Sidechaning confusion.

[D.Ipsum]

8 out 10 times its not working, or I can't hear it.

To hear it, I think it is necessary to use extreme values of compression ratio, a long release time, and a very short attack time.

That's why I am asking can you sidechain what ever sound to what ever sound ?

I think so

Or is there a minimal note length required for us to be able to hear it ?

I do not think so, and that depends mainly on the settings of the compressor.


But it's quite possible that I'm wrong.

to facilitate the use of a compressor, you can use an oscilloscope

Thats smart! I guess a thing like SPAN could be used too..

Maybe, I did not try it.

[Gps]

Thank you guys.

At least I seem to be on the right track. ( why I am attempting to side chain )


I have two problems, because I am trying to make a clean mix. ( some of my older projects , sounds to clotted ? , because I was trying to give it more low end)

One problem is the bassline, which as soon as I try to make it fat ( more loud), over powers all.

Second part, I have three layered kicks. I like them but they still seem to drown in the song.

I already tried allot of frequency cutting, and that did help.

Although I am not strictly trying to do the same.

Miss Monique with something I would just call trance, but it seems to be progressive house.

The kicks are very well audible, 2m08. ( is there side chaining used ? Or is there a bass line playing the same beats as the kicks ? )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5ezaFLOKL0

Or at 10 min 20 and 13:30 sec starts something I really like, and that synths is not drowning the kicks.

Are there 808 kicks ?

I do understand why I like it, syncopation

Off topic:
There are however also parts in that mix, I do not really like. Often parts with singing or vocal samples.
( the bronksky beat sample for instance, why is it in there ? )

[Gps]

Lets try to make it more concrete:

This is were I am stuck, although I think mixing wise this is the best I ever did, I am not 100% happy yet.

Should that bass not be more fat ?
Were did my awesome kicks go ? at 1.35m ?

Or am I to critical ?

https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/trance-test4-wip

Sound cloud seems to make things worse
The better my ears get, the more soundcloud gets on my nerves for killing some dynamics.

@musicbear, I have tried every method, also yours. I try not to use a peak controller though.

Your method were, I can use the envelope of a synth seems to be my favourite, now only if I could get it to work.
I seem to be getting some feeling for which knobs to turn on the Calf side chain plugin.

While I am typing this. I start to wonder, if I suddenly understand were I went wrong at least once.

I clone two tracks, and want to use those for the side chaining.
For starters I only need to clone one track, the one that makes the side chain, the one of which I want to mess with the envelope.

Or maybe even better insert another tripe os, and just use this for the sidechaining signal, and mute it.

[Gps]

I just listened to my track on soundcloud and compared it, to what I hear in lmms, and what I hear when I listen to the exported file from lmms.

I am not amused. This makes giving feedback on the soundcloud version almost useless.
Wtf has soundcloud done with the track?
I find it hard to believe its just because of conversion to mp3.

Is a worth a try to convert it my self to mp3, and then upload it ?

[D.Ipsum]

Your track goes well in my headphones.

About equalization applied to the kick and bass couple, have you tried the complementary EQ?
The idea: if your kick hits at 64Hz, you can remove a few dB at your bass in this frequency zone.
Conversely, if you boost your bass at 180Hz, you can remove a few dB of your kick in this frequency zone.

[brandystarbrite]

The kicks are very well audible, 2m08. ( is there side chaining used ? Or is there a bass line playing the same beats as the kicks ? )
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5ezaFLOKL0

Okay.
It could be me, but from what I hear, I don't think that she used sidechaining in that part.

I listened to that part a few times, and I noticed, that there aren't many instruments, playing in that particular part of the track. That alone might explain, why the bass and kick, sound clear'ish.

For example, too many sounds, playing around the same time, would have drowned out
or muffled, either the bass, or the kick sound, or in some cases, the synth sounds.

What do you think musikbear? Do you think sidechaining was used?

Or at 10 min 20 and 13:30 sec starts something I really like, and that synths is not drowning the kicks.

Off topic:
There are however also parts in that mix, I do not really like. Often parts with singing or vocal samples.
( the bronksky beat sample for instance, why is it in there ? )

Yeah, that part you pointed out sounds amazing.
But, I agree. I myself am not a fan, of the vocal parts, or synthesized vocals etc.

[brandystarbrite]

Should that bass not be more fat ?
Were did my awesome kicks go ? at 1.35m ?

Or am I to critical ?

https://soundcloud.com/user586365033/trance-test4-wip

Okay, I'm listening to your track on speakers.
And I agree, the bass should sound, a tiny bit more louder, and fatter.

I noticed you also mentioned your kick at 1:35 secs.
Did something happen to the kick? I didn't notice anything strange, about the kick though.

[musikbear]

kick at 1:35 secs.
Did something happen to the kick? I didn't notice anything strange, about the kick though.

me neither, you do add an extra (almost reggae) short high pitch, on-beat note, and that will 'overpower' the low freq kick/ bassdrum
Is that what you mean
You can 'duck' that note, but it will remove it's aggression

[Gps]

Thank you guys. I panicked a bit last night.

The bass sounds a bit louder in the mix on soundcloud then it does at my pc, in lmms and in the exported track.
Its not that much though. ( stereo seems a bit different too )

Musicbear wrote:

me neither, you do add an extra (almost reggae) short high pitch, on-beat note, and that will 'overpower' the low freq kick/ bassdrum
Is that what you mean
You can 'duck' that note, but it will remove it's aggression

That is probably my problem. Interesting.

Brandystarbrite wrote:

I listened to that part a few times, and I noticed, that there aren't many instruments, playing in that particular part of the track. That alone might explain, why the bass and kick, sound clear'ish.

Lol maybe its that simple, it does sound minimal.


D.Ipsum wrote:

About equalization applied to the kick and bass couple, have you tried the complementary EQ?
The idea: if your kick hits at 64Hz, you can remove a few dB at your bass in this frequency zone.
Conversely, if you boost your bass at 180Hz, you can remove a few dB of your kick in this frequency zone.

I will have another try, but think I already cutt everything that can be cutted.


Maybe however I need to tweak the envelope of that bass line more. ( make it even shorter)