![]() The main difference is that the sidechain options within the Pro-MB are accessed via the Pro-MB’s “Expert” menus. Setting up an external sidechain input signal within the Pro-MB is quite similar to setting up an external sidechain input signal within the Pro-C 2. Instead of compressing the entire frequency spectrum of a sound with a broadband compressor, you can choose to compress just the low-end, midrange, or top-end of a sound. Multiband compressors, like the FabFilter Pro-MB, allow you to set up external sidechain inputs as well. How to Apply Multiband Sidechain Compression Using FabFilter's Pro-MB Sidechain compression is a viable solution for many situations in which there are different elements competing for dominance within your mix. Maybe you want the background music of a podcast to reduce in level whenever someone speaks, or perhaps you want a snare to cut through a wall of guitars. You can use sidechain compression for much more than cleaning up the low-end of your mix. Drastic pumping effects can be achieved using a ratio of 10:1 or more.įigure 5: The FabFilter Pro-C 2, set up to apply sidechain compression. I usually find that using a ratio of 2:1 works well when subtlety is key, whereas a ratio of 4:1 works better for more aggressive applications. The ratio you use will determine how much compression is applied to your bass when your kick breaches the compressor’s threshold level. Use your ears to determine the release time that sounds appropriate for your mix. I like to start with a fast release time, and then increase the release time of my compressor until my kick is clear, punchy, and present. To create creative pumping effects that draw attention to themselves, use a slow release time. For a transparent form of compression, use a fast release time this is useful if you’re just trying to get the “click” of a kick to punch through your mix. The release time you should use depends on the effect you’re in pursuit of. You’re going to want to use a fast attack time (1-10 ms) to attenuate your bass as soon as your kick plays the faster you set the attack time, the faster the bass will duck out of the way. To start, disengage Auto Gain so that you’re able to make accurate A/B comparisons when you bypass the compressor. There are a few settings you should tweak to get the most out of your sidechain compressor. If you’re trying to prevent your bass from masking your kick, apply the compressor to your bass track.įigure 4: The "Ext" button within the sidechain section of FabFilter's Pro-C 2. Set Up an External InputĪpply a compressor like the FabFilter Pro-C 2 to the track that you want to apply gain reduction to. If you're using Cubase, Logic Pro, or Pro Tools, you can use this guide to set up an external input once you've done this, skip ahead to Step 2. ![]() In Ableton, it’s a rather straightforward 3-step process that's quite similar to how you would apply sidechain compression using stock Ableton effects. The way you go about routing audio into the FabFilter Pro C-2's external sidechain input will vary slightly depending on the DAW you’re using. How to Set Up FabFilter's Pro-C 2 to Apply Sidechain Compression Just like a compressor being used normally, a compressor responding to an external sidechain input signal will still compress the track you applied the compressor to. To be clear, compression is not applied to the sidechain input signal. ![]() When a compressor has its sidechain circuit engaged, the sidechain input signal trigger’s the compressor. ![]() If you apply a compressor to your bass track and set your kick track as the compressor’s sidechain input signal, the compressor will apply gain reduction to the bass track every time the kick plays.ĭon’t overthink this concept it’s as simple as it sounds. When you engage a compressor’s sidechain circuit and select another track in your DAW as the sidechain input signal, you tell the compressor to respond to the signal level of the other track, as opposed to the signal level of the track the compressor has been applied to. ![]() For example, if you apply a compressor to a vocal track, it will attenuate the level of the vocal when it gets too loud. Sidechain Compression ExplainedĪ compressor normally responds to the signal level of the track you’ve applied it to. New to the concept of compression? Get started with "The Ultimate Guide to Compression" to learn how a compressor works and discover the best compressors for music production and post-production work. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |