Esscape

Esscape takes the harshness out of esses without dulling the voice: a gentle shelf that only takes the top end down when an ess comes through, a Listen switch to hear what it's catching, and a sidechain input.

The controls

Frequency

Where the esses are, 3 to 12 kHz. Use Listen to find them.

Threshold

How loud an ess has to be before it's reduced.

Range

The most it will reduce, 0 to 24 dB.

Mode

Split turns down only the top end; Wide turns down the whole signal (for a softer, natural result).

Listen

Esses: hear only what it's catching, to tune Frequency.

Best for

• Vocals: the esses and harsh 't's
• Bright cymbals and hi-hats
• Acoustic guitar string squeak
• Before a bright plate reverb, so the reverb doesn't spray esses

Starting points

Load Esscape, set these, then adjust by ear. In the plugin, Level match helps you judge the sound, not the loudness.

Hints and tips

• Press Listen and sweep Frequency until you hear mostly the esses: then switch Listen off.
• 4 to 6 dB of Range is usually enough; more can make the singer lisp.
• Put Esscape before compressors, so they don't react to the esses.

Chains it works best in

Every Original works in a chain with the others and with members' hardware. These are good places to start.

• Esscape then Lumiq then Platen: the classic vocal chain
• Esscape then Fettle: a bright, forward vocal without harshness
• Esscape then Pinchroll: echoes without spitting esses

Sidechain

Esscape listens to DigMusiK's sidechain when a key is connected: de-ess a reverb return using the dry vocal as the key.

Watch out for

• Too low a Threshold: everything is de-essed and the vocal sounds dull.
• Wide mode with a lot of Range: the whole vocal ducks audibly.