Using Ducker on Bass Guitar for More Kick Drum - Behringer X32

[@johnmcvicker6728]

X32 has a lot of features folks don't really use - this is likely one of them. I really like the ability to duck based on a frequency and level, which would be similar to a compressor side-chained too, but doesn't require having the compressor dedicated to ducking. So, use both. In DAW mixing, in Cubase which is what I use, I use dynamic ducking with the Frequency 2 dynamic EQ and carve out a bit of the kick frequency from the bass. Did you know that apparently A&H SQ series do not have an expander gate - but the lowly X32 does. You can use this same feature to duck a keyboard while vocalists are singing (ie. if vocals go into a bus, use that bus as source for ducker to lower the keys a touch similarly 3-4dB). It can make a noticeable difference too for online mix as well as in a room on the main system.

[@DrewBrashler]

I also love using the ducker on room mics when I'm mixing smaller corporate rooms when they want the crowd in the records or stream feed. Put all of the speaking mics into a bus and use that for the ducker source on the room mics. Works really well!

[@chiefrebelangel817]

The problem with X32 is it has bad processing power. If you use all this nice features you can really hear it struggling if you have good PA. By struggling i mean it reducing digital audio quality (bit depth) so it can process everything so you get artifacts especially in high mids and highs.

[@theMicky_j]

I didn’t even know this was possible until now

[@BriggsMullen]

Great video. I couldn't hear almost any difference when you toggled it on/off, but that could just be a combination of youtube compression and my computer setup. I'm glad to know how to do this now. I didn't realize that this feature existed on the X32.

[@VladicD]

Your monitoring is not good if you don't hear it. Or maybe your ears are no experienced enoght to catch such small nuances in a sound. It is very slight, like a mild compression. But in a live situation, it is for sure much more noticeable.

[@VladicD]

@@mclovinfuddpucker it was enough if you want to make a little bit more space for a kick. You don't want this effect to be really audible. In techno music for example, this technique is used to extremes. Goals are different.

[@TinoSchulz1990]

I always thought this could only be done with the compressor and the source from the kick. Didn't know that this was possible with a ducked gate. Nice to know. Thanks.

[@agus.leonardi]

me too... thx drew

[@DrewBrashler]

@TinoSchulz Sure thing! That is one of the nice things about the gate on the X32 is that it has the ability to be set to a ducker, expander or gate.

[@yanudol]

and it's nice to keep the compresor for the bass instead of sacrifying the bass compresion to insert better the kick in it.

[@itsmatchew]

Great video! Been wanting to learn how to do this for a while.

[@DrewBrashler]

Thanks so much! Let me know if you have any questions along the way!

[@itsmatchew]

do you have some resources you can send me to on how to do this properly?@@mclovinfuddpucker

[@alfonsomunoz6946]

me too

[@EgeCoskun]

Bass Guitar have intonation issue that needs to be done as soon as possible. Great video by the way!

[@DCSIDPA]

Well done, Drew.

[@DrewBrashler]

Thanks so much!

[@tobby917]

Definitely have to try this i usually dont have problems with my kick clashing with my bass. Maybe because i like to tune my kick drum higher and let my bass be the lowest in frequencies.

[@dwhitney31]

Can you use this feature if the drummer is using an e-kit with only 1 input for all drums? For example the Roland TD-17.

[@nicksonkaru4534]

Thanks Drew 👍

[@tesfadennis9570]

Do you have a video for the “Key Filter” for the compressor and gate..??

[@DrewBrashler]

I don't have a dedicated video for it. But I can put one on the list! What are you hoping for me to cover?

[@tesfadennis9570]

@@DrewBrashler I’m hoping to understand the use of the key filters for the compressor and gates so as to create a better mix for those listening but to also improve my skills and increase my knowledge of what I love to do.

[@DrewBrashler]

Sweet! I'll get it added to the list, thanks for the request!

[@The.Witness]

Woahh, never knew this existed. Thanks a bunch!

[@DrewBrashler]

Happy to help!

[@cesarjeanchristophe339]

nice video Drew thank you

[@robertdiebold612]

I saw that you did two videos on the Avid S6L. I would love to see you do videos on that console the way you do on the Behringer X 32 . Thanks a lot

[@DrewBrashler]

I'll keep that in mind! Only downside is that I don't own an S6L.

[@marcusflowers745]

Hello Drew I was wondering if you can do a video on how to get good clean sounding drums in a musician IEMs?

[@music123413]

Hey Drew... Curious to what in ears you're using in this video?

[@DrewBrashler]

Alclair RSM Quads, fantastic in ears. alclair.com/product/rsm/

[@Brian1Mwangi]

Amazing video drew Can we please get your multitracks they sound amazing 🤗

[@alfaomega8185]

awesome ❤❤

[@buzcutwilllol]

Love the video

[@DrewBrashler]

Glad it was helpful!

