What is Sidechain?
Also called: sidechain compression, ducking
Sidechaining is using one audio signal to control a processor on another. The most common form is sidechain compression, where a kick drum makes a compressor briefly turn down the bass or pads so the kick cuts through.
A compressor normally reacts to the level of the sound it is processing. With a sidechain input, it listens to a different source instead. Every time the trigger sound plays, the processed sound is pushed down and then recovers, at a speed set by the attack and release.
Used gently, sidechaining clears space so the kick and bass do not fight over the same low frequencies. Used heavily, it creates the rhythmic pumping effect heard in a lot of dance music. A similar idea, called ducking, lowers music automatically whenever a voice speaks in podcasts and videos.
Sidechain inputs are also used on gates, EQs and other processors, not only on compressors.
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