Side-chain compression and exporting

[irpacynot]

I just wanted to confirm something. Since my PC is pretty old and chugs under the pressure of turning on the frequency compressors in TDR Nova, I am tending these days to want to milk every ounce of CPU I can by processing tracks in groups. For instance, EQing, compressing, perhaps using Nectar over something, and then export that track and bring it back in to use fresh without any need for more plugins. Makes easier for me to mix.

Just want to be sure that if I'm sidechaining, say the low frequencies and export just that selected track that that compression is being recorded in the export, therefore the ducking can be heard in the newly imported track.

Thanks

[dysjoint]

Did you figure this out? You can definitely do it the main problem will be making sure the sidechain key track is active/being processed during the export /render process.

If it's not working you can temporarily send the track that's feeding the sidechain to the same bus that you're exporting, mute it but make sure that in settings you have "process audio tracks when muted' turned on.

I can't try it out atm, and not sure if the latest version handles things differently, but that's one way that has worked for me.

[irpacynot]

Did you figure this out? You can definitely do it the main problem will be making sure the sidechain key track is active/being processed during the export /render process.

If it's not working you can temporarily send the track that's feeding the sidechain to the same bus that you're exporting, mute it but make sure that in settings you have "process audio tracks when muted' turned on.

I can't try it out atm, and not sure if the latest version handles things differently, but that's one way that has worked for me.

Well...that's the thing. To be honest, I only trust my ears to a certain degree. It's so hard after you're listening to the same tune over and over while you're mixing, and especially when it's something more on the subtle side, such as moving certain frequencies out of the way of other instruments.

I have, though, been, as you suggest, exporting them while the other tracks are unmuted, using the option "selected tracks only." Hopefully, it's working. Again, I'm not sure how well I trust my own ears. When it pertains to my own music and playing, it's harder for me, I think, to be as objective as I'd like.

[dysjoint]

I would create a new project, throw in a white noise file and a kick loop and set extreme side chain compression or ducking with the kick as the side chain input. Use the same routings or buses or however you normally set things up with instruments. Then render/export the noise track it should be easy to hear if it's working. You should even be able to see it in the rendered noise file.

[irpacynot]

I would create a new project, throw in a white noise file and a kick loop and set extreme side chain compression or ducking with the kick as the side chain input. Use the same routings or buses or however you normally set things up with instruments. Then render/export the noise track it should be easy to hear if it's working. You should even be able to see it in the rendered noise file.

Excellent idea! Many thanks. Will report back (might take me a bit to negotiate that -- I ain't the brightest light in the house )

[dysjoint]

I had a quick play around and I would say the way you described is Not working. I highly recommend trying that test method I suggested. You don't even need to complete the render, you can see from the render preview if it is working or not and cancel.
As I saw it, choosing 'selected tracks only' will ignore completely the sidechain input track if it is not padding through the selected tracks output.

[irpacynot]

I had a quick play around and I would say the way you described is Not working. I highly recommend trying that test method I suggested. You don't even need to complete the render, you can see from the render preview if it is working or not and cancel.
As I saw it, choosing 'selected tracks only' will ignore completely the sidechain input track if it is not padding through the selected tracks output.

Ah, kinda had a feeling that was the case.

Well, since I'm just using the Waveform stock compressors to sidechain most of the time, they use little CPU. So, I'll just disable them when exporting single tracks, and reattach the compressor to the track when I import it back in.

Thank you for helping.