User Manual

CHAPTER 21. LIVE AUDIO EFFECT REFERENCE 288
Mixing a Voiceover
Sidechaining is commonly used for so-called ducking effects. For example, imagine that
you have one track containing a voiceover and another track containing background music.
Since you want the voiceover to always be the loudest source in the mix, the background
music must get out of the way every time the narrator is speaking. To do this automatically,
insert a Compressor on the music track, but select the narration track's output as the external
sidechain source.
Sidechaining in Dance Music
Sidechaining/ducking is a dance music producer's secret weapon because it can help to
ensure that basslines (or even whole mixes) always make room for the kick drum. By
inserting a compressor on the bass (or master) track and using the kick drum's track as the
sidechain input, you can help to control problematic low frequencies that might interfere
with the kick drum's attack.
Using the sidechain EQ in conjunction with this technique can create ducking effects even if
you only have a mixed drum track to work with (as opposed to an isolated kick drum). In this
case, insert the Compressor on the track you want to duck. Then choose the drum track as
the external sidechain source. Then enable the sidechain EQ and select the lowpass lter.
By carefully adjusting the Frequency and Q settings, you should be able to isolate the kick
drum from the rest of the drum mix. Using the sidechain listen mode can help you tune the
EQ until you nd settings you're happy with.
Note that mastery of these techniques may result in a noticeable increase in drink tickets,
remix offers and dates.