How to use side chain to tighten up with drummer

Foamy · #1 03-13-2009, 06:53 PM

I thought I read here about this, but I cannot seem to find the article - so it may be my imagination.

I have read a lot of posts on using the side chain of a compressor for ducking. But I thought there were some tips on setting your compressor to take a kick-drum signal into your compressor side chain to make the kick and bass "seem" better in sync.

What would the theory be? Not looking for exact settings, but what "type" of settings?

Thanks!

megadan · #2 03-13-2009, 07:32 PM

From what I understand, you duck the bass and let it rise up with the kick. Kind of the opposite of classic ducking (letting a vocal bring down whatever). I'm not sure how it works to reverse it.

This is definitely a studio technique, and I think you'd be better served using a gate for this, side chained to kick.

I'm not really sure, I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I will chime in with more info.

18eranaRic · #3 03-13-2009, 07:39 PM

i've heard of using a noise gate trigger that allows the bass guitar to "show" when the kick gets hit for however long you choose, that being the decay back to a closed (or silent) gate. Run the bass drum trigger through a bus on the board, engaging it on the bass guitar track.

dannybuoy · #4 03-13-2009, 08:03 PM

I thought you send a kick drum mic to the sidechain input of the bass compressor, to duck the bass when the kick drum hits so you're not fighting over the same frequency range.

megadan · #5 03-13-2009, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

I thought you send a kick drum mic to the sidechain input of the bass compressor, to duck the bass when the kick drum hits so you're not fighting over the same frequency range.

I think this is a thing, but not the thing that the OP is talking about. There are two different techniques. The one you mention makes more sense technically, but it's not of much practical value, since if you want tight bass, you'll be locked with the kick, so you'll be getting booted down all the time!

Might be a better technique for metal or 8th note rock.

I'm thinking that the OP's technique works better with a gate.

bongomania · #6 03-13-2009, 08:21 PM

Right, both ways of looking at the problem, for different purposes. What you do for syncing up better is run the drum track into the sidechain of a gate, and run the bass into the audio input of the gate. That way the gate opens and closes based on the drum signal, and what it opens and closes on is the bass.

kevteop · #7 03-13-2009, 08:33 PM

FTR this works well with filters too - stick a drum track (bass or hi-hats) into the key input and it's all on.

Foamy · #8 03-13-2009, 11:51 PM

All, thanks. This is exactly what I was looking for - a lot of good idea with which to play! Thanks!