DualComp Compressor Tutorial

mattsonic
Site Admin

Joined: 08 Jul 2006
Posts: 287
Location: USA

Thu May 17, 2007 5:28 am Reply with quote

Here is a quick walk-through for using the DualComp side chain compressor with Ableton Live:

Create 2 new audio tracks. Label one as kick and the other as ducked.
Create a kick drum loop on the kick track and create a pad/string/synth loop on the ducked track.
Place the DualComp compressor on the ducked track.
This tutorial uses the arrangement view, so you need to switch to it. Press the Tab key until you see the Arrangement view. (It's the one with the timeline).
You need to adjust the kick track's Output Type. This is a drop-down box located below the buttons labeled In, Auto, and Off. Select the ducked track in the Output Type drop-down box.
You need to adjust the kick track's Output Channel. This is a drop-down box located below the Output Type. Select 3/4 DualComp from the drop-down box.
Create a new return track by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T (or Ctrl+Option+T on the Mac).
Now you need to turn up the send volume to the new return track. On your kick track, find the track's On/Off button. Below that, you should see the track's volume slider. Below that, you should see at least one box that is labeled -Inf. Click on this box, type a zero on your computer keyboard, and then press Return.
Load up the interface for the DualComp compressor found on the ducked track.
Within DualComp, click the button labeled SIDECHAIN ENABLE. Pull down the fader labeled SIDECHAIN LEVEL to about 50%.
Your ducked track should now be ducked whenever your kick track is playing.

_________________
Happy Producing!

Matt Sonic

acydl

Joined: 03 May 2007
Posts: 5

Tue May 29, 2007 2:53 am Reply with quote

mattsonic wrote:

Here is a quick walk-through for using the DualComp side chain compressor with Ableton Live:

Create 2 new audio tracks. Label one as kick and the other as ducked.
Create a kick drum loop on the kick track and create a pad/string/synth loop on the ducked track.
Place the DualComp compressor on the ducked track.
This tutorial uses the arrangement view, so you need to switch to it. Press the Tab key until you see the Arrangement view. (It's the one with the timeline).
You need to adjust the kick track's Output Type. This is a drop-down box located below the buttons labeled In, Auto, and Off. Select the ducked track in the Output Type drop-down box.
You need to adjust the kick track's Output Channel. This is a drop-down box located below the Output Type. Select 3/4 DualComp from the drop-down box.
Create a new return track by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T (or Ctrl+Option+T on the Mac).
Now you need to turn up the send volume to the new return track. On your kick track, find the track's On/Off button. Below that, you should see the track's volume slider. Below that, you should see at least one box that is labeled -Inf. Click on this box, type a zero on your computer keyboard, and then press Return.
Load up the interface for the DualComp compressor found on the ducked track.
Within DualComp, click the button labeled SIDECHAIN ENABLE. Pull down the fader labeled SIDECHAIN LEVEL to about 50%.
Your ducked track should now be ducked whenever your kick track is playing.

sweetness!