ComfyUI Node: Audio De-esser

Audio De-esser:

The SaltAudioDeesser node is designed to reduce or eliminate sibilance from audio recordings, which are the harsh "s" sounds that can be distracting and unpleasant to listeners. This node leverages the power of the ffmpeg tool to apply a de-esser filter to your audio, making it smoother and more pleasant to the ear. By adjusting the intensity, amount, and frequency parameters, you can fine-tune the de-essing process to suit your specific needs, ensuring that the sibilance is reduced without affecting the overall quality of the audio. This is particularly useful for improving the clarity and professionalism of vocal recordings, whether for podcasts, music production, or any other audio project.

Audio De-esser Input Parameters:

audio

This parameter takes the audio data that you want to process. The audio should be in a format that can be written to a .wav file, as this is the format used for the temporary files during processing.

intensity

The intensity parameter controls the threshold level at which the de-esser starts to act. A higher intensity means that more sibilant sounds will be targeted. The value should be a float, typically ranging from 0.0 to 1.0, with a default value that balances effectiveness and audio quality.

amount

This parameter determines the amount of reduction applied to the sibilant sounds. A higher amount will result in more aggressive de-essing. The value should be a float, usually between 0.0 and 1.0, with a default setting that provides a noticeable reduction without overly affecting the audio.

frequency_keep

The frequency_keep parameter specifies the frequency range that should be preserved during the de-essing process. This helps in maintaining the natural quality of the audio while reducing sibilance. The value is typically a float representing the frequency in Hz, with a default value that targets common sibilant frequencies.

Audio De-esser Output Parameters:

audio

The output parameter is the processed audio data with reduced sibilance. This audio is returned in the same format as the input, ready for further processing or final use. The de-essed audio will have smoother and more pleasant vocal qualities, making it ideal for professional audio applications.

Audio De-esser Usage Tips:

• Adjust the intensity and amount parameters incrementally to find the perfect balance for your specific audio. Start with lower values and gradually increase them until the sibilance is adequately reduced.
• Use the frequency_keep parameter to fine-tune the de-essing process. If the audio sounds unnatural, try adjusting this parameter to preserve more of the original frequency range.
• Always listen to the processed audio in the context of the entire mix to ensure that the de-essing is effective without compromising the overall sound quality.

Audio De-esser Common Errors and Solutions:

ffmpeg: command not found

• Explanation: This error occurs when the ffmpeg tool is not installed or not available in the system's PATH.
• Solution: Install ffmpeg and ensure it is accessible from the command line. You can download it from the official website or use a package manager like apt for Linux or brew for macOS.

PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied

• Explanation: This error happens when the node does not have permission to create or delete temporary files in the specified directory.
• Solution: Ensure that the directory specified by folder_paths.get_temp_directory() is writable. You may need to change the directory permissions or choose a different directory.

subprocess.CalledProcessError: Command '['ffmpeg', ...]' returned non-zero exit status 1.

• Explanation: This error indicates that the ffmpeg command failed to execute successfully.
• Solution: Check the error message for details on why ffmpeg failed. Common issues include incorrect parameter values or unsupported audio formats. Ensure that the input audio is in a valid format and that the parameters are set correctly.