Use automation to control side-chained ARP filters for dynamic interest
Problem: static ARP filter lacks movement and interest
Instead of using a static side-chain on the ARP filter, the producer uses automation to control the side-chain manually. This allows for more expressive and dynamic control over the filter's behavior, making the sound…
Randomize side-chained elements for unique sound variation
Problem: predictable or static sound design
Randomizing the on/off pattern of side-chained elements introduces unpredictability and interest to the sound. This technique can make a track feel more dynamic and less repetitive, especially in ambient or mellow…
Use randomized side-chained elements with filters for more depth
Problem: lack of depth or cohesion in randomized elements
Pairing randomized side-chained elements with filters enhances the depth and character of the sound. The filter can shape the frequency content of the randomized element, making it more cohesive with the rest of the…
Apply sidechain with a band activated to avoid kick interference
Problem: kick and bass clashing in low-end
Using a sidechain with a specific frequency band activated helps prevent the bass from clashing with the kick. This technique allows the kick to cut through the mix more clearly by muting the bass during the kick's…
Use side-chained volume shaping to enhance lead clarity
Problem: lead gets lost in the mix
Applying side-chained volume shaping to the lead helps it cut through the mix by ducking it slightly when other elements (like bass or percussion) are present. This technique ensures the lead remains audible without…
Use multi-band sidechain to open space for vocals
Problem: vocals masked by synths, lack of clarity
When vocals are masked by synths, using a multi-band sidechain allows the plugin to duck the main frequencies of the synths in response to the vocal. This creates space for the vocal to cut through without completely…
Use gentle sidechain settings for a more natural sound
Problem: overly aggressive sidechain causing unnatural sound
Instead of using a very aggressive or 'needle-like' sidechain setting, a slightly less focused approach can yield a more natural and musical result. This avoids the harshness that can come from overly aggressive ducking…
Use Degan for free multi-band sidechain processing
Problem: cost of high-quality sidechain plugins
Degan is a free plugin that offers multi-band sidechain capabilities, making it a powerful alternative to paid tools like Soothe. It's particularly useful for vocal clarity and frequency management in mixing. The plugin…
Side-chain the bass to the kick to avoid sub-bass frequency competition
Problem: kick and bass compete in sub-bass frequencies
Sub-bass frequencies are delicate and can cause muddiness if both the kick and bass occupy the same space. By side-chaining the bass to the kick, the bass ducks slightly every time the kick hits, preventing frequency…
Use mix bus compression in EDM for pumping and sidechain effects
Problem: mix lacks rhythmic pumping and dynamics
In EDM, mix bus compression is often used to create a noticeable pumping effect, which is a key characteristic of the genre. This is typically achieved through sidechain compression, where the kick drum triggers the…
Use sidechain filtering to compress only the hi-hat
Problem: hi-hat too loud, competing with kick and snare
By using a sidechain filter on the compressor, you can target the hi-hat specifically without affecting the kick or snare. This allows you to tame the hi-hat's transient without altering the dynamics of other elements.…
Use a multi-band sidechain to separate clashing frequencies between vocals and guitars
Problem: vocals and guitars competing in the same frequency range
Routing the vocal track to a multi-band sidechain on the guitar track allows the guitar to duck in the frequency ranges where the vocals are present. This ensures that the vocals remain clear and prominent in the mix…
Use a stock multi-band sidechain plugin for effective frequency separation
Problem: lack of precise frequency separation tools
Even stock plugins can be powerful tools for frequency separation. Using a multi-band sidechain plugin allows for precise control over which frequency ranges are affected by the sidechain, making it a valuable tool in…
Automate side chain to control when it's active
Problem: side chain active when not needed, unnecessary processing
Automating the side chain allows you to control when it's active, such as only during kick hits. This helps maintain clarity and prevents unnecessary processing during sections where it's not needed. This is a useful…
Use a compressor on the reverb bus to duck the reverb when the vocal is present
Problem: vocal lost in reverb
To keep the vocal present and avoid it being lost in the reverb, use a compressor on the reverb bus that is sidechained to the vocal. When the vocal plays, the reverb is momentarily reduced, creating space for the vocal.…
Use a FET compressor with a fast attack and release for reverb ducking
Problem: reverb ducking not responsive
When using a compressor on the reverb bus, a FET compressor with a fast attack and release is ideal for ducking the reverb when the vocal is present. This ensures that the reverb is quickly reduced and then released,…
