What is Sidechaining?
Sidechaining is when you use the signal from one track to trigger an effect on another track. This is often used to create ducking effects, where the volume of the second track is reduced whenever the first track hits its audio threshold.
For example, the common use of sidechaining is to use the volume of a kick drum to trigger a compression effect on a bass guitar. This can help to create a tighter, more cohesive sound between the two instruments.
This can be useful for creating space in a mix, or for making sure that certain elements are always audible. Of course, sidechaining isn't just restricted to compressors - it can be used with any kind of effect that responds to audio levels.
Key Takeaways
| Description | |
|---|---|
| What is sidechaining? | Sidechaining is a technique where the signal from one track is used to control the effect on another track. This is often used to create ducking effects, where the volume of the second track is reduced whenever the first track hits its audio threshold. |
| Different types of sidechaining | There are two main types of sidechaining: sidechain compression and sidechain ducking. Sidechain compression uses a compressor to control the volume of the second track, while sidechain ducking uses a gate or ducker. |
| How to set up sidechaining in different DAWs | The steps for setting up sidechaining will vary depending on the DAW you are using, but the general process is the same: 1. Insert a compressor or gate on the track that you want to affect. 2. Select the track that you want to use as the sidechain input. 3. Adjust the settings of your compressor or gate to taste. |
| Examples of sidechaining in different genres of music | Sidechaining is used in a variety of genres of music, including electronic music, hip hop, pop music, and rock music. |
| Summary | Sidechaining is a powerful tool that can be used to improve your mixes in a variety of ways. By using sidechaining effectively, you can create space and clarity in your mix, accentuate rhythm, and make your vocals stand out. |
Different types of sidechaining
There are two main types of sidechaining: sidechain compression and sidechain ducking.
- Sidechain compression: This is the most common type of sidechaining. It involves using the signal from one track to control the compressor on another track. This can be used to create a variety of effects, such as ducking the bass whenever the kick drum hits, or accentuating the rhythm of a track by compressing the other tracks in time with the kick drum.
- Sidechain ducking: This type of sidechaining is similar to sidechain compression, but instead of using a compressor, it uses a gate or ducker. This can be used to create a more dramatic effect, such as completely muting a track whenever another track hits.
What is Sidechain Compression?
Sidechain compression is a type of compression where the effect level on one instrument is controlled by the volume level of another instrument. A common example would be making the compression level on a bass controlled by the output volume of the kick drum. So when the kick drum sounds, the bass gets more compressed so it can keep cutting through the mix.
This can be a very effective way to use compression, as it allows you to tailor the sound of each instrument to better fit with the rest of the track. It can also help to create a more energetic and pumping sound, as the rhythm section will be working together more closely. If you're looking for a way to add more punch to your tracks, sidechain compression is definitely worth considering.
What Does Sidechaining do?
Sidechaining can be used to reduce frequencies clashing, add more clarity to a mix or create a pumping effect. It's a very versatile tool and one that every producer should understand how to use.
When using sidechaining subtly on a bass line triggered from the kick drum, the listener won't notice the bass line's volume dropping but it will add a ton of clarity to the kick. In other words, the frequencies of the kick and bassline won't clash as much because they'll be playing at different volumes. This is especially useful in electronic music where the kick is often a very strong, low-frequency sound.
Sidechaining can also be used to create a pumping effect. This is where the volume of the track oscillates up and down, usually in time with the beat. This effect is created by compressing the track and then using an envelope follower to trigger the compression. The envelope follower detects when there is a strong signal (usually the kick) and then turns on the compression. This reduces the volume of everything else in the track, giving it that pumping sound. Again, this is most commonly used in electronic music but it can be used in any genre.
Sidechain Uses in Mixing
Sidechaining can be used to trigger effects, like compression, from another sound source. For example, you can sidechain a snare track to an overhead track in order to reduce the volume of the snare in the overheads. This gives the overheads more clarity and makes the snare sound tighter and more focused.
