Sidestep modulation and automation, and give your sounds a fresh jolt by making one jump to the beat of another
Regular readers and experienced producers will be familiar with the concept of sidechaining, the most common use of which is for sidechain compression. This is still an often used mixing technique in electronic music production. With sidechain compression, rather than the compressor processing an input signal based on that signal’s own dynamic characteristics, it processes it based on the dynamic characteristics of another signal – otherwise known as the ‘key’ input or sidechain. This key signal might be audible or silent, depending on whether it’s an existing element of the mix or generated solely to trigger the compressor.
Sidechaining isn’t only used for compression, though, and when you also consider that sidechaining is, in essence, a form of audio-controlled modulation, the creative possibilities begin to multiply. Compared to the relatively inflexible shapes generated by LFOs and envelopes, the modulation characteristics of audio-based sidechaining are practically limitless. Just one example would be generating precise rhythmic modulation using audio signals that change over time – modulating the modulators, if you will. And of course, any sound source is fair game; in fact, the less obvious the sidechain source, potentially the more interesting the results. You’ve probably sidechained a synth pad or bassline with a kick drum to impart a rhythmic feel, but why not try controlling an effects processor using your own voice in real time? Or how about synthesising a precise sound designed specifically to control an effect in exactly the way you want?
With this tutorial we aim to expand your creative sidechaining know-how, and we’re going to do it using the ‘hidden’ parameters of Ableton Live’s built-in effects. These walkthroughs will take you far beyond the typical volume pumping associated with sidechain compression as we experiment with filtering, delay, reverb and more to create complex and unique sounds.
Even if you don’t use Ableton Live, you can still draw ideas and inspiration from this tutorial. There are endless sidechainenabled plugins out there with which you can adapt and apply the techniques we’re about to show you to your DAW of choice.
Sidechain, meet synth
Generally, any change over time in a synth sound will come from its built-in modulation systems or an effects plugin. Many effects include LFOs for modulation, while most, if not all, of your synths will feature at least the standard array of envelopes and LFO waveforms – sine, square, sawtooth, etc. A wide range of results can be squeezed out of these standard modulators, but using them exclusively means you’re limiting yourself to the same tools that everyone else is also using. Wouldn’t you rather come up with
