EQuilibrium
Lose the noise, keep the Essence
Essence is the most powerful and transparent De-Esser in the world. It's much more than just a vocal de-esser; it's a flexible sub-band processor that can reach in and invisibly control any element in a mix. For the first time in audio software history, Essence provides the power to de-ess a full mix with all of the adaptability and subtlety of hardware.
Mastering Engineers just found a new secret weapon. Don't let the low price fool you - click here to download the demo.
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The current state of the art in de-essing, Essence is another stunning plugin from a developer who can seemingly do no wrong. 10/10.
Overview
- The most powerful De-Esser money can buy.
- Psychoacoustically optimised to surgically and invisibly control sibilance.
- Quick, simple, ergonomic interface.
- Mastering presets by Bob Katz
- Configurable from zero-latency, ultra-low CPU for post work to Linear Phase, oversampled ultra-high resolution for Mastering.
- Dual-release Peak/RMS-based time detector for invisible operation.
- Analogue-modelled single-release time detector for classic De-Esser behaviour.
- Three-band sidechain EQ, and massively configurable Split EQ.
- Per-channel or ganged control.
- M/S and L/R processing
- Large, intuitive time-plot.
- Windows VST, VST3 and AAX as 32+64bit, RTAS 32bit
- Mac VST, VST3, AU and AAX as 32+64bit, RTAS 32bit
Sound
- Linear Phase crossover (Split) EQ
- Zero-latency minimum phase mode, with Linkwitz-Riley crossovers.
- Lookahead, dual release times, release hold, sophisticated GR smoothing options.
- Oversampling mode to eliminate intermodulation distortions.
- Full mixer section, with support for parallel processing.
- Output balance for fine-tuning.
- Upward expansion option.
- Threshold, Ratio, Soft-knee and Gain-Reduction ceiling.
- Variable Stereo linkage.
- Complete set of Listen options for monitoring, including signal difference (output-input).
- Automatic detection of sibilance/fricatives in solo voice.
Vision
- Simple three-control interface.
- Advanced section for precision control.
- Spectrum analyser for locating sibilance.
- Time-plot to highlight processed sibilances.
- Freely-resizable UI.
- Mac Retina support.
- 8 A/B banks.
- Intelligent Undo/Redo.
- Ergonomic channel linkage system.
- Autolisten for configuring filters.
Windows System Requirements
- Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 10
- 32bit or 64bit
- ProTools 7 or newer (RTAS and AAX Native)
- A host that supports VST or VST3, such as:
- Steinberg Cubase
- Steinberg Nuendo
- Steinberg Wavelab
- Sony ACID Pro
- Ableton Live
- Cockos Reaper
- Magix Sequoia
- Magix Samplitude
- AudioMulch
Mac OS System Requirements
- Mac OS 10.7 or newer. For 10.7 and 10.8 use the Intel 32/64 Mac Combined Installer on the Downloads page.
- Intel or Apple Silicon Mac
- ProTools 7 or newer (RTAS and 64-bit AAX Native, 32-bit AAX is not supported on Mac OS). For RTAS use the Intel 32/64 Mac Combined Installer on the Downloads page.
- A host that supports VST, AU or VST3, such as:
- Apple Logic (32bit or 64bit)
- Apple Garageband
- Steinberg Cubase
- Steinberg Nuendo
- Ableton Live
1.17 (2023-10-30)
- Add option to turn off frequency analyser.
- Fix incorrect latency on re-opening a project in Studio One.
- Fix latency reporting in VST3.
1.16 (2023-04-03)
- AAX Apple Silicon support.
1.15 (2022-11-23)
- Fix VST3 bundle structure for architecture on Windows.
1.14 (2022-11-03)
- Shift-Alt-click EQ graph background to reset analyser.
- Fix incorrect latency on re-opening a project in Ableton Live.
- Improve parameter display text reported to host for discrete parameters.
- Fix crash when moving between insert slots in Logic.
- Fix UI positioning in Reaper when window size is smaller than plug-in UI size.
- Fix duplicated preset data in VST3 preset file.
- VST3 can replace VST2 in Cubase/Nuendo 12 if missing or no longer supported.
1.13 (2022-03-28)
- Remove 32 bit AAX support on Mac.
- Improve parameter automation response at start of item if inserted as a Take FX in Reaper.
1.12 (2021-06-22)
- Fix text entry of inverse ratios.
- Fix potential incorrect parameter recall with VST3 in Bitwig.
- Fix uninstaller location on Windows.
- Fix DPI scaling on Windows in apps that are not per-monitor aware.
1.11
- Fix incorrect latency in Reaper if HQ split used whilst rendering from render queue and plugin inserted as Take FX.
- Improved updating of split EQ IRs.
- Fix plugin not processing automation during silence when VST3 "suspend in silence" option is enabled in Cubase/Nuendo.
- Fix UI sizing on Windows when application is set to override DPI scaling.
- Fix updating of track controls assigned to MIDI CCs in Reaper with VST3 version.
- Fix potential crash when instancing VST3 version in Harrison Mixbus.
- Update to new style load/save dialogs on Windows and fix initial path.
- Wrap mouse when editing controls if mouse hiding enabled.
- Fix UI zoom resetting on loading preset.
- Fix incorrect VST2 plugin window size with DPI scaling on Windows if host uses effEditGetRect flag (e.g. Tracktion Waveform and Max/MSP).
- Remove option to disable OpenGL on OSX and default to always enabled.
- Fix rendering of faders and VU meter if scaled to something other than 100% or 200% on Windows.
- Peak readouts are now sample accurate.
- Fix mouse hiding not working on Windows after entering a parameter as text.
1.10
- Fix potential crash when using different plugin formats in the same project.
