I am trying to figure out the best way to set up a sidechain for a compressor (or envelop follower) to respond to the audio of a drum track. I want to control the volume of a synth pad with the dynamics of the drum track.
This is a killer technique that I would love to start using but don't know where to begin? Anyone have a workflow? Which plugins do I need?
It seems that this should be easier in Live than most hosts due to its flexible routing.
Thanks
Live 4 - Audio ducking/sidechaining compressor technique?
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- KVRAF
- 2740 posts since 15 Apr, 2004 from Capital City, UK
http://www.kvraudio.com/get/1315.html
this is a great free side chain compresser I often use in Live.
put it in ReturnA, pads in track 1 set to 'send only' and up sendA to full (channels 1/2 of the compressor). Drums on track 2, set the output to ReturnA, and the output will automatically go to the only other pair of inputs, the side chain (3/4). now the drums and the pads are both going through the stereo compressor, with the drums feeding the sidechain of the compressor and also not audible.
to hear the drums, turn sendB up on the drum track and hear it through ReturnB.
the mono version is used a little differently - you can only feed it two mono signals, one left and one right. set the track outs to the same return as the mono sidechainable compressor but pan them left and right. and unless I'm mistaken, the left signal will be compressed by the right signal - so in your case, pads to the left, drums to the right.
and if I'm wrong on that last one, it can only be the other way round.
sidechains rock
-----------------------------------
edit:
just re-read it, and perhaps you might need a sidechainable expander. a compressor will only drop the volume according to the input, not increase it.
I imagine, if you have Reaktor, someone could cobble one together if one doesn't already exist in software form, maybe I'll have a go myself. perhaps the synthedit folk will rustle one up for beer or a toke or something..
this is a great free side chain compresser I often use in Live.
put it in ReturnA, pads in track 1 set to 'send only' and up sendA to full (channels 1/2 of the compressor). Drums on track 2, set the output to ReturnA, and the output will automatically go to the only other pair of inputs, the side chain (3/4). now the drums and the pads are both going through the stereo compressor, with the drums feeding the sidechain of the compressor and also not audible.
to hear the drums, turn sendB up on the drum track and hear it through ReturnB.
the mono version is used a little differently - you can only feed it two mono signals, one left and one right. set the track outs to the same return as the mono sidechainable compressor but pan them left and right. and unless I'm mistaken, the left signal will be compressed by the right signal - so in your case, pads to the left, drums to the right.
and if I'm wrong on that last one, it can only be the other way round.
sidechains rock
-----------------------------------
edit:
just re-read it, and perhaps you might need a sidechainable expander. a compressor will only drop the volume according to the input, not increase it.
I imagine, if you have Reaktor, someone could cobble one together if one doesn't already exist in software form, maybe I'll have a go myself. perhaps the synthedit folk will rustle one up for beer or a toke or something..