Sidechaining

 

See:

What is sidechaining?

Why use sidechaining

Common use cases

Compression sidechaining

Limiting the number of plug-in sidechain inputs

Sidechaining signal flow

To assign a track/bus/send output to a sidechain input

To assign a sidechain input source to a VST plug-in

To assign sidechain inputs to VST instruments in the Synth Rack

Bouncing audio with sidechain plug-ins

Freeze and sidechain inputs

What is sidechaining?

Sidechaining is an audio production technique that typically involves using a send on one track/bus to control an effect on another track/bus. This facilitates processes such as keying and ducking.

Many plug-ins feature an optional side-chain input, which is separate from the plug-in’s main input. The side-chain input allows the plug-in to accept an alternative input signal to trigger the effect processor other than the plug-in’s parent track/bus.

Although the sidechain plug-in is being triggered by another source, the effect processing is still applied to the main audio signal. A common use case is to add compression on a bass sound during kick drum hits.

Sonar supports multi-input plug-ins, which are typically sidechain plug-ins that have two inputs: a primary input and a sidechain input.

When Sonar detects such a plug-in in an FX Rack, a virtual output port is created for each extra input exposed by the plug-in. Audio track, Bus and Send outputs can be routed to sidechain inputs.

Sidechaining is typically used with compressors to limit one signal depending on the signal level of another. Common applications are to reduce the level of a bass guitar when there is a kick drum, or to reduce the level of music whenever a speaker talks (often used for background music in radio- and television programs). There are of course many more applications that are not mentioned here.

Sonar includes the following plug-ins that support sidechaining:

Sonitus Compressor

Sonitus Gate

In addition, ProChannel supports sidechaining when using the PC4K S-Type Bus Compressor mode. For details, see ProChannel and PC4K S-Type Bus Compressor module.

Why use sidechaining

Sidechaining can be used in many creative ways, but the most common use is for sidechain compression when mixing two signals that occupy a similar frequency range such as a kick drum and a bass signal. By inserting a sidechain-compatible compressor plug-in on the bass track, you can send the kick drum signal to the plug-in’s sidechain input in order to duck the bass track whenever there is a kick drum hit. This allows the kick drum to sit better in the mix without betting buried by the bass track, and without having to use EQ to remove some of the bass frequencies.

Common use cases

There are many areas where you can apply sidechaining. Below are some ideas:

Duck basses to kick drums. Is the Bass track drowning out the Kick Drum track? Duck basses to kick drums by sending the kick drum to the sidechain input of the bass compressor.

Duck drum overheads or cymbals to the snare. Are the drum overheads (or cymbals) overwhelming the snare? Put a sidechain compressor on the drum overheads (or cymbal) track, then send the Snare to the sidechain input. Tip: If there is significant kick drum bleed in the close-miced snare signal, use a high-pass filter on the sidechain to minimize it.

Make guitars more mellow during vocals. Are bright guitars covering up the lead vocal? Add a sidechain dynamic EQ or multiband compressor on the guitar track and set it to subtly turn down or compress the frequency range where the vocal is present and bright. Send the vocal track to the sidechain input.

Duck reverb when vocalist sings. If you want the reverb to be quieter when the vocalist sings, and come back to normal level when the singer stops, send the vocal track to the sidechain reverb.

‘80s gated snare reverb. This technique combines a reverb and noise gate that cuts the tail of the reverb. This results in a punchy and powerful snare hit, while keeping the overall drum mix clean and transparent. Set up a reverb plug-in on a separate bus, and insert a sidechain gate directly after the reverb plug-in. Send the snare track to the reverb channel and to the sidechain input of the gate. Each snare hit will trigger the reverb, and the gate will stop the reverb (abruptly or gently, depending on the gate settings).

Create rhythmic pulses and chopped-up stutter effects on sustained sounds. This effect is often used in electronica music production. Sidechain a drum loop to a sustained source, such as pads or strings. Put a sidechain gate plug-in on the pads/string track, and send the drum loop track to the sidechain input. Each drum hit will trigger the gate so the sustained pad/string source is heard, and between drum hits the source will be silenced. Experiment with the gate attack and release times to create rhythmic pulses or chopped-up stutter effects. This technique can be used with any instrument. For example, a rhythm guitar track cab be used to gate a keyboard pad, or a kick drum track can be used to trigger gating of a bass track to tighten it up, etc.

Compression sidechaining

Sidechain compression is when the level of one instrument or sound triggers a compressor to control the level of another sound.

This technique is commonly used when mixing two signals that occupy a similar frequency range such as a kick drum and a bass signal. A compressor is placed on the bass track so when there's a kick drum hit, the bass level drops to create room for the kick.

Another example is when a radio DJ or podcaster is talking over some background music. Whenever the DJ speaks, a sidechain compressor/limiter on the music background channel automatically lowers the level of the music so it doesn’t interfere with the talking. When they are finished talking, the silence on the voice channel deactivates the compressor/limiter on the music channel and it once again becomes louder in the mix.

By using sidechain compression, you can ensure that specific instruments cut through a mix at all times and will never be drowned out when other instruments in a mix get louder.

Limiting the number of plug-in sidechain inputs

By default, a multi-channel VST plug-in always exposes the maximum number of input channels it supports.

You can limit the number of sidechain inputs that Sonar displays for any given VST plug-in. This is useful if you don’t need to use all the input channels and you want to limit the number of audio input channels that are displayed in Sonar.

