Problem: Your recordings have sharp, piercing “s” and “sh” sounds (called sibilance) that cut through the mix harshly, making your voice sound aggressive and causing listener fatigue, especially when played through headphones or high-quality speakers.

Quick Solution: Excessive sibilance occurs when certain frequencies between 5–10kHz are too prominent in your recording chain. Strategic de-essing and proper microphone technique can tame these harsh frequencies while maintaining the natural clarity and intelligibility of your speech.

Step-by-Step Fix:

Step 1: Position Your Microphone Correctly

Place your microphone slightly off-axis from your mouth – about 15–30 degrees to the side rather than directly in front. This reduces the direct impact of sibilant sounds hitting the capsule while maintaining full vocal presence. You can also try positioning the mic slightly below mouth level, which naturally reduces sibilance pickup.

Step 2: Apply Targeted De-Essing

Use a de-esser plugin set to target frequencies between 6–8kHz where most problematic sibilance lives. Set the threshold so the de-esser only activates on the harshest “s” sounds