Why sidechain compression

What does this mean? Within the compressor itself, you can tell the device or plug-in to ignore certain frequencies. Say you were compressing an entire drum set. Well, that kick drum has a lot of energy.

An internal sidechain filter might come in handy here. Many digital compressors have internal sidechain filters, ranging from simple high-pass filters removing extraneous low end, like kick drums , to emphasis filters adding in tons of overbearing signal to force the compressor into action—like de-essers. Neutron Pro has a sidechain input, circled in the screenshot above. An external sidechain input allows you to use any audio signal whatsoever to boss the compressor around.

Say you have a bass part and a kick drum. You want the kick drum to be audible, even when the bass is playing. Here an external sidechain input comes in handy. Simply follow these instructions:.

The compressor is now good to go: it will compress when it detects the kick, not the bass. The bass will duck down whenever the kick hits.

You can read about more creative uses here. Ducking basses to kick drums is quite popular in the world of music. This obvious pumping and breathing creates a fun and danceable effect. For these next examples I can personally vouch for the sidechain compression used, as I mixed them. Here, we have an example of multiband sidechain compression: the electric bass is again tied to the kick drum—but only in the low end and low-midrange.

When the kick hits, these frequency bands duck for a moment, making a subtle pocket for the kick drum. When someone talks, again, a subtle pocket is created, and they are able to be heard. Sidechain compression is a valuable process to learn.

Use sidechain compression in your music with a free trial of Music Production Suite Pro. I hope this article demystified some of the processes for you. Why subscribe to iZotope memberships? Music Production Suite Pro members get new releases, product updates, new content, and more!

Explore new releases here. Sidechain to a fill, sidechain to a ghost, sidechain everything! We explore some underused sidechain compression techniques in music production. Fast attack and release times produce a subtle and effective sidechained reverb effect, while slow attack times will allow the first few words of each lyric to be swallowed up by the reverb. Try putting a compressor on the mix bus and sidechaining it from the lead vocal track. This approach works particularly well when tracking or mixing vocals over a premixed two-track beat.

Try compressing your mix bus with the sidechain triggered by the kick drum for really deep pumping effects. You can automate the send to the sidechain to exaggerate the pump during certain sections of the song and stop the pumping during other sections. Sometimes the simplest solution is best. You can draw in any shape of volume modulation onto your bass, synth buss, reverb track, or anything else that you want to add a unique envelope to.

Try out these tips during your next mixing session to help you achieve better separation and clarity, while still retaining a punchy, cohesive sound. Brad Pack is an award-winning audio engineer and writer based in Chicago, IL. He currently owns and operates Punchy Kick, a professional mixing and mastering studio that specializes in pop punk, emo, punk, grunge, and alternative music. He has been helping artists connect with fans through emotionally resonant mixes, cohesive masters, and insightful guidance for over 10 years.

Check out his website PunchyKick. Skip to content. What Is Sidechain Compression? Here we see a bass track routed through a compressor. A sidechain is often referred to as a key. Written by Brad Pack. Related stories. Outboard Mic Preamps vs. Work with full confidence in sound Download Free Trial Learn more. Discover Top Stories. While traditional compression has a signal affected by its own trigger i.

Air reference the use of ducking on the radio as a 'DJ' sings along towards the end of 'Radio 1'. The musical history of sidechaining would be incomplete without sidestepping briefly to overcompression. Listen to the white noise-esque din of the cymbals, broken up by the smack of the kick and snare:. This overcompressed sound became a hallmark of rock and roll and funk, and birthed the concept of using compression not just as a utility, but as an effect. Built on samples of vintage funk and pop songs run through filters and phasers, sidechaining served a practical purpose in turning sampled music into something new.

When it comes to French Touch, the kick is king. With such extreme settings low thresholds and high ratios , you could pile on the synths and samples without worrying about the kick getting lost in a mushy mix. It bears mention here that, despite all the legends about expensive gear, in the case of Daft Punk, their first two classic albums Homework and Discovery relied on the consumer-priced Alesis compressor for pump. The 90s saw pioneers of sampling pushing new gear to greater lengths for fatter tracks.

In his tragically short lifetime, J Dilla mastered the art of soulful beats that gurgle and pop through the speakers. In the FlyLo track above, everything ducks the kick — even the vocals, resulting in short-cut words.