A Compressor Pedal w/Sidechain

[SpankthePlank]

I'm trying to achieve a Justice/Daft Punk style bass tone with my band. I'm looking for a compressor pedal that I can rig up with a dynamic mic to my drummers kick. This way when the drummer hits the kick, the bass drops and then swells. Do these types of pedals even exist? I've done some searching, and have found that the Empress, as well as the FEA Labs Opti-FET compression pedals have a sidechain feature, but I can't seem to find information on whether they have the capability to be linked to a kickdrum. Anyone know if these pedals can be hooked to a bassdrum, or of any other pedals that can do this?

Help!

 

[seansv]

The FEA sidechain features eq to cut to avoid pumping, a feature I'd like to see in more compressors. My suggestion in the DG thread was completely ignored, cool!) But anyway it also has a full loop for inserting other processors I think their thought is more in depth eq. This suggests to me that you could run a kick signal into the return of the loop to trigger the comp.

 

[jez79]

I've thought of doing exactly what you're talking about for Daft Punk-esque songs. Below are some thoughts about how you can succeed at this task.

I use an empress compressor for bass, and found this video researching on how to get the most out of it. The sidechain on this compressor (and any other sidechain compressor I assume) is designed to do exactly what you are describing

Here is empress effects explaining the use of sidechain on their compressor. I assume these basic ideas would apply to most compressors with sidechain, the only difference being how they're wired (ring/tip, etc).


I built a little high pass filter out of a stereo pancake jack as they suggest. I don't use strong compression, so I can hardly tell if it makes much of a difference, but I made it and it's in there!

So you just need to send a kick signal to the RETURN of the sidechain. This is the RING of a stereo jack plugged in their sidechain socket.

Use a cable like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/6in-1-4-1-4...bles_Snakes_Interconnects&hash=item2c86100835

You might need an ohmmeter/cabletester to see which female socket is TIP and which is RING, but that should be labeled on the cable.
You need to send the kick drum signal to the RING.

So, that's how to set the pedal up for sidechain/ducking.
Now how will you send a kick signal to that pedal?

I would suggest not sending any mic signal directly to the pedal using XLR-->1/4" cable (those should be illegal!). XLR signal coming out of a microphone is different than instrument signal going through your 1/4" patch cord. The compressor pedal will be looking for a 1/4" type (instrument level) signal, and would probably not 'hear' the XLR mic signal very well...

Best thing to do would be to get your sound guy to send you the kick signal from the board (sending it through FX send, or monitor or some other unused sending channel). Make sure they don't send you an amplified signal! (one destined for a passive speaker) Something out of FX send should be perfect. They should be able to send it to you via 1/4". Plug that into the RING socket of the adaptor cable (link above), and the kick will be talking to the compressor!

You'll probably have to get the soundguy to adjust the send level volume you're getting so that it operates properly.
I'm not sure if the compressor controls (input level indicators) default to the sidechain signal if something is plugged in there, so maybe the visual display won't help you dial it in and you'll have to use your ears.

Edit: you can use the red LEDs on the empress compressor to adjust the sidechain compression, that shows you how much gain reduction is going on, which is controlled by the sidechain when it's plugged in.

Hope this helps!

 

[bongomania]

If a dynamic mic doesn't send a strong enough signal by itself, through the hated XLR-TS cable, you can use a small mic pre like the ones made by Rolls, ART, Behringer, etc. Look for one that has an unbalanced output option.

 

[SpankthePlank]

Thank you guys, especially jjclr. I think that's basically all i need to know, thanks!