I read Dan's blog on de-essing and have to wonder why do it that way? It makes sense but why do it that way?
 
I think the better way is to clone the vocal track your working on, archive it and then just do some simple editing. I find it easier to select the syllabants and do a gain reduction. It may be more time consuming but it's well worth it in the long run. Plus, you can get the CK  and the T sounds as well.
 
I get side chaining but never saw a use for it other than voice overs.
 
Just my $0.02.
 
A good read if you want to go that route.

i also do the same, i zoom in hard and throw an envolope on the consants.
track automation, its a great thing.
 
i have however found Dan's videos very helpful and interesting to see how others work.
especially him, he has a great knack for the little things.
his CA2A series was great.

I do a combination of both. A mild auto de-esser and editing to get rid of the persistent ones.

I too thought he did a great job with the CA-2A. 

Guitarpima
I read Dan's blog on de-essing and have to wonder why do it that way? It makes sense but why do it that way?

 
Sometimes you need to make the 5 PM Fed Ex dropoff
 

I get side chaining but never saw a use for it other than voice overs.

 
I use de-essing with guitar prior to going into an amp sim. It's like a more "intelligent" version of rolling down the highs with the tone control to get a creamier tone. However, I tend to use a multiband compressor, with all bands except the high frequencies set for no compression. That way I don't have to set up a sidechain.
 
This doesn't lend itself to manual manipulation because it's not sibilants that you can identify easily, but rather, a reduction of high frequencies if they exceed a certain level.
 
My main use for sidechaining is effects, like cross-synthesis between instruments, as well as pumping drum sounds for dance mixes.
 

If you can use a hardware de-esser - this is a really good one:
http://www.zenproaudio.com/xqp-531-de-esser.aspx
 
A little goes a long way.  S's may come back in style soon!  
 
I find that the longer I mix things, the more some things can bug me, just because I am getting too close to it.
 
Craig's electric guitar idea is very interesting and I wish I knew that a week or so ago.  I just recently had a track where the highs were sort of piercing where I think a de esser could have been the ideal solution.

deswind
 
Craig's electric guitar idea is very interesting and I wish I knew that a week or so ago.  I just recently had a track where the highs were sort of piercing where I think a de esser could have been the ideal solution.

Here's an article I wrote with more details. I'll be demoing this (and a bunch of other amp sim-related techniques in person during one of my workshops at Sweetwater's GearFest.

Guitarpima
I read Dan's blog on de-essing and have to wonder why do it that way? It makes sense but why do it that way?
 
I think the better way is to clone the vocal track your working on, archive it and then just do some simple editing. I find it easier to select the syllabants and do a gain reduction. It may be more time consuming but it's well worth it in the long run. Plus, you can get the CK  and the T sounds as well.
 
I get side chaining but never saw a use for it other than voice overs.
 
Just my $0.02.
 
A good read if you want to go that route.

As you will find out, there can be over 1,000 ways to do the same thing and over 1,000,000,000 ways to use the same plugin. It doesn't matter how you use it, just as long as you get the sound you're after. to each their own.
 
CJ