Use a ducker to control dynamics in chopped vocal bridges
Problem: chopped vocals lack dynamic control
A ducker can be used to dynamically control the volume of the chopped vocal elements, allowing for more precise and expressive manipulation of the bridge section. This technique helps in creating a more polished and…
Use a limiter for sidechain but be aware of its limitations
Problem: sidechain is too long or unclean
While a classic limiter can be used for sidechain, it has limitations such as long sidechain responses. This can make the bass feel disconnected from the kick in modern EDM. Producers should be aware of these limitations…
Use a ghost kick to shorten sidechain response
Problem: sidechain is too long or unclean
A ghost kick is a short, punchy kick sample used in sidechain to create a tighter and more modern sidechain effect. This is especially useful in EDM where long sidechain responses can make the bass feel disconnected from…
Use Shaperbox for more precise sidechain control
Problem: sidechain is too long or unclean
Shaperbox allows for more detailed sidechain control by splitting the bass into low, mid, and high frequencies. This enables different sidechain behaviors for each frequency range, resulting in a cleaner and more natural…
Use side-chaining to separate kick and bass frequencies
Problem: kick and bass frequencies clash, causing muddiness
Side-chaining the bass to the kick allows the bass to duck slightly every time the kick hits, preventing frequency clashes and creating space for the kick to punch through. This technique also adds a pumping effect that…
Sidechain the bass to the kick for better communication
Problem: kick and bass compete in the low end
Sidechaining the bass to the kick ensures that the bass ducks slightly when the kick hits, preventing frequency masking and allowing the kick to punch through the mix. This is a common practice in electronic music to…
Place each drum on its own track for easier mixing and side chaining
Problem: difficulty in mixing and side chaining
By placing each drum on its own track, you gain more control during mixing and make it easier to apply effects like side chaining later. This is especially useful in lo-fi production, where subtle dynamics and layering…
Side chain the bass to the kick to avoid clashing and create a cleaner mix
Problem: kick and bass are clashing in the mix
Side chaining the bass to the kick is a common technique in lo-fi production to avoid frequency clashes and create a more dynamic and punchy mix. When the kick plays, the bass is momentarily ducked in volume, which helps…
Use sidechain compression on bass and keys to make room for the kick
Problem: kick gets lost in the mix, bass and keys mask the kick
Sidechain compression allows the kick to cut through the mix by ducking the bass and keys when the kick hits. This creates a rhythmic pumping effect that is essential in lo-fi and hip-hop production. By setting the…
Apply sidechain compression to atmospheric elements for rhythmic cohesion
Problem: atmosphere clashes with the kick or feels disconnected
Using sidechain compression on atmospheric elements like ambient sounds or pads ensures they duck in time with the kick, creating a cohesive and rhythmic feel. This technique is commonly used in lo-fi to maintain a sense…
Use a sidechain on a kick start to add punch and rhythmic interest to a bass sound
Problem: bass lacks rhythmic interest or punch
Applying a heavy sidechain on a kick start can add punch and rhythmic interest to the bass, making it more dynamic and engaging. This technique is commonly used in genres like future bass and melodic techno to create a…
Use sidechain on reverb for better dynamics
Problem: reverb clashing with other elements
Applying a sidechain to reverb allows it to duck when other elements (like the kick) play, creating more dynamic space in the mix. This technique helps prevent reverb from clashing with other elements and keeps the mix…
Use sidechain compression to create space for the piano in ambient layers
Problem: piano gets lost in ambient layers
When the piano hits, ambient layers can be ducked in the high-end frequency range (around 2-5kHz) to make room for the piano's clarity. This technique helps the piano cut through the mix without making the ambient layers…
Use a duck to create space for other elements
Problem: elements are masked or unclear in the mix
Using a duck (sidechain) on certain elements allows other parts of the track to cut through more clearly. This is a common technique in hard techno to maintain clarity and separation between elements, especially in the…
Side-chain the rumble to the kick for rhythmic pulsation
Problem: static, unmoving low-end
Routing the rumble sound through a sidechain filter that opens on the kick's attack creates a pumping effect. This adds rhythmic movement to the low-end, enhancing the techno track's groove. The technique is common in…
Sidechain synth to kick for rhythmic clarity
Problem: kick and synth frequency clashes
Sidechaining the synth to the kick creates rhythmic space for the kick drum, preventing frequency clashes. This is a fundamental technique in EDM to ensure the kick remains punchy and the synth doesn't mask it. It's…