Sidechaining can also be used to add depth to a kick drum. If you have a kick drum that doesn't have enough power to it, you can sidechain it to a bass track. This will make the kick drum sound fuller and more powerful. Sidechaining is a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of ways to improve your mixes.
How to Setup a Sidechain
To set up a sidechain, the first thing you need is a plugin that is capable of using a sidechain (usually just gain reduction plugins). Fortunately, most plugin providers make it easy to find this information by including it in the product description. To set up a sidechain, you should follow the following steps:
- First, need to insert the sidechain plugin on the track that you want to affect.
- Then, you need to select the track that you want to use as the sidechain input.
- Now all that remains is to adjust the settings of your plugin to taste.
How to set up sidechaining in different DAWs
Here are some specific instructions for setting up sidechaining in a few popular DAWs:
- Ableton Live: To set up sidechaining in Ableton Live, insert a compressor on the track that you want to affect. Then, click on the "Sidechain" button and select the track that you want to use as the sidechain input.
- FL Studio: To set up sidechaining in FL Studio, insert a compressor on the track that you want to affect. Then, click on the "Sidechain" button and select the track that you want to use as the sidechain input.
- Logic Pro: To set up sidechaining in Logic Pro, insert a compressor on the track that you want to affect. Then, click on the "Gate/Expander" tab and select the track that you want to use as the sidechain input.
Examples of Sidechain Compression
Adding punch to a kick drum
One of the best ways to separate the kick and sub-bass is with sidechaining. Sidechaining uses a signal to trigger an effect. So in this case, we would use the kick to trigger a compressor on the sub-bass. This means that every time the kick hits, the compressor reduces the volume of the sub-bass slightly. This creates space for the kick to punch through and be heard clearly. As a result, the kick and sub-bass work together to create a powerful, yet well-defined, low end.
Another benefit of sidechaining is that it can add movement and energy to a track. When used subtly, sidechaining can give a track a gentle pumping effect, adding excitement and drive. As you can see, sidechaining is a versatile technique that can be used in a variety of ways to improve your mix.
Giving the vocals more room in the mix
You may also use sidechaining to lower other tracks in your mix when the vocal comes in, allowing various aspects of the track to breathe while highlighting the vocals. This can be especially effective if the other tracks in your mix are especially busy or dense.
However, relying on this method too frequently is not a good idea. You don't want the other tracks to fade out; instead, you want the vocal to be heard clearly. When used carefully, sidechaining can be a powerful tool for giving vocals the space they need to shine in your mix.
Separating frequencies and layers
Another approach is to sidechain different layers to different points in the track. For instance, you can sidechain the guitars to the kick drum, and the keyboard to the guitar. By doing this, you can create more space and avoid masking essential sounds.
Accentuating the rhythm
Sidechain compression is a popular technique in electronic music production, where the rhythm of a kick drum is used to trigger compression on other tracks in the mix. This produces a pumping effect that can add energy and excitement to the track.
While this technique is often overused, when used tastefully it can enhance the rhythmic feel of a track and add movement and interest. Another common use of sidechain compression is to duck the level of background elements such as pads or atmospheres whenever a lead melody comes in. This helps to make the melody stand out and creates more space in the mix.
Example of Accentuating the rhythm
Examples of sidechaining in different genres of music
Sidechaining is used in a variety of genres of music, including:
- Electronic music: Sidechaining is often used in electronic music to create a pumping effect on the kick drum.
- Hip hop: Sidechaining is often used in hip hop to duck the bass guitar whenever the kick drum hits.
- Pop music: Sidechaining is often used in pop music to make the vocals stand out in the mix.
- Rock music: Sidechaining is often used in rock music to create a more aggressive sound.
Final thoughts on Sidechaining
When used in moderation, sidechain compression can be a powerful tool for accentuating rhythm and creating interest in your tracks. It can also be used to add space and clarity to a mix by duck other tracks when the vocal comes in.
However, it's important not to overuse this technique, as it can quickly become overwhelming and sound unnatural. If you're looking for ways to add more punch and energy to your tracks, sidechain compression is definitely worth considering.
