What Is Sidechaining and How Does It Work?

What’s up everyone! Zach with another post. If you’re new to producing or mixing music, you’ve probably heard the term sidechaining tossed around, but what exactly does it mean? At its core, sidechaining in music is a production technique used to control how one sound interacts with another. While that may sound simple, when used correctly, sidechaining can be the difference between a muddy track and one that punches through with clarity and balance.

In this article, we’ll explore how sidechaining in music works, common ways it’s used, and why it’s an essential tool in every producer’s toolkit. Another tool that is crucial for bringing clarity to a mix is EQ. Fear not, I have an article explaining some popular EQ techniques here!

What is Sidechaining?

Sidechaining is a technique that allows one signal to control how another sound behaves. It’s most commonly associated with compression, where a compressor is triggered by one sound to affect the volume of another. This process creates space in the mix, making the “sidechained” sound duck, or lower in volume, when the other sound is present. It’s an awesome way to ensure that key elements in your music, such as vocals or bass, can shine without being muddied up by competing frequencies.

A classic example is the way sidechaining is used in dance music. Think of those pulsing, thumping bass lines that seem to ebb and flow with the kick drum. That effect is created by sidechaining the bass to the kick. Every time the kick hits, the bass momentarily ducks, allowing the kick to cut through the mix. In some genres it’s very exaggerated and really helps to illustrate what exactly sidechaining does.

How Does Sidechaining in Music Work?

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive deeper into how sidechaining works. Essentially, when you apply sidechaining in music, you’re using a “trigger” sound to tell a compressor (or other processor) when to react. This trigger sound—often a kick drum or snare—is routed to the sidechain input of the compressor. Whenever this sound plays, the compressor lowers the volume of the track it’s applied to.

Let’s break it down with a typical example:

1. Choose a trigger sound: Most commonly, you’ll use a kick drum, but any rhythmic or prominent sound can be a trigger.
2. Set up the compressor: Apply a compressor to the track that you want to duck (such as a synth or bassline). Often this is a bass DI. You can learn more about that in this article!
3. Route the trigger to the sidechain input: Route your trigger sound, like the kick drum, to the compressor’s sidechain input.
4. Adjust the settings: Tweak the attack, release, threshold, and ratio settings on the compressor to achieve the desired effect. You can make the ducking subtle or more dramatic, depending on the vibe you’re going for.

The beauty of sidechaining in music is that it gives you precise control over the dynamics of your mix. It’s especially useful when multiple sounds occupy the same frequency range and you need to make one stand out more.

Common Uses of Sidechaining in Music

1. Sidechaining Bass to Kick Drum

This is one of the most well-known uses of sidechaining in music, particularly in electronic music genres like house, techno, and EDM. The goal here is to make sure the kick drum punches through the mix without clashing with the bass. By sidechaining the bass to the kick drum, you create a rhythmic “pumping” effect that also adds clarity and definition to the low end. This is also commonly used with a bass guitar and kick drum. If you’re looking for a high quality and FREE drum plugin, take a look at this article here!

2. Sidechaining Vocals to Instruments

In a dense mix, vocals can sometimes get buried under other instruments. Sidechaining the vocals to guitars or synths allows the vocal to cut through without overpowering the other elements. The result? A cleaner mix where the vocals sit prominently on top.

3. Creative Sidechaining Effects

Producers also use sidechaining to create interesting rhythmic or ambient effects. For example, you can sidechain a pad or reverb to a percussion element to create a sweeping or pulsing sound that reacts dynamically to the rhythm. This technique is widely used in genres like ambient, trap, and lo-fi music to add movement and texture to the mix.

Why Sidechaining in Music is Essential

Mixing music is all about balance. Every sound needs its own space to live and breathe, especially in more complex arrangements (like metal). When elements like kick, bass, vocals, and synths all share similar frequencies, it can lead to muddiness and a huge lack of impact. Sidechaining helps prevent that by giving each sound its moment to shine.

Here are a few reasons why sidechaining in music is a must-know technique:

• Creates clarity: Sidechaining allows important elements like kick drums and vocals to stand out in a mix without overpowering other instruments.
• Adds groove: The rhythmic “pumping” effect you get from sidechaining to a kick drum adds movement and energy, particularly in dance music.
• Enhances dynamics: By controlling the interaction between sounds, sidechaining helps you manage the overall dynamics of your track, leading to a more polished final mix.

Tips for Mastering Sidechaining in Music

• Adjust the attack and release: The attack and release settings on your compressor determine how quickly the sidechain effect kicks in and fades out. For a smooth pumping effect, use a fast attack and a slow release. For subtler effects, go for slower attack and faster release times.
• Don’t overdo it: While sidechaining can be a powerful tool, overusing it can make your mix sound unnatural or too “pumpy.” Use it sparingly and make sure it serves the overall mix.
• Try sidechaining other effects: Don’t just limit sidechaining to compression. You can also sidechain effects like reverb, delay, or even filters for more creative sound design.
• Learn more about compressors here!

Final Thoughts on Sidechaining in Music

Sidechaining in music is more than just a cool effect—it’s a critical tool for creating balanced, professional-sounding mixes. Whether you’re producing EDM, hip-hop, rock, or even more experimental genres, learning how to sidechain effectively will give you greater control over your sound.

It’s all about making space for each element in your mix, so nothing gets lost or overpowered. With sidechaining, your music can breathe, flow, and hit harder than ever before.

So next time you’re stuck trying to figure out why your mix sounds cluttered, give sidechaining a try. You might just unlock the secret to a cleaner, more dynamic track!