I’ve recorded my voice and worked within audacity to arrive at a pretty good sound, but on playback I noticed my “S”'s were too pronounced. What can I do to bring them down?
You could have a simple bright recording, or you could have actual “essing.” “Essing” is when your S sounds crash and sound like wadding up a paper bag.
https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/de-essing-narration-vocal-track-in-audacity-in-2014/32477/1
Bright is easy. Use Effect > Equalization to make the recording a little “duller.” Some studios produce very sharp, bright, crisp tracks because they perceive the maximum number of people want that. Sometimes it’s a little too bright.
Koz
We warn you sternly to only do mixing and processing on a really good sound system or good headphones. We had one poster who jiggered his sound balance to suit his cheap speakers and the rest of us couldn’t stand to listen to it.
Koz
Thanks Kos;
I don’t consider the recording to be Bright, I’m pretty sure it’s only my S’s that are the problem.You said Bright would be an easier fix and I’d like to try that as I’m just in the experimental stages of working with the program. What exactly would I need to do with the Equalizer, simply bring the Hi’s down?
If that doesn’t work what would the fix for the essing problem be? I went online and there are some plug in’s available but not for mac os x.
Thanks also for the advice relative to my speakers etc., I’ll be sure to consider that too…
Jim
If you could post a short sample (about 5 seconds in WAV format would be perfect) then we may be able to suggest some settings, at least as a starting point for you.
See here for how to post an audio sample: https://forum.audacityteam.org/t/how-to-post-an-audio-sample/29851/1
The surely silly statement sounds OK to me. The “S’s” are very pronounced, as you know, but in terms of the recording I don’t think there is anything wrong. There are no sharp spikes in the frequency response. Attempting to reduce the sibilance will just make it sound dull in my opinion.
How are you listening to the recording? Small speakers and headphones often overemphasize high frequencies, so perhaps that is the problem?
Let’s see. Brooklyn, right? Maybe Queens?
No, it’s not crashing here, either, but I bet if you tried to listen on Mac Earbuds it would drive them crazy.
Try applying the attached equalization curve to “dull it down” a little (click on the graphic). Each of those little dots is a control point which you get by clicking and dragging. If it’s too much dulling, UNDO, move all the points to the right one graph line and try it again.
I hear compression damage. Did you get the WAV by upconverting an MP3? Did you use Noise Reduction? Never, ever do production in MP3. MP3 causes compression sound damage and can make harsh voices worse.
Noise Removal is a patch job you can use if you can’t make your recording room quiet. It, too, always causes sound damage.
Koz
Are you doing game commentary?
Koz
You guys have said so much I don’t know where to begin:
Thanks Steve…if you don’t think there’s anything majorly wrong then perhaps I just need to get used to the sound of my voice 
Yes Koz I’m from Brooklyn…You nailed it!
I actually have an old 5 point theater system hooked up to my mac mini, but perhaps because one of the smaller speakers is right in front of me on my desk I’m picking up the S’s too much.
I will try working with the equalizer as you suggested as I’m very much interested in learning this program.
As far as the compression damage you might be hearing (I wish my ears were as sensitive to these things as yours), no I didn’t get the WAV from an MP3 but I did use Noise Reduction.
I get a hiss from the Mic. even though I put a Pop filter in front of it. I have a Shure SM57…
The noise reduction may cause damage but I don’t think I have much of a choice. The hiss would be too noticeable.
Finally, no Koz I’m not doing a game commentary. I’m an Ordained Minister and I’m attempting to put different sets of Scriptures (Faith or Healing for example) on a track and put some soft nature sounds under it to provide a nice calm relaxed atmosphere for the listener.
Thanks again guys I appreciate all you’ve said.
Jim
Thanks guys I appreciate all your comments:
If it sounds ok to you Steve then I’m probably just not used to hearing myself speak, and I don’t want to mess with it to make it worse
I’m listening through an old 5 point Theater system that’s hooked up to my mac mini. But since there’s one of the smaller speakers in front of me on my desk, I might be hearing more hi’s.
