How does side chaining work?
Sidechaining is a production technique used in a wide variety of music genres where an effect is activated by an audio track. In other words, it’s using an alternative audio source to trigger a processor. The alternative source is set to a threshold, which when exceeded activates the effect.
What is a side chain in logic?
Sidechain compression can be useful to create a ducking or pumping effect on a particular audio source. The effect is usually triggered by a transient-heavy track (eg. a kick track). This article will explain how to create such an effect in Logic Pro using the Native Instruments VARI COMP compressor on a bass.
Why is sidechain so popular?
Why is sidechaining so popular? Well, other than the fact that it’s an effective tool for mixing, sidechain compression is a way to innovate because it allows you to turn non-instrument sounds into music. For instance, it may seem strange to incorporate white noise into your mix.
What is side chain filter?
Put simply, side-chain filters alter the frequency response of the signal entering the internal side-chain circuit. Perhaps the most common application of side-chain filters is the de-esser. A de-esser utilises a side-chain signal that’s overly sensitive to the sibilance frequency range.
Should I sidechain kick and bass?
The idea behind sidechain compression is that you briefly lower the volume of your bass part whenever the kick drum comes in. That gets the bass out of the way for just long enough to hear at least the attack of the kick drum clearly.
What is a ghost snare?
In popular music drumming, ghost notes are ones played “very softly between the ‘main’ notes,” (off the beat on the sixteenth notes) most often on the snare drum in a drum kit.
Who invented Sidechaining?
Shearer
Sidechaining was born when Shearer conceived of a compressor with a “side” signal chain (separate to the main trigger signal) with an EQ slapped on it – rather than evenly compressing the incoming signal, this “de-esser” would only be triggered when the specific sibilant sounds appeared.
Should I sidechain kick to 808?
If your kick has a sharp transient, you don’t need one on the 808 too. Get rid of the transient on the 808, and the two tracks will get out of each other’s way. The kick will provide the initial impact, while the 808 will cover the sustain and body. You can use sidechain compression to make this happen.
Why is it called sidechain?
Sidechaining was born when Shearer conceived of a compressor with a “side” signal chain (separate to the main trigger signal) with an EQ slapped on it – rather than evenly compressing the incoming signal, this “de-esser” would only be triggered when the specific sibilant sounds appeared.
What is a sidechain insert?
A sidechain (also seen as side chain or side-chain) input is a special ‘key input’ found on audio compressor units and noise gate units. It’s an additional input, separate to the main input found on the device.
What is side-chain compression?
Side-chain compression can be the difference between a flat, lifeless mix and an adrenalised floor-filler. Learn how to capture the French house sound, and add an extra little twist. With some simple instrumentation in place, we’re ready to experiment with this month’s production technique — side-chain compression.
What is sidechain and how does it work?
Sidechaining first became popular among DJs. They would load up a compressor on the channel that was playing the music but sidechain it to the microphone. Now when they talk through the microphone the level of the music automatically drops.
How do I setup a sidechain compression on a Redrum?
To setup a sidechain compression we need to route the signal from instrument A (in my case a drum) from the instrument to the mixer and to the sidechain compression. That is where the audio merger/splitter comes in handy. We will split the signal from the redrum into 2 audio outputs.
What is the difference between overcompression on end mix and sidechain compression?
The difference between overcompression on the end mix and sidechain compression is that we can decide which individual instrument we want to ‘duck’ when we are crossing the threshold of the compressor. To show a straight forward sidechain compression I will give the following work flow to setup the next example file: