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-- HOWTO: A method for sidechaining in Logic Pro 8

HOWTO: A method for sidechaining in Logic Pro 8

Some people had questions about the Silent Bass Drum track thing, so here is an explanation of how I'm doing Sidechaining in Logic 8:



1. Create a new audio track.

2. Put a 4/4 kick on that track just as if that was going to be your bass drum track. I'd recommend using an audio file for this. Just makes things easier, plus generally you don't really care how it sounds because it won't be heard. (For the advanced users, I know it will make SOME difference, but I'm trying to keep things simple for demo purposes)

3. Set the output channel of the Audio track you just created to No Output, so the track will be playing but there will be no sound coming out. Make a note of the name Logic gives the track, it'll be something like Audio 1, Audio 2, etc.

4. Now put the Logic Compressor on the Bass Line Synth track.

5. Set the Attack to 0ms, Release to 100ms, Threshold to -30db.

6. Change the Circuit Type from Platinum to Opto

7. In the Sidechain Source at the top right hand corner, choose Audio 1 or Audio 2, whatever is the name Logic gave the track that has the Kick drum with no output.

8. Now hit play in the sequencer and you should hear the sidechaining.

This is BASICALLY how I do it.





Note 1: Extra Experimentation and Practical Uses


You'll want to play with the release time on the compressor to fine tune the pumping effect, and Opto may not be the best choice for the target material, but Opto has a super fast response, so it produces the most pronounced pumping of all the circuit types in Logic's compressor. You may also want to try Class_A or Class_U as these attempt to simulate two very desirable types of analog circuitry and add a bit of "analog" warmth (as warmly analog as a digital reproduction can be) The Class_A/U, however, do not produce the typical Prydz type pumping unless the threshold is WAY, WAY down and that isn't always desirable.

I tend to sidechain a lot of stuff, even if it is only a little bit. This means sidechaining other drums, the bass (obviously), pads, just about anything with a large frequency range or ranges that overlap alot. The trick for me is to use varying compression settings to suit my target material. Sometimes you want a pronounced "pumping" effect (bass for example), and sometime you just want a little peak control or very light ducking. Moderation is the key here, too much of anything is not good.

This should not be confused with using EQ or panning to give each sound it's own space. In many cases that is a better way to make something stand out. It just depends on what you are going for or what sounds best. In any case, your sounds should be properly EQ'd (if they need it) before you add any compression.

In the light ducking effect, I'm simply trying to make sure the sound I want out in front STAYS out in front. In some cases that light ducking effect can help the rhythmic movement of the entire piece, and then I dont have to EQ out a certain range that I may want present with the bass drum isn't playing, say in the breakdown (I know I can dup the track with different EQ settings, but this is just another way for me). It's all on a case-by-case basis, so don't take the above settings literally for every track. You have to evaluate each sound and adjust accordingly.


Note 2: Alternative Routing
Once you have this working, one other thing you can do is route your Silent Sidechain Kick Audio track to a new Aux Channel using a bus (say Bus 3). Then on the Sidechain Source you can select Bus 3 as the Sidechain Source and anything that is routed to Bus 3 will be used as the sidechain source. You can also route other tracks to this bus for sidechaining sources as well. This can be effective for sidecinaing a pad to the lead. If the two are in the same frequency range, it can help the lead stand out a bit more by squashing the pad when the lead plays. Use this with caution.

Hope this helps and feel free to PM me any questions.

nice...thanks a lot for this tutorial!

Thanks for that

i usually just send the kick to a bus then select the bus has the side chain source
but same thing i guess

I was wondering can you use side chain compression with the multiband compressor?

it doesnt have a sidechain source?

quote:

Originally posted by sm44 Thanks for that i usually just send the kick to a bus then select the bus has the side chain source but same thing i guess I was wondering can you use side chain compression with the multiband compressor? it doesnt have a sidechain source?

Logic's built in Multiband Compressor does not allow this. Since they consider it a mastering tool I can see why they did not include this functionality in there. Personally I can not see a reason you would want to use any kind of multiband compression anywhere except the mastering stage anyway.

Of course if you really need some type of multiband compression with sidechaining, you can simply do it the old school way and put a Channel EQ on the channel before the regular compressor and just filter out the frequencies before they reach the compressor. Thats the way they used to do it in the old days before multiband compression. If you wanted a 4-band multiband compressor, you'd just make 4 copies of the track and use this method on each track, filtering a different frequency range on each EQ.

thanks heaps for that

i never thought of that work around

i just wanted to experiement with multiband sidechain compression, i know it will probably sound like shit but i like trying new things

Re: HOWTO: A method for sidechaining in Logic Pro 8

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J Note 2: Alternative Routing Once you have this working, one other thing you can do is route your Silent Sidechain Kick Audio track to a new Aux Channel using a bus (say Bus 3). Then on the Sidechain Source you can select Bus 3 as the Sidechain Source and anything that is routed to Bus 3 will be used as the sidechain source. You can also route other tracks to this bus for sidechaining sources as well. This can be effective for sidecinaing a pad to the lead. If the two are in the same frequency range, it can help the lead stand out a bit more by squashing the pad when the lead plays. Use this with caution. Hope this helps and feel free to PM me any questions.