Yes Kos I’m from Brooklyn. You hit it on the head:)
I’m looking to make a smooth easy flowing sound so if Earbuds would drive people crazy then I still have a problem…
I’ll definitely work with the Equalizer as I’m trying to learn the program.
If you hear compression damage then I’m jealous of your hearing ability!
I didn’t get the WAV from an MP3 but I did use the Noise Reducer. There was too much HISS, without the reduction it would have been a real distraction.
I’m using a Shure SM57 mic.
No Kos I’m not doing game commentary but I’m flattered that you think I could be on that level. I’m just trying to work with a special project specifically and in general trying to work on my speaking in public forums.
Thanks again guys,
Jim
I’m listening through an old 5 point Theater system that’s hooked up to my mac mini. But since there’s one of the smaller speakers in front of me on my desk, I might be hearing more hi’s.
We all heard it slightly crisp, so you should probably deal with that.
Yes Kos I’m from Brooklyn. You hit it on the head:)
Greenpoint, here.
I’m looking to make a smooth easy flowing sound so if Earbuds would drive people crazy then I still have a problem…
You should try earbuds just to get an idea of what they’re going to do. I recently upgraded to a more “grownup” pair of earbuds and as a test, went back to the classics and was stunned at the difference.
But then, I stun easily.
If you hear compression damage then I’m jealous of your hearing ability!
See: Good speaker system.
There was too much HISS, without the reduction it would have been a real distraction.
I’m using a Shure SM57 mic.
How? Dynamic (moving coil) microphones are not naturally noisy. How did you connect it to your computer? Remember, details are good.
trying to work on my speaking in public forums.
There is nothing like hearing yourself coming back to 1. make you want to hide under a rock, and 2. improve your presentation.
It lets you directly compare what you’re doing with other speakers and presenters. I point to a graphic artist at work who could draw an SRO crowd by just posting an email he was going to do a talk. It didn’t matter very much on what, but he was so good at it, it didn’t matter. You know the standing joke that a good presenter could read the phone book and the audience would be transfixed.
He left before I could get him on “tape.”
Koz
Once again you’ve written too much for me to deal with all at once, so if you don’t mind I’ll try to pick your brains one step at a time:
“We all heard it slightly crisp, so you should probably deal with that.”
How do I deal with the crispness? I tried the equalization pattern with the 6181 setting and to my hear it made no difference. I can send two samples before and after if you wish.
Yes Kos I’m from Brooklyn. You hit it on the head:)
Greenpoint, here.
I"m from Greenpoint/Williamsburg…Northside Specficially…
"You should try earbuds just to get an idea of what they’re going to do. I recently upgraded to a more “grownup” pair of earbuds and as a test, went back to the classics
and was stunned at the difference.
I’ll put them on but I don’t want to get overwhelmed by the bad stuff I’m hearing 
See: Good speaker system.
What would you consider a good speaker system for a mini mac in a 10X12 office?
There was too much HISS, without the reduction it would have been a real distraction.
I’m using a Shure SM57 mic.
How? Dynamic (moving coil) microphones are not naturally noisy. How did you connect it to your computer? Remember, details are good.
I wasn’t expecting this much noise at first either but I sure did get it. Again I can make a WAV without noise reduction if it will help.
I have a standard mic jack with a 1/4" male on the back end. That’s going to a cable with a female 1/4" on one side and the mini plug on the other which goes right into the mac.
trying to work on my speaking in public forums.
There is nothing like hearing yourself coming back to 1. make you want to hide under a rock, and 2. improve your presentation.
Yeah I’m just listened to a pro do a reading and his S’s were there but they didn’t bit nor were they as pronounced as much as mine.
So I guess my questions for now are: 1) if the 6181 Treble Cut didn’t work, are there other settings I should try or, 2) since you guys said originally there really wasn’t anything wrong, such I just work on my elocution? 3) is the crispness the cause for the S’s or are you just hearing something wrong in general with the recording?
Thanks again,
Jim