Anti-Sibilance Cheat Sheet (Printable)
$9
Harsh “S” sounds can ruin an otherwise great read.
Most voice actors try to fix it the wrong way—over-EQ’ing, over-compressing, or relying on plugins they don’t fully understand… and end up with dull, lispy, or metallic audio.
This cheat sheet shows you a better way.
What You’ll Learn
How to identify sibilance in your waveform (so you stop guessing)
The cleanest way to fix it using manual gain reduction
How to use EQ without destroying your tone
Why compression often makes sibilance worse—and how to fix it
What to avoid (these mistakes will absolutely wreck your audio)
What’s Included
1-page, print-friendly JTV Sibilance Cheat Sheet
Step-by-step breakdown of the 3 most effective methods
Visual waveform examples (problem vs. fixed)
“Common Mistakes” section to keep your audio clean
Simple hierarchy you can memorize and apply immediately
Who This Is For
Beginner voice actors struggling with harsh “S” sounds
Intermediate VAs trying to clean up their post-production
Anyone using Audacity (or similar DAWs) without a dedicated de-esser
Voice actors who want clean, natural audio without overprocessing
Who This Is NOT For
People looking for “one-click plugin fixes”
Advanced engineers using complex multi-band processing chains
This is about control, not shortcuts.
Why This Matters
Sibilance is one of the fastest ways to sound:
Amateur
Overprocessed
Distracting to clients
Fix it correctly, and your audio instantly sounds:
Cleaner
More professional
Easier to listen to
Jordan’s Note
Most sibilance problems aren’t actually post-production problems.
They start with:
Mic angle
Distance
Delivery
This guide shows you how to fix what’s already recorded—but also how to stop the problem before it starts.
🎙️ 1-on-1 Coaching Available
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Use code FIRSTSESH-50 for 50% off your first session.