Tips for Reducing Sibilance and Plosives in Your Recordings for Acx Compliance

March 16, 2026

By: Audio Scene

Recording high-quality audio is essential for ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) compliance. One common challenge faced by voice actors and narrators is managing sibilance and plosives, which can negatively impact the clarity and professionalism of an audiobook. This article provides practical tips to reduce these issues and ensure your recordings meet ACX standards.

Understanding Sibilance and Plosives

Sibilance refers to the harsh ‘s’ and ‘sh’ sounds that can become exaggerated in recordings, causing listener fatigue. Plosives are explosive sounds produced when pronouncing ‘p’, ‘b’, ‘t’, and ‘d’ sounds, which can cause unwanted popping noises. Both can be distracting and reduce the overall quality of your audiobook.

Tips to Reduce Sibilance

  • Use a de-esser: Employ a de-essing plugin or hardware to target and reduce excessive ‘s’ sounds without affecting the rest of your voice.
  • Adjust microphone positioning: Place the microphone slightly off-axis from your mouth to minimize direct sibilant sounds hitting the microphone capsule.
  • Control your speaking technique: Practice speaking slightly softer or changing your pronunciation to lessen sibilance.
  • Apply equalization (EQ): Use EQ to reduce high-frequency sibilant frequencies during post-processing.

Tips to Reduce Plosives

  • Use a pop filter: Place a pop filter or windscreen in front of your microphone to diffuse explosive sounds.
  • Adjust microphone placement: Position the microphone slightly above or to the side of your mouth to reduce direct airflow.
  • Control your airflow: Practice gentle speech and avoid forceful bursts of air when pronouncing plosive sounds.
  • Apply a high-pass filter: Use post-processing filters to cut low-frequency plosive sounds that may still be captured.

Additional Tips for ACX Compliance

Beyond reducing sibilance and plosives, ensure your recordings meet ACX specifications:

  • Record in a quiet, echo-free environment.
  • Use a high-quality microphone and audio interface.
  • Maintain consistent volume levels throughout the recording.
  • Perform thorough editing and noise reduction.
  • Export your final audio in the required format (44.1 kHz, 16-bit WAV or MP3).

By applying these techniques, you can significantly improve your audiobook recordings, ensuring they are clear, professional, and compliant with ACX standards. Consistent practice and attention to detail will help you produce high-quality narrations that captivate your audience and meet industry requirements.