Sidechain

FoDriZZlE · 10-07-2012, 11:56 PM

Is it really necessary to sidechain? Is ti really that big of a deal?

Cracked World Foundation · 10-08-2012, 12:16 AM

I'll assume that you're asking specifically about sidechain compression of a bass or pads using a kick drum as the input. The purpose of this - which is but one specific usage of sidechaining - is to 'duck' bass/pad parts of similar frequency content to the kick. This keeps the mix clear and stops things getting muddy. It can also be used less subtly to get the characteristic 'pumping' sound you hear in so much house music.

Is it a big deal? The last sentence of the previous para should be a clue, but yes. If you're making contemporary house then you really want to understand how sidechaining works. Try searching the forum - there are approximately 5,000,000 threads about this already.

FoDriZZlE · 12-30-2012, 01:26 AM

Is it OK, to use a drum loop, with hi hats, claps and kicks... and then sidechain the whole thing? Im pretty sure im talking about sidechain compression here :p im kinda learning it now :s but is it OK? or is it just BAD?

ParallelEDM · 12-30-2012, 02:34 AM

If you're talking about using the drum loop as the sidechain source and triggering compression on the other elements with it, then no, wouldn't recommend it. It's easy to build a "ghost kick" (or it can be a hi hat or something.) that is muted but is what is triggering the sidechain on other elements. That way you can have flexibility and can sidechain compress something without the trigger sound actually being heard.

Evelon · 12-30-2012, 10:32 AM

However, kick and snare on the key-insert can have a nice/musical/dynamic effect on the hihat (compr).

Adharma · 12-31-2012, 05:39 PM

I'm glad somebody else asked this question, I was wondering myself. I'm just getting started with learning about some of these production techniques.

ghyt wembpang · 12-31-2012, 06:40 PM

nothing is okay.

nothing is ever okay.

how could anything ever be okay.

YoMyEX · 12-31-2012, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ghyt wembpang

nothing is okay.

nothing is ever okay.

how could anything ever be okay.

My thoughts exactly lol

OP, there is no audio god watching over you, making sure you do everything absolutely "right" with your productions. That decision is up to you. Try it. Test it out. Do you like it? Then do it

juabelhernandez · 01-05-2013, 05:30 AM

how do you make a ghost side chain...i heard it wasnt good to send all instruments to the kick as a side chain???

arm23 · 01-20-2013, 04:18 PM

In almost every track I produce I use Sidechain. Sometimes it is for pads, sometimes for bass or sometimes just for fx.

TNT1325 · 01-30-2013, 01:27 PM

Yeah there're a bunch of interesting uses for sidechaining, just takes a while to learn how and when to use it.

arm23 · 01-30-2013, 03:50 PM

yeah, it depends

juabelhernandez · 02-04-2013, 03:18 AM

i heard it wasnt good to send everything to one sidechain...well deadmaus said it on one of his youtube stream shows

eliavtadmor · 02-04-2013, 08:37 PM

sidechain give you music more groove , its gettong more punchy, more danceable ...
sidecahin is a bigadeal....

SomaaaMusic · 02-06-2013, 11:25 PM

This is from an Electro/progressive house standpoint.

Sidechaining is Super important. It will allow the kick to come forward and not be drowned out by overbearing bass frequencies. Both drums and low end bass synths share many frequencies so when they are played together it makes your mix sound muddy at times. (This should also be fixed with EQing too)

I create a track that is made of only kicks on time with my song and is muted. It goes through the entire song and everything that is set to side chain is triggered from this sound. It is bad if you set the side chain to trigger from your whole drum section. It will make everything constantly trigger when you really don't want it to.

It takes a lot of practice to learn how to sidechain properly. Songs I've made 4 years ago sound horrible to me because I found I had too much attack and to little decay on my side chaining.

Take the time to learn how to properly sidechain and try out different parameters in your DAW.

I've heard some amazing songs with great potential sound horrible because there was too little or no sidechaining.

I even think in dubstep its important to have at least a little sidechaining to make the kicks and snares come through