Sidechain Compression

[dfmsguitar]

So I'm fairly new to the concept of Sidechain compression. I've recently learned of some of the possibilities, and would greatly appreciate some incite on this concept of what I'd like to do. my current usage of sidechain includes taking the peak of a kickdrum and letting the master level of that kick drum control one band of the EQ on my bassline. What I'd like to do (if this makes any sense) is to use the entire EQ shape of the kick drum and push down the EQ of the bassline accordingly so that theoretically, the two frequencies would keep in line while still cleanly playing both sounds. imagine taking a piece of clay, and indenting it with a block of cheese. I want a way to make the kickdrum be my cheese and the clay be my bassline (when looking at an EQ plugin). so that the two would keep an even level and still be punchy and present.

If anybody knows of an ideal way to do this, or a plugin that does this automatically, and would be willing to share this information, that would be awesome.

Thanks,
-Robert

 

[shortedaman]

isnt it called ducking?

 

[dfmsguitar]

from what I've seen from looking online, "Ducking" is just another term for the basic use of sidechain? which isn't really what I'm looking to do. I could easily just set the bassline's signal to drop overall and come back in when the kick's peak has passed, but I'd rather figure out a way to only cut the frequencies of the kick drum so it all evens out if that's possible. (well I know it's possible, but the only method I know of, would be way too much work)

 

[Steenamaroo]

from what I've seen from looking online, "Ducking" is just another term for the basic use of sidechain? which isn't really what I'm looking to do. I could easily just set the bassline's signal to drop overall and come back in when the kick's peak has passed, but I'd rather figure out a way to only cut the frequencies of the kick drum so it all evens out if that's possible. (well I know it's possible, but the only method I know of, would be way too much work)

just to keep everything straight here...

the common use of sidechain is to put a compressor on the bass line and have the kick drum trigger it.

your description sounds like you don't get that.....sorry if you do.



Am i right in thinking that you'd rather not squash the whole bassline, but rather a specific range of frequency of the bassline?

If this is the case, use a multiband compressor and set it up to taste, then sidechain it.

Hope that helps.

 

[dfmsguitar]

just to keep everything straight here...

the common use of sidechain is to put a compressor on the bass line and have the kick drum trigger it.

your description sounds like you don't get that.....sorry if you do.



Am i right in thinking that you'd rather not squash the whole bassline, but rather a specific range of frequency of the bassline?

If this is the case, use a multiband compressor and set it up to taste, then sidechain it.

Hope that helps.

No, I get that. perhaps my explanation wasn't as clear as it could have been. What you described as one of the common uses of sidechain compression, I can do easily. Not a problem, I've seen multiple tutorials, and I've done it just to say I've done it. the second suggestion you made, is actually the way I more often approach mixing my basslines and kickdrums. I find where the center of my kick drum's frequency range is averaging, then I open a 7 band EQ on the bass track, and sidechain that EQ band on the bassline to make the two "fit" better. However, what I'm wanting to do is to go a step further than that... Rather than just controlling one single EQ band, I want the whole shape of the kick drum's frequency range controlling the shape of the EQ being ducked on the bassline.

I do appreciate the advice, I'm just wondering if anybody knows of a way to take it that step further without having to go through and create an explicitly tailored set of sidechained EQ bands that mimic the shape of the kick drum's Frequency range and output. maybe it's not possible, but it would be nice if it was.

 

[Steenamaroo]

nah sorry..i don't know of an 'automatic' way, if you want to call it that.

My only suggestion would have been tailoring multiband comps etc

you know, i've never sidechained an eq before; How does that work? i mean, since there's no threshold.

 

[mixsit]

... Rather than just controlling one single EQ band, I want the whole shape of the kick drum's frequency range controlling the shape of the EQ being ducked on the bassline. ..

I'm pretty sure there is eq that duplicates energy curves. That's where you want to go?
Seem a normal parametric filter could be shaped to match the contour in the low end, but then you'd still have the 'click/top what ever. Then it seems for practical purposes we're quite back to a full range duck.

Never mind I got it backwards..

 

[dfmsguitar]

nah sorry..i don't know of an 'automatic' way, if you want to call it that.

My only suggestion would have been tailoring multiband comps etc

you know, i've never sidechained an eq before; How does that work? i mean, since there's no threshold.

well, I only know how to do it in FL studio, but if you have FL studio, you would open up an instance of Peak Controller on the mixer track you want controlling the EQ, then you open up the EQ on the channel you want controlled, and right click on a band, and choose "Link to Controller" then choose your other channel as the input, and choose "Inverted" in the second drop down menu, then click apply, then you just edit the parameters in the Peak Controller, to change how it's controlling the EQ. I'm sure there would be a way to do it in other DAW's, but I only use FL Studio for most of my mixing and mastering.