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How do you sidechain compress a bass?
Here’s how to set up sidechain compression.
- Insert a compressor onto the bass track (select a compressor with a sidechain or key input).
- Select the kick drum audio as the sidechain input.
- Adjust the threshold and ratio controls so that the bass is compressed by the desired amount whenever the kick drum hits.
What are sidechain instruments?
That can mean bass guitar, kick drum, or bass synthesizer. The fact is that any instrument and any frequency can be boosted by sidechain compression, but the effect has become almost synonymous with bass frequencies in club music.
What is the side chain input of a compressor?
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. The signal that’s connected to the key input changes the behavior of the main output of the compressor or the gate.
What is a sidechain signal?
Sidechaining is all about interaction between a signal processor and an audio source (usually one that’s different from the audio that’s being processed). Audio for video — Use sidechaining to reduce the level of a music bed during narration.
Do you sidechain a kick or the bass?
Sidechain Compression Is The Solution 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.
Why do bass and side chains kick?
Who invented sidechain compression?
Douglas Shearer
It may shock you to learn that the initial applications for sidechain compression in the 1930s were not directed at making French filter house. Rather, it started with a film audio engineer named Douglas Shearer, who needed a way to tame the sibilance (the hard “s” sounds) of dialogue recordings.
Where does a compressor go in a signal chain?
Believe it or not, some thought should be given as to where the compressor goes in your signal chain. A good rule of thumb is to place any gain-type effects before modulation effects: i.e., compressors and overdrives before delays or flangers.
How is sidechain compression used in a compressor?
Sidechain compression is a form of compression that uses the signal running through a compressor’s sidechain circuit to trigger compression. You can use sidechain compression to prevent frequency masking and add creative pumping effects to your mixes.
What kind of music uses sidechain for compression?
This can be heard very commonly EDM records. It started in House but the technique has spread to Bass Music, Dubstep, Trance and Drum-n-Bass. While each genre has its own general way of doing this, the technique always involves the kick causing other elements to duck. Sometimes it’s just the bass ducking.
How to apply sidechain compression using FabFilter Pro-C 2?
Apply a compressor like the FabFilter Pro-C 2 to the track that you want to apply gain reduction to. If you’re trying to prevent your bass from masking your kick, apply the compressor to your bass track. Figure 1: FabFilter’s Pro-C 2 applies to a track in Ableton. Select your kick track from the External Source (Sidechain) dropdown menu.