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Sibalance

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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Current version: 1.2.0. If you have 1.0.0 or 1.1.0, please update.

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.
  • EDGE control moves from strict sibilance detection to broader harsh-voice detection.
  • Live Mode provides a very low-latency path for performance and real-time monitoring.
  • Focus modes: Auto, Low, Natural, and Bright.
  • Smoothing modes: Tight, Normal, and Soft.
  • Includes oscilloscope feedback, output volume, and bypass.
  • Presets, Auto Updates, UI scaling.

Plugin video

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 and Smoothing

Help target different voices and recording conditions.

Sibalance EDGE control

EDGE control

At low values it focuses tightly on sibilance; higher values also catch harsher voiced material.

Sibalance Live Mode

Live Mode

A very low-latency mode for live performance and real-time monitoring, using a lighter processing path that stays practical.

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

v1.2.0

  • Reworked the detection algorithm and added the new Edge control.
  • Added Live Mode for very low-latency live performance and real-time monitoring.
  • Added factory presets and user presets.
  • Added manual and optional automatic update checks with minimal version/platform information and no telemetry.
  • Added a proper Settings menu with Light/Dark theme selection.
  • Improved the oscilloscope view with incoming and outgoing sibilance layers.
  • Added plugin UI scaling in Settings: 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x, and 2x.
  • Peaks above 0 dB are now shown in yellow.
  • Optimized oscilloscope rendering.
  • Fixed an export hang that could happen in some DAW/OS combinations.
  • Fixed smaller UI and behavior bugs.
v1.1.0
  • Delta BEFORE sibilance volume.
  • Added Sibilance Sensitivity control.
  • Smoothing mode is now truly smooth, with a slider that seamlessly transitions between Tight, Normal, and Soft.
  • Added Bypass option.
  • Oscilloscope has been completely rewritten.
  • The light/dark theme state is now saved correctly.
  • Added the option to copy technical data for bug reports.
  • Added Linux x64 VST3/LV2/CLAP release builds.
  • Added GPU render, enabled by default.
  • Fixed compatibility with some hosts such as DaVinci Resolve.
  • Various performance improvements.
  • Fixed minor issues.
v1.0.0
  • Internal release.
  • Sibilanse volume.
  • Listen to Delta.
  • Focus and Smoothing modes