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Free vocal de-esser and sibilance shaper by nClear. Sibalance listens for sibilance-like energy and applies reduction only when needed.

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macOS / Windows / Linux · VST3 / CLAP / AU / LV2

Sibalance plugin interface

The useful question in a de-esser is not only “how much reduction?”, but “am I removing the right thing?” Sibalance keeps that question visible: delta monitoring lets you hear what is being removed, while focus and smoothing modes keep the workflow fast.

  • Detects sibilance-like vocal energy automatically.
  • Controls sibilance gain without flattening the whole top end.
  • Delta monitoring lets you hear exactly what is being removed.
  • Focus modes: Auto, Low, Natural, and Bright.
  • Smoothing modes: Tight, Normal, and Soft.
  • Includes oscilloscope feedback, output volume, and bypass.

Main features

Sibalance sibilance detection

Sibilance detection

The processor reacts to sharp vocal moments instead of flattening the entire high end.

Sibalance delta monitoring

Delta monitoring

Hear the removed signal directly, so setting the amount becomes a listening decision, not a guess.

Sibalance focus selector

Focus modes

Auto, Low, Natural, and Bright modes help target different voices and recording conditions.

How to set it

Start with the simplest setting, then move only when the vocal tells you to.

Focus

Choose where Sibalance listens.

Auto

Use this first. Good for most vocals when you want Sibalance to find the problem area without thinking about frequency ranges.

Low

Use it on darker voices, close microphones, or takes where harsh consonants sit lower than usual and Bright feels too high.

Natural

Use it when the vocal is already balanced and you only need to soften obvious “s” and “sh” moments without changing the tone.

Bright

Use it for airy, sharp, or very close vocals where the pain is clearly in the top end and the de-essing should stay narrow.

Smoothing

Choose how quickly it moves.

Tight

Use it for fast, isolated spikes. It catches consonants quickly, but can sound more obvious if the vocal is very exposed.

Normal

Use it as the default. It is the safest starting point for most sung and spoken vocals.

Soft

Use it when the vocal needs a gentler, smoother touch, especially in sparse arrangements where hard de-essing can feel distracting.

macOS Universal VST3, AU, CLAP. macOS 10.13 or later target.
Windows x64 VST3 and CLAP for Windows 10/11 x64.
Linux x64 VST3, LV2, CLAP. Linux builds should be treated as practical/beta.

Changelog

v1.1.0

  • Delta BEFORE sibilance volume.
  • Added sensitivity to sibilances.
  • Added knob to smooth transfom between Tight, Normal and Soft Smoothing modes.
  • Fixed bar divisions for various DAW (including Davinci Resolve).
  • Fixed minor issues.
  • Performance improovements.
v1.0.0
  • Internal release.
  • Sibilanse volume.
  • Listen to Delta.
  • Focus and Smoothing modes