- Fix VST2 crash in Wavelab
1.09
- Fix potential crash when double-clicking to enter value as text.
- Fix parameter MIDI learned state not being indicated after closing and reopening window.
- Improved undo of mouse wheel action.
- Added check for bad samples in input buffers.
- Fix MIDI learn in VST3 version.
- Fix crash when undoing preset load after closing and reopening UI.
1.08
- Improved HiDPI support
- Support VST2 getEffectName for some rare hosts
1.07
- Fix AU validation in old not-really-supported versions of Logic
- Reaper key entry improvements
- HiDPI support in Cubase and Studio One on Windows
- Improvements with discrete parameters drag/mousewheel
- Fix disappearing meters
1.06
- MIDI learn via right-click on parameter
- Fix crash when setup window open in more than one instance
- Fix peak GR resetting to 0 when oversampling on
- Lookahead moved from setup to advanced parameter section
- Undo/redo incorporates loading of presets and banks
- Correctly reinstate prev/next buttons status on opening window or loading a session
- Mac build now requires 10.7 or later
- Improve menu position when opening a menu would cause it to appear offscreen
- AAX Mac window focus improved
- Fix potential crash when file saving fails
- Accept ',' for decimal point when entering value by text
- Fix potential crash when closing UI
- Fix crash when closing UI with text box open
- Fix crash with text entry on touchbar MacBook Pro
- Prevent Cubase/Nuendo right-click menu from appearing when right-clicking on a clutter bar button that accepts right-clicks
- Support for mono->stereo AU
- Installer searches for existing VST plugins folder for 64-bit plugins on Windows if run for first time
- Correctly sign Windows installers with Codesigning cert
- Improve text and layout for Windows installers
- Improve install descriptions and logo for Mac installers
1.05
- Added new HQ crossover split option
- Added new HQ oversampling option
- Fix pop/stuck meters with Smoothing bug
- Fix rare makeupgain smoothing bug
- Fix for recall of A/B settings
- OpenGL improvements
- Reduce graphics overheads
- Improve text editing on 64bit mac
- Improve VST3 automation
- Improve mousewheel handling on windows
- Improve keyboard handling
- Support VST3 GR metering in Studio One
- Improve automation resolution in Logic X
- Fix memory leak with preset loading
- Fix automation issues
1.04
- Fix 32bit Carbon UIs on OSX
- Improve UI styling
- Remove GR meter glitch on restart
- Fix Listen to Split band with Oversampling engaged
- Pref to show Listen buttons for Pass/Diff
- Pref to select Split/Pass/Diff as autolisten signal
1.03
- Update AU validation.
- Allow all AUs to use Cocoa UIs on 32bit mac.
- Improve speed of session recall for AUs.
- Fix mousewheel on 2nd screens.
- Show Knee on time series graph.
- Pulse-stretch Release LEDs.
- Optimise smoothing circuit.
- Use OpenGL on more platforms.
- Update OpenGL implementation.
- Clicking About correctly opens Setup window.
- Fix bug that froze graph on preset change.
- Allow disabling of OpenGL via pref - requires session reload.
- Fix bug that caused pointer to become hidden.
- Improve UI resize handling.
1.02
- Fix bug with AAX automation whereby discrete parameters could jump.
- Fix bug with mousewheel on windows to left of main screen on windows.
- Improve determinism of automation when rendering.
- Improve handling of OS load dialog for presets.
- Improvements for latency reporting both realtime and offline.
1.01
- Added Sibiliance Detector for automatic de-essing of solo vocals.
- Added External sidechain input.
- Added release LEDs in dual-release mode.
- Added bManic presets.
- Added Solo Vocal De-Ess presets.
- Fix RTAS version.
- Some tooltip improvement.
- Fix VST/VST3 bypass support.
- Fix parallel mode for minimum phase.
- Fix latency reporting for Wavelab and renders in general.
- Fix GR metering bug.
- Fix sidechain linkage for oversampling.
There are two ways to design a De-Esser.
For de-essing vocals, it's common to use a compressor that's configured to detect sibilance.
For de-essing a full mix, it's usual to filter the signal to isolate the sibilance and compress it, before mixing it back in with the rest of the signal.
Essence can do both.
De-essing vocals with software is fairly easy; and using Essence, you need three controls and you're set.
De-essing a full mix is much harder, and mastering engineers invest thousands in hardware boxes to get usable results.
In fact, for about a decade, a mastering engineer wanting to invisibly de-ess a vocal in a full mix has been faced with only one, incredibly expensive option.
Essence replaces both.
But the flexibility of Essence allows you to do much more than de-essing.
You can use it like a dynamic EQ to manage all manner of subtle (or extreme) mix issues.
And best of all, it's incredibly transparent. No weird artefacts; it's as if the original mix was just better.
It turns out that starting with the design for the world's best de-esser concludes with having the most powerful mastering processor in the world today.
It's priced as an A-list De-Esser, but that belies the fact that it will allow you to replace expensive outboard hardware, with improved results and as many instances as your computer can handle.
You can run it in a zero-latency ultra-low CPU mode, or crank it up, and even at its most processor hungry, you'll still be able to run dozens across a mix.
This is a magical and revolutionary product at an unbelievable price-point.
An absolute must for any mastering engineer, and a life-saver for mix and post work.
And that's before we even get to use for creative effects.
What if you wanted to just remove a kick from a mix every time the snare hit? Or what if you want to invisibly solidify your sub-bass?
Just suddenly make it sound more rich and full, but sounding like it was that way to begin with - no clue left that you've improved it.
There's nothing with the power and flexibility of Essence, regardless of price.
Xmas has come early for audio power-users.
- Dave Gamble, 2014