Use side chain compression with a short trigger for tight ducking
Problem: loose, unnatural ducking
Instead of using the kick drum, the speaker employs a short, sharp trigger (like a tick) to control side chain compression. This creates a tighter, more precise ducking effect compared to using the kick, which would…
Copy side chain compression to multiple tracks for cohesive dynamics
Problem: inconsistent track dynamics
The speaker duplicates the side chain compressor to another track (e.g., 'wump'), ensuring consistent dynamic interaction across layers. This maintains rhythmic alignment and prevents volume clashes between competing…
Implement heavy sidechain compression on sub bass
Problem: muddy or competing low end
Routing the sub bass to a sidechain triggered by the kick ensures rhythmic synchronization and prevents frequency masking. This technique allows the kick to cut through the mix while maintaining the sub's presence. The…
Apply a sidechain to the percussion loop for rhythmic control
Problem: percussion clashing with other elements
Using a sidechain on the percussion loop allows it to duck when other elements (like the kick or bass) play, creating a more dynamic and rhythmic feel. This technique is commonly used in EDM to ensure that the percussion…
Sidechain the plug for rhythmic pumping
Problem: lifeless, static bassline
Apply a subtle sidechain to the plug to create rhythmic pumping effects. This is a common technique in house and techno to add groove to basslines. The sidechain should be subtle to maintain the bass's presence while…
Use side-chaining to avoid phase cancellation
Problem: muddy low end due to phase cancellation
When kick and bass waveforms are too similar in frequency and phase, side-chaining the bass to the kick can help avoid cancellation. This technique allows the bass to duck slightly when the kick hits, ensuring that the…
Use sidechain to create space for the kick in the bass
Problem: kick buried under bass
Applying a sidechain from the kick to the bass can help carve out space for the kick in the low-end. This is a common technique in trance and house to ensure the kick cuts through the mix without clashing with the bass.…
Understand the history of sidechain compression to better grasp its purpose
Problem: lack of understanding of sidechain compression
Sidechain compression originated in film sound engineering in the 1930s, where it was used to automatically reduce harsh sibilant frequencies in dialogue. This technique was later adopted in music production,…
Don't rely on expensive plugins for sidechain compression
Problem: over-reliance on expensive plugins
Many producers believe that expensive plugins are necessary for achieving great sidechain compression. However, as demonstrated by Daffdpunk in the 1990s, a simple and affordable compressor can produce excellent results…
Use sidechain compression for precision, not just obvious pumping
Problem: overuse of obvious pumping in sidechain
In trance, sidechain compression is often used for subtle, precise ducking rather than the obvious pumping effect seen in French house. This allows for a more natural and well-mixed track where the kick and bass coexist…
Use the 116th note duration for precise release time in sidechain compression
Problem: sidechain release time not aligned with rhythm
Measuring the exact duration of a 116th note in milliseconds based on the track's BPM and using that as the release time ensures the sidechain compression aligns perfectly with the rhythm. This creates a smooth and…
Use peak detection mode for faster and more accurate sidechain triggering
Problem: sidechain not triggering accurately with kick
Peak detection mode in compressors responds to the transient of the kick, making it ideal for sidechain compression. This ensures the ducking effect happens precisely when the kick hits, rather than averaging the signal…
High-pass the kick signal before sending it to the sidechain input
Problem: sidechain ducking is too aggressive or messy
Filtering the kick signal above 800Hz before sending it to the sidechain input ensures only the click transient is used for triggering the compression. This avoids the bassy part of the kick from affecting the sidechain,…
Avoid using the full kick signal for sidechain triggering
Problem: sidechain ducking is messy or unclean
Using the full kick signal in the sidechain can lead to a messy and unclean ducking effect. Only using the high-end click transient of the kick ensures the sidechain is triggered precisely and cleanly. This is a common…
Use extreme settings for aggressive sidechain compression when needed
Problem: sidechain not aggressive enough for specific effects
Setting the release time to 1ms and the threshold all the way down creates a very aggressive sidechain effect that almost completely ducks the signal during the kick. This can be useful in certain contexts, such as when…
Use LFO Tool for precise sidechaining with mid-trigger
Problem: latency and clicks in sidechain compression
Ableton's stock compressor can introduce unwanted clicks, especially with extreme settings. Using LFO Tool with mid-trigger mode allows for precise sidechaining without latency issues. This method is especially useful…