One of the biggest mastering problems for modern music involves consistency. You’ll get to a place where one part of the track has a fantastic mix, but other sections of it feel muddy or overcrowded because you’ve included more textures.
The fastest way to solve this issue is to use sidechaining. This compressor works to ensure that a specific instrument receives attention relative to the others in the mix. It also allows you to create music from non-instrument sounds.
What is sidechaining ? 🎧
Sidechaining is one of the most powerful and versatile tools in modern music production, used to make space in your mix and enhance the clarity of individual elements. Essentially, sidechaining is a technique where an effect is triggered by another audio track in your session. When applied correctly, it ensures that specific elements (such as bass, vocals, or synths) get the necessary attention in the mix without clashing with other sounds. This process is commonly used across various genres, from EDM to pop, rock, and hip-hop, to help balance the dynamics of a song.
How Does Sidechaining Work ? 🎚️
Sidechaining involves using the audio from one track to affect the dynamics of another. The most common application is using a compressor, where the compressor is triggered by an external sound, often the kick drum or snare, to lower the volume of a track (such as the bass or synths) when that external sound plays. The process is set to a specific threshold, meaning the compressor will only activate when the input signal exceeds a certain volume. This creates a “pumping” effect or a rhythmic fluctuation in the volume of the track being sidechained.
One of the most well-known uses of sidechaining is in dance music, where the bassline or other elements are “ducked” in volume in sync with the kick drum to create space for the low end. The result is a cleaner, more dynamic mix with clear separation between elements.
Why Should You Use Sidechaining ? 🎵
Clearing the Mix for Clarity 🌟
One of the most common issues when mixing busy tracks is that too many instruments occupy similar frequency ranges, creating a muddy sound. Instruments like bass, kick drums, synths, and vocals often share the same space in the low-mid and mid frequencies, making it difficult for each sound to shine.
Sidechaining is an effective way to clear space in your mix. By applying sidechain compression, you can make sure that the kick drum doesn’t get buried beneath the bass, or the vocals don’t clash with melodic elements like pads or strings. Sidechaining helps create dynamic separation and ensures that each element has its moment to be heard clearly.
Enhancing Rhythmic Movement 🎶
Another benefit of sidechaining is that it introduces a rhythmic effect to your track. Many producers use sidechaining in an artistic way to make the music “breathe,” especially in genres like EDM, where the volume of pads, basslines, or synths is altered in time with the beat, creating a pulsating effect. This technique not only helps clean up the mix but also adds energy to the track, creating an engaging and dynamic listening experience.
Practical Applications of Sidechaining 🎧
Kick Drum and Bassline 🔊
Sidechaining the bass to the kick drum is the most common application. Without sidechaining, the bass and kick will often compete for the same low-end frequencies, resulting in a cluttered and imbalanced mix. By sidechaining the bass to the kick, the bass volume is reduced every time the kick drum hits, creating more room for the kick while maintaining the presence of the bass in the mix. This allows both elements to stand out without muddling the low-end space.
Vocals and Other Elements 🎤
In addition to bass and drums, sidechaining can also be used creatively with vocals and other instruments. For example, you could sidechain a reverb or delay effect to your main vocal, ensuring that it only activates during the silent or less prominent sections of the track. This helps keep the vocals clear and upfront in the mix without excessive reverb muddling the clarity.
You can also use sidechaining for more artistic purposes, such as applying it to non-instrument sounds like ambient noises or sampled vocals. By sidechaining these sounds to a rhythm section, you can create a rhythmic pattern that adds a unique layer to the track, creating a more immersive listening experience.
The Creative Side of Sidechaining 🎨
Sidechaining isn’t just a technical tool; it can be a source of creative expression. By experimenting with different sidechain settings and applying them to various elements in your track, you can craft distinctive sounds and add an extra layer of movement to your mix.
👉 Chopping up a pad : If you sidechain a pad to the kick or snare, you can make it rhythmically “pulse” in time with the beat, creating a dynamic texture that adds excitement to the track.
👉 Percussive and atmospheric elements : Sidechaining can also be used to manipulate percussive sounds or even non-musical elements like field recordings or spoken word samples, turning them into rhythmically active parts of the track.
By creatively using sidechaining, producers can not only clean up a busy mix but also introduce an element of playfulness and experimentation into their compositions.
When to Avoid Overuse of Sidechaining 🚫
While sidechaining is a powerful tool, overusing it can lead to undesirable results. Applying sidechain compression too aggressively or too frequently can make your track sound unnatural or overly mechanical, causing elements to lose their organic feel. If every single element is constantly ducking in time with the kick drum, the “pumping” effect may overwhelm the listener and diminish the track’s impact.
The key is to use sidechaining sparingly and purposefully, ensuring that each instance enhances the overall sound without compromising the natural dynamics of the track.
How to Implement Sidechaining Effectively 💡
To implement sidechaining properly in your mix, follow these steps:
👉 Insert a compressor on the track you want to sidechain (usually bass, pads, or vocals).
👉 Set the trigger track—this could be the kick drum or any other element you want to control the volume of the sidechained track.
👉 Adjust the threshold so the compressor only activates when the triggering track exceeds a certain volume.
👉 Set the attack and release settings for the compressor to fine-tune the amount of time the compression is applied and how quickly it recovers.
👉 Experiment with ratio settings to adjust how much compression is applied during sidechaining.
Most DAWs and plugins offer sidechain-specific options built into their compressors, and some even have dedicated “sidechain” buttons, making it easier to implement this technique.
Final Thoughts on Sidechaining 🎶
Sidechaining is an essential technique in modern music production, offering numerous benefits, from improving the clarity of your mix to adding unique rhythmic effects. Whether you’re aiming to create more space in your track or experimenting with new creative ideas, sidechaining can help you achieve a more polished and professional sound.
Remember to use it with intention and moderation, and you’ll soon realize how powerful this technique can be for taking your mix to the next level. With some practice and experimentation, sidechaining can become one of the most valuable tools in your production toolkit.
