Smart:deess is a de-esser from sonible that reduces sibilance by identifying and processing each sibilant phoneme in a vocal or spoken recording, with a neural network that finds the start and end of each sound.
smart:deess at a glance
| Developer | sonible |
|---|---|
| Type | Effects / De Esser |
| Formats | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX |
| Operating systems | Windows 10 or later, macOS 10.12 or later |
| Apple Silicon | Native |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| RAM | 4 GB or more |
| Hosts named by the developer | Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, FL Studio, Reaper, Studio One |
| Free trial | Available |
| Price on Plugin Boutique (October 2026) | €127.93 |
What smart:deess does
Rather than lowering volume whenever a high frequency peak appears, smart:deess works on the content of the signal. Each phoneme type is identified and processed independently, so an "s" sound is treated differently from a "ch" sound.
When a channel is loaded, the plugin builds a voiceprint of the input voice before the signal starts playing, and the analysis can then be reviewed and refined by the user. The developer notes that sibilants are processed as a whole instead of only at their loudest point.
Key features
- Content-aware sibilance detection. The plugin analyzes what is actually in the signal instead of reacting to a fixed frequency band, using a neural network trained beforehand to find the start and end of each sibilant.
- Phoneme-based processing. Each phoneme type is identified and processed on its own, so sibilants that differ in character receive different treatment.
- Spectral shaping. Sibilants are changed through spectral processing rather than an automatic volume control, which the developer describes as leaving the rest of the recording untouched.
- Color controls. Color controls tune the character of the sibilants, from soft to sharp, so the balance can be set to the desired sound.
- Revival of dull sibilants. Lisping or dull sibilants can be brought back to life with the same processing, which the developer offers as a replacement for clip-gaining sibilants by hand.
Compatibility
The developer lists Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, FL Studio, Reaper and Studio One as hosts.
smart:deess compared with similar plugins
Weiss Deess from Softube is a de-esser in the same effects category, available as VST3, VST2, AU, AAX and RTAS for Windows and macOS. SSL DeEss from Solid State Logic is also a de-esser in this category, available as VST3, VST2, AU and AAX for Windows and macOS.
| Plugin | Developer | Type | Formats | Systems | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| smart:deess | sonible | De Esser | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €127.93 |
| Weiss Deess | Softube | De Esser | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €68.43 (regular €197.34) |
| SSL DeEss | Solid State Logic | De Esser | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €24.78 (regular €101.15) |
| Re-Esser | Wavesfactory | De Esser | Windows, macOS | €98.18 | |
| De-esser | IK Multimedia | De Esser | VST3, VST2, AU, AAX | Windows, macOS | €59.49 |
Price and availability
smart:deess was listed on Plugin Boutique in October 2026 at €127.93. A free trial is offered. Prices change often, so the store page shows the current one.
smart:deess FAQ
Does smart:deess run on Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes. Native support for Apple Silicon processors is listed, on macOS 10.12 or higher.
Which hosts does smart:deess work in?
The developer names Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools, Cubase, Nuendo, FL Studio, Reaper and Studio One.
Is there a working serial key or keygen for smart:deess?
Keygen and serial key queries follow the plugin name, and a working serial is the string most often typed next to smart:deess, though the developer does not publish one.