Oxford SuprEsser

The Oxford SuprEsser is both a very highly-featured professional De-Esser and a Dynamic EQ. There is a simple mode for quick fixes, but also an advanced mode for increased functionality and fine-tuning. The combination of an intuitive FFT display and three listen modes enables the user to easily see and hear exactly where the problem frequencies are, allowing the rapid reduction or removal of the offending audio. As well as being able to trigger the full band compression, only the offending frequencies can be carefully carved out. Since the SuprEsser can operate at all frequencies, ‘plosives’ and other annoyances can also be removed effortlessly, making it more than a simple De-Esser. Additional features include Automatic Level Tracking, Linear Phase Filtering and a Wet/Dry blend control for final balancing.

A new concept is born – a simple and intuitive De-Esser, PLUS access to a much more sophisticated frequency specific compressor, giving complete control over aggressive frequencies wherever they may be in the audio spectrum. With the Oxford SuprEsser, you can take out unwanted frequency peaks as and when they occur - unlike applying a fixed EQ to the whole channel.

As a De-Esser, the Oxford SuprEsser is designed for the treatment of sibilance and fricatives in vocals, and the treatment of unwanted whistles and 'spirant' artefacts associated with wind instruments. However, it can equally be applied to removing low-end 'plosives' and thuds from over-close vocal work, without affecting components nearby in the frequency spectrum, keeping the low-end in tact. For the most natural-sounding results, the SuprEsser de-esses only the frequency band you set - so you won't end up with an over-de-essed lisp-like voice with all the top end gone!

Detailed visual feedback is provided thanks to the highly intuitive graphical display, allowing quick identification of the frequencies that need treatment and where to set the threshold. The threshold level and peak hold levels of the user-definable band are shown on the graph, alongside the FFT display of the narrow band signal, which includes retention of the peak level and the frequency containing the most energy.

At the heart of the Oxford SuprEsser is an enhanced version of the compressor section of the Oxford Dynamics plug-in, which is renowned amongst professional users for delivering precise and transparent control of peaks. Around this is built a pair of cross-over filters to make the compressor react only to the defined frequency band. These linear phase filters are modelled on the filters from the Oxford EQ, making the SuprEsser useful for precise mastering work as well as mixing work.

Three listen modes allow the user to listen to the mix, the output of the band-pass filter ('Inside') or the output of the band-reject filter ('Outside').

Careful thought has been put into making the Oxford SuprEsser extremely easy and quick to use. The screenshot above shows the plug-in as it appears when first activated. Once the frequency band has been defined, simply lower the threshold fader until the gain reduction meter starts to kick in. The plug-in then automatically tracks the general signal level and the threshold follows accordingly so that it gives the same relative amount of gain reduction as the signal level rises or falls. This is perfect for vocals where, for example, a vocalist is louder in the chorus than the verse, but you want to apply the same relative amount of de-essing, and not over de-ess in the chorus. This Auto Level Tracking mode lets the SuprEsser do all the hard work. It can also be switched off for a fixed threshold.

Pressing the 'More' button gives access to ALL the controls.

In its default mode of operation, the Oxford SuprEsser feeds the defined 'Band' signal to the compressor to affect only this narrow band signal. The result is that the compressor reacts only to specific frequency components when they reach a specific threshold, and applies compression only to these specific frequency components, leaving the rest of the spectrum untouched. 'Wide' can also be selected to allow full-band compression reacting to only specific frequencies or any combination of Band and Wide defining 'when the compressor reacts' and 'what it compresses' (narrow or wide/full-band).

The Oxford SuprEsser comes complete with many presets to act as good starting points, alternatively, the advanced section gives full access to all controls for precise correction or even creative use.

Features

• 64-bit compliant (AAX / AU / VST)
• Highly featured professional De-Esser
• Linear Phase Dynamic EQ
• Transparently controls aggressive frequencies
• Automatic Level Tracking follows energy levels (no need to automate threshold)
• Large intuitive graphic display makes finding frequencies very easy
• Full Spectrum Operation (20Hz -20KHz)
• Three different 'Listen' modes
• Very easy to use
• Advanced Mode for ultimate control of the Dynamic EQ
• Many creative as well as corrective uses
• Presets giving good starting points

Plug-in Formats

• Native: AAX, RTAS, Audio Units and VST

System Requirements

macOS

• macOS 10.12 or later (Intel / M1 Apple Silicon supported) (64-bit only)
• Plugin Formats - AAX Native, AU, VST3
• Supported Hosts - Pro Tools 11 or above or any desktop application that supports Audio Unit (AU) or VST3 plugins.

Windows

• Windows 10 or later 
• Plugin Formats - AAX Native, VST3
• Supported Hosts - Pro Tools 11 or above or any desktop application that supports VST3 plugins.

Activation

The Toolbox range offers 2 activations for each product licence you buy.

Providing you have an iLok account, each activation will allow you to authorise your plugin on one of these devices:

• Machine
• iLok device, iLok2 / iLok3 required with latest drivers OR
• iLok Cloud (Active internet connection required)