sidechain bass and kick thing....

[sadworld]

i was reading some other threads about this trick (sidechain the bass to be compressed on each kick drum hit) and would like to try it but wondered if it would be worth it since the only compressor with a sidechain input i have is my behringer composer.... and i know that's not a popular piece around here. so i guess here it is... would the benefits of this technique out weigh the negatives of having the composer in the chain?

[Jules]

I used that model for (only) that task for about 3 years solid.

Tip 1 - you may need to have the trigger input plug pulled half out to get it to work... I had to do this at a lot of studios I worked at.. something to do with ring tip sleve / balanced watever...

Plug the kick right into it OR take the trigger feed from a send - then you can dial in toms / snare / vocals whatever...

On the composeer you want the fast action setting - NOT the soft knee - try between 9:1 / 20:1 ratio

Fast attack fast release..

Tip 2 - Also set up a duplicate buss of uncompressed gtrs - this means the whole gtr signal doesnt travel through the Behringer...

Bus 1 Normal gtr
Bus 2 Compressed gtrs

[sadworld]

i regret to have to ask this but could you get a little more specific about the hookup? i tried this and i guess i can't figure out how to "feed" the compressors key inputs.... i have the bass and the guitars on 2 sub groups (so to keep left and right guitars) and i have the subs compressed by inserting the left channel of my composer into the left subgroup and the right to the right (my console is a soundcraft ghost) i know i have to feed those key inputs with the kick but how? the things i've tried so far ends up with the sub mix in my kick channel?? thanks....

[Jules]

Pop the normal L & R i/o across the stereo gtr group.

Then feed the kick signal into one of the TWO extra sidechain input sockets on the left channel.. (TRY EACH ONE)

Have the middle STEREO button engauged

Then mess around with the controls on the front untill you get the compressor to work on both sides triggered by the kick signal.

dont for get to try my half out jack plug trick above - ALSO try using a STEREO jack going in with the trigger..

keep at it... you will get there..

[sadworld]

got it now, thanks... also since it sounds like you don't use the behringer anymore, what compressor do you recomend that has sidechain/de-essing capability....

one more... what is your snare mic on the recording you posted, i liked it.... (ya, i know there are a lot of other variables)

[chriscavell]

The effect is commonly referred to as ducking. It's the exact same principle that a de-esser uses...except you eq the signal going to the sidechain so that the sibilance is exaggerated therefore triggering compression on the esses (a de-esser has all the splitting, eq, and routing built-in to a single box). Look into how de-essers work and maybe search with "bass ducking".

[Jules]

Glad its up and running for you!

That was a Sm57 on snare

I use Sony compression within Pro Tools now
Waves De-essers also