Sidechaining is important and I don't do it well. Here are 2 questions that could help me out a little:
1. I usually duplicate the kick I am using, route it to all the parts I want side-chained but don't feed it into the master (so I can side-chain the whole track, even when the kick isn't playing). Now because of this, I wouldn't have to use the same kick to sidechain with. Is it a bad idea to sidechain using a bigger kick to give more sidechain, while not overwhelming the track with a kick that is too big? There are some tracks I listen to that seem like the sidechain is bigger than the kick they are using.
2. Also, I don't ever sidechain drums/ drums loops. Is it rare to sidechain these? I can see it being useful on hihats and such (though not the snare or clap).
edit add:
just for reference here are 2 tracks I think use side-chain particularly well:
Beatflux
If the drums have hits on the 1 and e, it can help to side chain it a bit.
chris marsh
have you tried cableguys filtershaper, or xfer lfo tool? really nice for creating sidechain type effects (and more) but with a filter too. these are great and you can really control the shape
vengeance sidechain looks nice to but its pricey
If your using a compressor for the sidechain a good idea is too use a sample with no output, and fade it down so its just a click with no sustain, then you can use the release on the compressor to really control the shape of the pumping effect :)
I think a lot of people do sidechain percussion loops, in lots of different genres i know people do it in dnb and dubstep too, although in this case its obviously not 4/4 sidechaining
wayfinder
to make things a bit simpler, i always use the same sample for side chaining, and i've got a compressor preset for it, so it's literally drag and drop to get something to pump. the amount of sidechain, as chris said, is controlled by the release.
Lucidity
quote:
Originally posted by wayfinder
to make things a bit simpler, i always use the same sample for side chaining, and i've got a compressor preset for it, so it's literally drag and drop to get something to pump. the amount of sidechain, as chris said, is controlled by the release.
Actually the amount is controlled by the threshold, release controls the how long it compresses the signal for. Its basically for your timing. The lower you pull the threshold and also the more you increase the ratio control = "how much" pumping.
I agree with Chris with using a click sample if you are gonna use a compressor to sidechain, as he said, you then control the timing with the release.
wayfinder
That's what i meant, I phrased it poorly :)
Looney4Clooney
i find that sort of sidechaining sort of obsolete with tools like lfo and cableguys. It gives you so much more control. You can also trigger it if you don't want a continuous pattern. There is no reason to side chain , well the sidechaining you are tlaking about with a compressor and kick/click trigger.
Lucidity
quote:
Originally posted by Looney4Clooney
i find that sort of sidechaining sort of obsolete with tools like lfo and cableguys. It gives you so much more control. You can also trigger it if you don't want a continuous pattern. There is no reason to side chain , well the sidechaining you are tlaking about with a compressor and kick/click trigger.
I agree, LFOtool is pretty much all I use anymore for that effect. Its nice controlling the curve. I still haven't tried any of cableguys stuff, LFOtool has been great for me and you can't beat the price, really.
Lucidity
I just watched the video demo for volume shaper, I think i'm gonna get it lol.
1. So I guess to point one, most aren't even basing the sidechain on the kick anyway. Kind of hard for me to explain but one might be using a moderate sized kick but creating a lot of sidechain regardless of how big or small the kick is. I am going to learn how to sidechain the way you all are describing. I know about it but have been putting it off I guess.
2. Point two- it isn't unheard of to sidechain drums as long as it works in the context of the song.
Looney4Clooney
quote:
Originally posted by Lucidity
I just watched the video demo for volume shaper, I think i'm gonna get it lol.
i think you will find both do the same thing. I like volumeshaper and midishaper's layout but lfo tool can do both. I also find that the cableguys's tools more sample accurate in logic. I tend to have to shift things around when i use say lfo tool as an midi instrument and trigger the envelope. But on the plus side, in logic, you have to set up a IAC midi channel to trigger midi/volume shaper unlike lfo tool where you can use it as a midi instrument.
man how sucky is logic for that. AU supports midi in and out, just not logic.
meriter
quote:
Originally posted by Looney4Clooney
But on the plus side, in logic, you have to set up a IAC midi channel to trigger midi/volume shaper unlike lfo tool where you can use it as a midi instrument.
I couldn't get lfo tool to work in logic without using an IAC bus (for midi control) I might've been doing it wrong though, I like the cablesguys stuff much better anyway