Thanx!!!
This was really nice

But I just can't get this Note2 to work.
I don't know what I am doing wrong here...

I tryed to route the Audio track/silent kick to the "bus 3" and then select the Bus 3 from the Bass Synth's Compressor... But it doesn't work. And if I change the ammaount of the send for Bus 3 in Audio track, then I start to hear the kick...

Here is the file/download link for the file so you can see+hear:
[[ LINK REMOVED ]]

Re: Re: HOWTO: A method for sidechaining in Logic Pro 8

quote:

Originally posted by Lana Thanx!!! This was really nice But I just can't get this Note2 to work. I don't know what I am doing wrong here... I tryed to route the Audio track/silent kick to the "bus 3" and then select the Bus 3 from the Bass Synth's Compressor... But it doesn't work. And if I change the ammaount of the send for Bus 3 in Audio track, then I start to hear the kick... Here is the file/download link for the file so you can see+hear: [[ LINK REMOVED ]]

You dont want to use a send. Set the output of the silent bass drum track t Bus 3

Errmm... I still hear the kick/bass drum
In the BassSynth's Compressor Side Chain is Bus 3.
Silent BassDrum (The Audio Track) the output is Bus3...

Here is my try (that doesn't really work):
[[ LINK REMOVED ]]

quote:

Originally posted by Lana Errmm... I still hear the kick/bass drum In the BassSynth's Compressor Side Chain is Bus 3. Silent BassDrum (The Audio Track) the output is Bus3... Here is my try (that doesn't really work): [[ LINK REMOVED ]]

Is the silent Bass Drum track output set to No Output?

ah... Now I think I get it, I needed to set the Bus 3 Output to No Output and the SIlent bass Drum Output to Bus 3. Now it works, finally

You got it. Have fun!

is this the same for midi?

i cant seem to grasp this concept.

i set the output of the silent kick to no output but at the same time bus 3?

and what about the track i want to sidechain to? does that go to bus 3?

quote:

Originally posted by costizzle is this the same for midi?

No, not the way I described it. You MUST use an audio track with an audio file for the bass drum. This is most likely why it isn't working for you.

quote:

Originally posted by costizzle i set the output of the silent kick to no output but at the same time bus 3?

No. You are combining the two different methods. It doesn't work that way, its one or the other.

1. If you set the silent bass drum track to No Output (named Audio 1 for example), then in the Logic Compressor sidechain source you must select Audio 1.

2. If you select Bus 3 for the silent bass drum track output you must select Bus 3 for the sidechain source in Logic Compressor.

quote:

Originally posted by costizzle and what about the track i want to sidechain to? does that go to bus 3?

No. On the Logic Compressor Sidechain source for that track you select either Audio 1 or Bus 3 depending on which method you are using. The output routing for the track with the compressor on it is irrelevant for this method.

There is a way to do this using MIDI, all you have to do is use the synth's audio output track as the "Silent Bass Drum Track" but try it with the audio track first so you can get it working.

Remember the Compressor's sidechain responds to AUDIO not MIDI. If you are not clear on the difference between audio and MIDI, check this link:


The Difference between MIDI and Audio for Beginners

how do you make a 4/4 track in audio for the bass drum? do you just record a 4/4?

quote:

Originally posted by costizzle how do you make a 4/4 track in audio for the bass drum? do you just record a 4/4?

Use a Bass Drum Sample. As a side note, you may want to look into using Bass Drum Samples for your audible bass drum as well. Makes things easier.

k thanks mate

quote:

Originally posted by costizzle how do you make a 4/4 track in audio for the bass drum? do you just record a 4/4?

Import one single kick sample
Copy to each beat.

for what its worth, I work with a lot of well known producers and quite a few of them also use this method for sidechaining by using an audio kick.
Makes it a hell of a lot easier in Logic, which is probably the most widespread platform used.


The other method is simply to put a spare track at the bottom with a a duplicate kick, set that track to trigger the compressor, but then instead of selecting no output, you mute it FROM THE MIXER PAGE- not muted from the arrange page- always baffled me why that doesnt work...
Same end result.

remember that you dont need to use a kick to trigger it...you can use anything you like, its just the kick is the most prominent and constant, so its traditionally been done that way.

I had been looking for this thread for months :P

AT LAST!!!

Thanks alot man!

One additional tip here: The release parameter on the compressor is KEY. You need to play with this to make sure that the track "pumps". There will be certain release times that are kind of like "magic spots", where you will hear your sidechained audio just lock in with the groove. When you can "feel" it, then you'll know you have it set right.

Now, there is no one single release time that will be correct, it all depends on what BPM your track is at and what type of groove (or swing) you are trying to get, but as a general rule, you never want your release time to be more than a single quarter note in milliseconds (assuming you are making a 4/4 track). You want the compressor to recover before the next kick drum hits.

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