Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:34 pm   Reply with quote      

It is often useful to simultaneously duck multiple tracks using side chain compression. For example, submixing is useful if you want to duck a bass and pad using the same kick drum sound. The picture below shows how to do this in Ableton Live.



For more information, click here to read a tutorial on side chain compression. Have fun

Wed Dec 12, 2007 12:03 am   Reply with quote      

i really appreciate this diagram, but ive tried replicating it and still found that the side chain doesnt work.

I can use this compressor on 1 track using a kick track to trigger the side chain compressor which is assigned to a bass track and it works fine.

However, i tried the same method u used in the diagram but it was to no avail. I found alot of noises echoing at 1st too. Not quite sure what the return track is for, could you explain this diagram in more detail please?

I've been trying to figure out how to use this side chain compressor on more than 1 track for half a year now and still found no answer, its horrible i feel like giving production up because its one of the main things blocking me from creating good quality tracks


thanks in advance for any feedback

Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:39 am   Reply with quote      

Is there any way of sidechaining MIDI trax in Ableton or is a case of having to dump them down and then apply the cmpsn to the audio? tedious.

Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:22 pm   Reply with quote      

You can definitely apply side chain compression to MIDI tracks. The diagram above demonstrates side chaining using audio tracks, but the same technique can be used for MIDI. The general idea is to:

1. Submix the tracks that need to be ducked
   
2. Apply the side chain compressor to that submix
   
3. Feed in the kick drum to trigger the compressor.
   

Thu Mar 13, 2008 7:42 pm   Reply with quote      

i tried it, works for me. try it again, starting over fresh.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:32 pm   Reply with quote      

after i put the compressor on the synth channel i click that box to route to 2 synth loop and track in come up in the box below but no compressor or ne other option??? ive repeated the process 3 times.............. stil the same no compressor to select in that box??? wats goin on can sum 1 help plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:08 am   Reply with quote      

i just upgraded to live 7 and it takes just a few minutes to side chain

just copy the steps as it says,

1 - Submix the tracks that need to be ducked(buss the bass and or pads etc to a new audio channel with in selected on the new chanel

2 - Apply the side chain compressor(compressor plugin with side chain option) to that submix(new channel)

3 - Feed in the kick drum to trigger the compressor.(select the kick channel on the in option on the side chain) then adjust sidchain so bass and or pads duck on beat so you cant hear the beat

4 - insert a new return track and turn up send on the kick channel

Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:45 pm   Reply with quote      

hi,
i m new to the page where can i ask my questions in the forum..my question is how can i practically do side chaining in protools...i have somehow figured the way out but i m not sure if thats the correct way??i have used a aux track to feed key signal to compressor inserted on bass track??kindly help...thanx

Mon Aug 11, 2008 8:45 pm   Reply with quote      

hi,
i m new to the page where can i ask my questions in the forum..my question is how can i practically do side chaining in protools...i have somehow figured the way out but i m not sure if thats the correct way??i have used a aux track to feed key signal to compressor inserted on bass track??kindly help...thanx

Wed Dec 31, 2008 8:49 am   Reply with quote      

Hi,

First post on this site.

I got the ducking working before, but now after reopening the file I am finding the Sidechain picks up and feeds when my song starts. It is like an endless delay which gets louder and louder. I'm sure there is a technical term for that. Is that what you experienced?

Just a note: the sounds that feedback are not related to the sidechain at all...

Can someone help me with this. My track sounded great until this happened!!!

Sun Apr 26, 2009 8:29 am   Reply with quote      

Dear Simonsings.

I'm pretty sure you've got a dreaded MIDI Feedback loop happening. It's the MIDI equivalent of what happens if you lay a guitar against a speaker, ever done that and heard a squeal that gets louder and LOUDER until you move the guitar? That's because you've trapped an electrical signal between the guitar and the speaker and it's replicating echoes faster than a field full of rabbits on Viagra!

SOMEWHERES along the line, you've got a MIDI output in your program going directly to a MIDI input in the same program. Because this happened when you turned the program on and reopened the file, I'd guess it's something to do with the program defaults. I'd turn all the inputs (or equivalent, I don't know what software you're using and I prob. wouldn't know that particular package if you told me, I'm just going on general principles here.) off and see if that cures the buildup. If not, I'd turn all the outputs off so ALL inputs and outputs are off! Then, checking carefully, I'd turn on JUST the combination of inputs/outputs your tune needs in order to work properly and see if you get the problem returning. If not, make a note of all settings in Wordpad or somewhere. Then the next time you start up your tune and you get the feedback prob., see what the program's activated that isn't in your list of things that SHOULD be activated!

Once you've spotted these, HOPEFULLY you'll know what settings to check the next time it happens.

Sorry I can't be any more specific, the only reason I know the above is because it happened to me a BUNCH of times before I cracked it! But where the inputs/outputs are vary so wildly between softwares I can't be any more specific.

Yours respectfully

ulrichburke (newbie determined to improve.)