To limit the number of sidechain inputs

1.	On the Utilities menu, click Cakewalk Plug-in Manager to open the Cakewalk Plug-in Manager.

2.	In the Plug-in Categories list, select VST Audio Effects (VST).

3.	In the Registered Plug-ins list, select the desired plug-in.

4.	Under VST Configuration, click Plug-in Properties to open the VST Plug-in Properties dialog box.

5.	In the Max used inputs box, specify the max number of inputs you want to use for the plug-in.

Note: The default value is the maximum number of mono input channels as exposed by the plug-in. The valid range is from 2 to the maximum number of channels exposed by the plug-in. With a value of 2, Sonar will not display any sidechain inputs for the plug-in. With a value of 4, Sonar will display 1 stereo sidechain input, etc.

Sidechaining signal flow

See also:

Signal flow

To assign a track/bus/send output to a sidechain input

1.	Insert the sidechain-capable plug-in in a track or bus FX Rack (see Adding effects).

The sidechain input is exposed in the list of available output destinations in all Track/Bus/Send Output controls (except for outputs that would result in a feedback loop).

2.	Assign the desired audio track, bus or Send output to the plug-in’s sidechain input. For more information, see Assigning Inputs & Outputs.

There are two ways to route an audio signal to a plug-in’s side-chain input:

To only process the source signal through the plug-in, assign the source track’s output to the side-chain input.

The sidechain connection must be made from the source track.

To use both the original clean audio signal and the signal processed by the plug-in, route a send to the plug-in side-chain.

The sidechain connection can be made from the target plug-in or from the source track.

Note: All sources that are sent to a sidechain input will be mixed down prior to being sent to the sidechain.

Sidechain plug-ins in clip FX Racks and surround bus FX Racks:

Sidechain inputs are not exposed by plug-ins that are inserted in clip FX Racks and surround bus FX Racks. You can insert any multi-input plug-in into a clip FX Rack or surround bus FX Rack, but the sidechain inputs on these plug-ins will not be active. The plug-in will function as a normal plug-in and only receive input on its primary input.

To assign a sidechain input source to a VST plug-in

You can assign sidechain connections to a plug-in or instrument directly from the effect view toolbar, without having to return to the source track(s) in the Track view or Console view.

1.	Insert the sidechain-capable plug-in in a track or bus FX Rack (see Adding effects).

2.	Open the VST plug-in’s property page.

3.	Do one of the following:

Click the VST2/VST3 drop-down menu in the VST plug-in toolbar, point to Sidechain Sources, then select the desired input source.

The Sidechain Sources submenu is only shown for plug-ins or instruments that have a sidechain available.

Choosing a source creates a send from the chosen track/bus source to the instrument's sidechain input.

Choosing a checked menu item removes that send to the instrument sidechain.

Note: Up to 25 sidechain sources are listed in the Sidechain Sources submenu. If more than 25 sources are available, only connected sources will be shown. To access all available sidechain sources, select Manage Sources to open the Manage Sidechain Sources dialog box.

A. Sidechain Sources menu B. Open Manage Sidechain Sources dialog box 

Click the Sidechain Sources button to open the Manage Sidechain Sources dialog box, which facilitates the sidechain send management across multiple sources types (i.e. track, aux, bus).

The Sidechain Sources button is only shown for sidechain capable plug-ins or instruments.

The Sidechain Sources button will highlight to show when a plug-in sidechain input has something routed to it.

Selecting a source creates a send from the chosen source to the plug-in's sidechain input.

Deselecting an item deletes the send.

The Send Settings are applied to newly added sends and will also modify any existing sends if changes are made to the settings.

The Follow Track Pan setting will be applied but only affects playback when a send is a Post Fader send.

Show These Sources lets you filter which source types are displayed in the list. Any changes to send settings are applied to all items, not just to the currently shown items.

Double-click the Send Level slider to reset to 0 dB, or click the slider, then press F2 to type a dB value.

For details, see Manage Sidechain Sources dialog.

Figure 409. Manage Sidechain Sources dialog box.

 

Note: Only sends can be added from the Manage Sidechain Sources dialog box, although Sonar also supports directly connecting a track or bus output to a sidechain.

You can also assign sidechain connections to a supported ProChannel modules (such as PC4K S-Type Bus Compressor) by right-clicking the module header and pointing to Sidechain Sources.

To assign sidechain inputs to VST instruments in the Synth Rack

In addition sidechaining plug-ins that are inserted into an FX Rack, you can also sidechain sidechain-capable VST instruments in the Synth Rack.

To specify the sidechain input for a VST instrument:

1.	Open the VST instrument's property page (see Opening a soft synth’s property page).

2.	Click the VST2/VST3 drop-down menu in the VST plug-in toolbar, point to Sidechain Sources, then select the desired input source:

Choosing a source creates a send from the chosen track/bus source to the instrument's sidechain input

Choosing a checked menu item removes that send to the instrument sidechain

 

See:

Synth Rack

Bouncing audio with sidechain plug-ins

In order to render a sidechain input as part of a mix when bouncing audio, you must select all tracks that contribute to the sidechain input.

 

See:

Real-time bounce

Bouncing/freezing with sidechain plug-ins

Bouncing audio with sidechain plug-ins

Bouncing tracks

Bouncing to clips

Freeze and sidechain inputs

Freeze does not consider sidechain inputs because Freeze only works on a single audio track at a time. To mix down sidechain inputs, use standard bounce with all sidechain sources selected in the mix.

 

See:

Bouncing/freezing with sidechain plug-ins

Freeze and sidechain inputs

Freeze tracks and synths

Bouncing tracks

Bouncing to clips