Sidechain Setup

Sidechain Setup

Set up sidechain compression routing. Different DAWs/MCP servers expose this differently — read the available tools and use the simplest path.

Workflow

1. Identify the source and target

• Source = trigger (the track that causes the duck) — usually kick or vocal
• Target = the track that gets ducked — usually bass, pads, or music bed

Confirm with user: "Sidechain target = bass on track 2, source = kick on track 1?"

2. Choose the technique

A. Compressor sidechain (standard for kick→bass)

• Add Compressor to the target track
• Enable sidechain input on the compressor
• Route source: select the kick track as the input
• Settings:
  • Ratio: 4:1
  • Attack: 5 ms
  • Release: 80-120 ms (release should match the tempo — at 120 BPM, 1 beat = 500ms, so 100ms ≈ 1/8 note)
  • Threshold: set so that GR shows -4 to -6 dB on each kick hit
  • Output gain: +1 to +2 dB to compensate

B. Glue Compressor sidechain (more musical for buses)

Same as above but using Glue Compressor — gives a more "analog" pumping sound, typical for house/EDM masters where you want musical pumping.

C. LFO Tool / volume automation (creative)

If the user wants extreme rhythmic pumping (EDM-style 4/4 pump):

• Use Auto Filter or a volume LFO modulator if no LFO Tool plugin
• LFO shape: sawtooth (fast attack, slow release looks like ⏐╲⏐╲)
• Sync to 1/4 notes
• Depth: -6 to -12 dB
• This is used when there's no actual kick (e.g., during a breakdown) but you want the pump feel.

D. Volume envelope automation (per-clip)

For surgical control on a specific section:

• Show automation on the target track
• Draw a manual ducking envelope tied to the source's hits
• Useful for vocal-driven ducking on a music bed

3. Apply

Use add_device and set_device_parameter to route. If the MCP server doesn't expose sidechain routing directly, write the parameters that can be set and tell the user the manual step:

"Compressor added to bass track with 4:1 ratio, 5ms attack, 100ms release. The MCP can't set the sidechain source — please click the sidechain section and select 'Kick' from the input dropdown manually. Then I'll dial in the threshold."

4. Verify

After applying, ask user to play the kick + bass together. Adjust if needed:

• Pumping too obvious? → reduce ratio to 3:1 or release to 60ms
• Pumping not enough? → ratio 6:1 or threshold lower
• Bass dipping too long? → shorten release
• Bass missing the next beat? → release too long, shorten

Don'ts

• Don't sidechain everything by default — kick→bass is universal, but pad/synth ducking is genre-specific (huge in EDM, rare in jazz).
• Don't use ratios above 8:1 unless going for a deliberate pump effect.
• Don't sidechain the master bus — that's a special-case mastering technique, not a mix move.
• Don't apply without listening — sidechain is a feel adjustment, settings depend on what the user hears.

Quick reference table