Challenge 2: Fixing Harsh Sibilance Without Dulling the Recording — Solution Walkthrough

The answer:

The harsh, hissy quality on "s" sounds is sibilance — this chapter
identifies it as typically concentrated in a narrow high-frequency
band around 5–8 kHz. It's a specific, narrow problem, not a general
issue with the recording's overall high-frequency content.

Why a broad high-frequency cut is the wrong tool:

Cutting all high frequencies broadly to get rid of the harsh "s"
sounds would also remove the crispness and "air" that make the rest
of the recording sound clear and present — fixing one problem by
creating a duller, flatter-sounding recording overall.

What actually works instead:

A targeted, narrow cut specifically in that 5–8 kHz sibilance band —
or a dedicated de-essing tool built for exactly this — reduces the
harshness on "s" and "sh" sounds specifically, leaving the rest of the
recording's high-frequency crispness untouched.

WHY THIS WORKS AS AN ANSWER
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This exercise checks that sibilance is correctly identified as a
narrow-band problem, and that a targeted fix (narrow cut or
de-essing) is chosen over a broad cut that would harm the rest of
the recording.