Side-Chaining

Music Production Lesson: Sidechain Compression Techniques

One thing to note: I've used a sidekick drum. So this is basically just a four on the floor. There are little bits and pieces in it, but it's fundamentally a kick.

This kick serves as a sidechain for various other elements within the track, mainly the vocals. Here's how I approach this:

Leveling the Vocals

• Using a Compressor: I've actually applied a compressor to the whole of the vocals.
• I've leveled out my vocals so that, in sections where everything is playing together, they sound coherent.
• I've processed them to my liking, and applied a compressor.

Sidechain Setup

The compressor has been sidechained from my Instrument 6. You can set sidechain to basically anything, an audio track, an instrument track, or anything else.

• Configuring the Sidechain: I've set it to my Instrument 6, which is the sidechain kick.

When I listen to my vocals:

• Turning Off the Kick: You can turn this off, and you'll hear that every time the kick goes, you're not actually hearing the kick because the track is muted.
• It doesn't really matter because it's still sidechained into this compressor.

The Pumping Sound

You're still hearing that pumping sound. Sidechain compression, very common in modern music, is used to compress my vocals, giving them a bit more of a pulsing sound to them.

• Desired Effect: I was after a certain sound, and while it's quite radical, I like it.

Application to Other Elements

There are various other elements of the track where I've used the same compression with that sidechained kick:

• For instance, I applied it in the bass section.
• I think I used it on various other bits and pieces, including the sub bass compressor up here.

I've chosen a few different elements to feed off that sidechain kick, just to give the whole track a bit more of a pulsating, modern sound.

Conclusion

Overall, this technique of sidechain compression serves as a powerful tool for achieving a cohesive and rhythmic flow in modern music tracks.