To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Electronic Music Production // Dark Arts
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Críoch
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To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by Críoch »

I sometimes make loops on the laptop, which only has Live Intro on it. You are pretty limited to how many FX you can use, so you have to choose wisely. Its pretty cool to be limited actually.

I will go so far as to say that I prefer the stuff I make on the Laptop, than the music I make when I'm down in the room on the Mac with unlimited options available to me.

The main difference I is that I dont sidechain as much when I'm on the Laptop, cos I dont want to waste FX. I'll sidechain a bass of course.. but everything else is doing its own thing. The whole thing sounds looser & better IMO.

On the Mac - I'll sidechain the fk out of everything. I'm thinking that might not be a good thing. I'm thinking now that everything shouldnt be sidechained for the sake of it. Just the bottom / heavier aspects of the groove.

Just wonder if anyone has any rules as to what they dont sidechain & why? I like it & will continue to use it - but I think I'm gonna park it a bit to let other elements take a breath.
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JamieinNC
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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by JamieinNC »

Depends upon the reasoning for side-chaining in the first place.

Most of the time people side chain because everyone else does it and they feel like they should be doing it even if there's no good reason. As long as there is a specific need for it, it's ok. For example, today I was working on the track for the video series and made a few audio files from an instrument to go behind the main lead sound. On the resulting audio clips, there were some hits that occur during the main sound, so I simply side-chained a compressor to the lead and it bumped the audio out the the way. Easy. A lot easier, in fact, than trying to remove the unwanted audio using automation.

Like I always say, as long as the technique is used for a reason, it's legitimate.

J

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Críoch
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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by Críoch »

Yeah, I've done that in the past - ducking something out like that.

I think I've just got into a bad habit :)
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sam
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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by sam »

If I have a reason to I do but at the moment I hardly sidechain anything. With kick / bass I've been trying to use envelopes and note lengths to make them play nice instead of forcing them to behave with side chain. For the rest I try and use velocity so the grooves are built into the patterns and stand alone. Disclaimer tho, my tracks are pretty bad.

I was listening to this Mike Finesse track last night (on laptop speakers!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCTNz6CAePg

When the main stabby synth bit comes in it sounds like it's ducking some of the hats out and it's amazingly effective. It gives another very funky dimension to the groove. I think the rest of the track supports it but still, if it is sidechain it's very well executed.

But yeah, like Jamie says, if there's a reason and if it sounds good then why not. I think it's better for me to have too much going on and then cut things back to their essence rather than not have enough.

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Post by Críoch »

Your tracks arnt bad Sam, c'mon ffs :)

i'm thinking the same, its like theres 2different people makn tunes here.

+1 on the placement. Thats what i'm forced to do with limited resources. In college atm but wil listen to that later
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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by Mslwte »

One thing I don't like is heavily side chained bass. So electro house. Fk that!

I do side chain my bass of course but only lightly. I actually prefer a heavier/muddier sound down there ;) but that's me lol

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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by core2 »

i sidechain everything baby. keep that shit pumpin
core

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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by NomadSpectrum »

I like to sometimes side chain my long fx to a silent Porc loop - get some fun results

I always tend to sidechain my subs too

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Ant
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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by Ant »

Or a sidechain gate can be good like this too.
NomadSpectrum wrote:I like to sometimes side chain my long fx to a silent Porc loop - get some fun results

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Críoch
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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by Críoch »

or heres another one.. similar to the pattern / gate..

Just have a long note from a (silent) synth.. 1/2 a bar or whatever you want.. have that triggering the sidechain, so it rises up, then down.. and so on. Sounds cool & less busy than a "full" pattern.

Its ducking really.

Sounds good with 2 elements playing call & response too.
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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by Synesthesia »

Do it man ;) just don't abuse it ;)
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Re: To Sidechain or not to Sidechain.

Post by Mslwte »

Cool tip icn !
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