Sidechain compression

Sidechain compression is an excellent mixing tool and in this tutorial we pick apart this essential process

Most commonly associated with the kick-driven, audible pumping effect that's become popular in club music, sidechain compression can be a very useful tool that adds energy and space to individual sounds, submixes and mixes while keeping things punchy. It can be used in many different ways and so we'll be splitting the topic across more than one tutorial.

From a technical perspective, sidechain compression typically means the use of an external input to control the compressor, and this can be a sound that's part of the mix or a specially created key. Sidechaining has its roots in analogue processing and a small number of hardware compressors that incorporate an external sidechain input. This extra flexibility allows all manner of outcomes including frequency-specific compression if you parallel and filter your source signal. It also allows the more creatively minded to achieve more extreme pumping effects that are popular in house, EDM, trance and beyond.

Many DAWs include immense routing flexibility, with multiple busses and precise automation. This allows us to deliver highly finessed and creative sidechain compression treatments. Nevertheless, the core technique remains basically the same.

In this tutorial we'll be focusing on the classic club effect, showing you various ways to get set up and how we can use sidechain compression. We'll even throw in an alternative way to get a similar effect - check out the Pro Tip.

There are various ways we can set up sidechain compression, so let’s start with the most basic. We have a simple house track with a number of bass, pad, string and loop components in addition to the main beats – kick, hi-hats, crash and so on – but you can apply the same technique to many styles.