kick drums, and even smoothing out reverb tails and delay returns.

Can you use a de-esser on backing vocal buses? Is a de-esser better than dynamic EQ for harsh instruments? We answer these, share real-world wins (and mixing mistakes), and explain when less control = better results

If you've ever asked, “Should I use a de-esser on something other than vocals?” or “How do I stop overprocessing my mix?”—this one’s for you.

Whether you’re producing electronic vocals or mixing acoustic drums, you’ll leave this episode with actionable tricks to clean up harsh frequencies without killing vibe or tone.

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1. Creative De-Esser Techniques for Mixing Beyond Vocals (00:00:00)

2. What Is a De-Esser? History, Function & How It Works (00:03:48)

3. Where to Place a De-Esser in the Signal Chain (00:08:38)

4. Using De-Essers on Instruments, Reverb & Delay Effects (00:14:36)

5. De-Esser vs Dynamic EQ: When to Use Each (00:21:43)

6. Subtle De-Essing Techniques & Final Mix Considerations (00:30:16)