Music Lesson: Enhancing Chords and Percussion

Okay, so next up, then, we've got our chords. Here's how we can enhance them:

Setting Up Reverb

1. Cycle Over the Chords
   I'm going to come over to the chords section and cycle it like so.

2. Creating a Return Track

   • I want to think about some of the effects to add here.
   • I'll set up a return track (auxiliary track) and place the reverb on it.

3. Loading the Reverb
   Let's load up a reverb.

   • Set the dry/wet to 100% wet because I'm going to control the amount of reverb via the send dial.

Note: When setting up a return channel, we need to use the send to send the signal to that return track.

1. Adjusting Reverb Level
   I might have added just a little bit too much reverb, so I'm going to take the amount down a little bit here.

Enhancing Percussion

• I'm feeling that the percussion chugs along, but rhythmically, it could be more interesting.
• So, I'm going to load up the ping pong delay onto this percussion track.
• Already, I'm starting to get a little bit more rhythmic interest here.

EQ for Chords

• The chords haven't received any EQ treatment yet, which is quite important.
• I want to make room for the bass, kick, and other low-frequency elements.
• So, let's apply a low cut EQ like so.

Creating a Pumping Effect

The next thing I'd like to do is create a pumping (ducking) effect on my chords using the kick.

1. Loading a Compressor
   • On my chord track, I'm going to load up a compressor.
   • I'm switching on the sidechain input.

Having everything labeled really helps here.

1. Setting the Sidechain Input

   • I can come into the input now and set it to receive input from the kicks.

2. Adjusting the Threshold

   • What will happen now is when I lower the threshold, the kicks will come through and duck the chords when they trigger.

3. Applying the Same to the Bassline

   • I might even set a little bit here on my baseline as well.
   • Again, just activate the sidechain input from the kicks channel.

Enhancing Claps

• I'm feeling that the claps just feel a little bit dead.
• Maybe they could have a sort of spatial element to them.

1. Loading Reverb for Claps
   • I'm going to load up a reverb and aim for a kind of small space for them to sit in.

Yeah, that's sounding better! Already a lot better.