[@klb161]

Thanks for the video.

[@DrewBrashler]

Sure thing!

[@klb161]

@@DrewBrashler Are you able to do a video on how to eq, gate & compress keyboards, bass guitar, drums and Saxophone? We use these in church and I am not sure how to get the best of them from the X32.

[@DrewBrashler]

Do you have a multi-track recording of a song from a Sunday you would be willing to share?

[@klb161]

@@DrewBrashler unfortunately I only have a single half recording of 3 singers and electric kick drum and toms. However our drums do not have volume settings for individual toms and kick drum so we can hear the kick drum loud but not a lot of toms.

[@cmcrombie024]

Hey Drew, wondering if you can recommend a channel comparable at all to yours for the A&H Avantis. Getting one in soon and wanting to start learning more about it.

[@thaddeusfields4360]

Attaway is doing an excellent SQ series right now.

[@DustinRadtke]

Will this be audible if the bass player is using IEMs? Is there a work around for that?

[@ephillychurch]

What's the name of the track being used in the demo? It sounds great!

[@kubik554]

Wau, thx. Is it good also for Floor Tom and backtracks?

[@adhoc181]

nice skill to have. whats that song or band you did use?

[@DrewBrashler]

This was a multitrack from a live church service a while back. The song is Great are you Lord.

[@EldredMerricks]

Hey Drew - I am having some weird issues in my PA at the church. We have JBL PRX415 speakers hanging! Anytime someone uses strong “S” pronunciations the speakers will pop or get staticky. Any idea why that’s happening!?

[@sTVG2]

Video idea for you: Here is the problem; many volunteer keyboard musicians tend to play in the bass region even when there is a bass player playing. As you know this causes muddiness and a sloppy low end. My temporary solution is, I set a high pass on the piano and hammond when I am playing the bass guitar. Once I finish playing I turn off the high pass. This is annoying and I would prefer to automate this! I would like to turn the ducker on for each keyboard instrument and set the bass guitar as the key. BUT I only want it to duck the low frequencies of the keyboard instruments when I am playing the bass, and I want it to allow the keyboards to resume "full-range" once I stop playing the bass. Is there a solution using the ducker on the X32? Or any other work around using the X32? Thank you for all you do for our community!

[@subgosugeneral7933]

Track from where,that was beautiful

[@coolceeofficialmusic7608]

Please can you do this video and pick noise with a signal coming from a Daw for the Wing.

[@VladicD]

I use this feature on my Xair18 on almost every gig. Works the same way. Also, what are your gate setting for kick? Sounds very short and punchy 🎉🎉

[@DrewBrashler]

Nice! I'll usually set my Attack to 0 ms, Hold to 200 ms, Release to 360 ms, have the range at 40 dB, and then do a filter at the fundamental of the kick (around 65 Hz) with a Q of 5.0.

[@VladicD]

@@DrewBrashler Thanks for your reply! Hmmm strange, I really thought it is much shorter. Probably it was quite muffled inside the kick with pillow. Cheers!

[@VladicD]

@@mclovinfuddpucker What is a real console for you?

[@johnmcvicker6728]

@@DrewBrashler I get an artifact at 0ms and tend to maybe use 1ms for kick gate. Or expander too. Though the artifact itself might be considered a slight click that you want to get from the batter head...

[@DrewBrashler]

@johnmcvicker6728 very true. The Behringer Wing takes the artifact a step farther and has an accent knob to emphasize the attack.

[@nobles2022]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@IrishStache]

Would you recommend using a ducker on a powerful vocalists along with a compressor? A lot of our church vocalists have powerhouse voices, and im trying to find a good way to keep them from breaking everyones eardrums without having to constantly move their fader to compensate for their voice volume.

[@calebjacobi9197]

Compression’s usually the way to go for that. 4:1 ratio with a slow attack (like 15 ms) and fast release (50 ms) will help manage excessive dynamics. Dial it in till it’s really grabbing their louder sections and not doing much when they’re singing quietly. Edit: I think I skipped an important step. If you route your vocals to a group, you can apply some compression to the vocal group as a whole - which can be dialed in to only start working when multiple people are singing - which I think actually fixes the issue you’re describing.

[@IrishStache]

​@@calebjacobi9197I'll do that, thank you! :)

[@DrewBrashler]

@mclovinfuddpucker nailed it with the proper mic technique. Unfortunately with only compression and no mic technique you can quickly get to an over compressed vocal. @calebjacobi9197 is right on the money for adding a vocal subgroup if you have the available mixbusses. I have a video here about the subgroups on the X32: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lXPbaWNnodyJZsk

[@kobinaturkson4652]

Hello I need help learning how to use x32 I have been washing your KZbin channel and I love it.

[@pancholimusicstoreagarmalw3393]

Very nic sir

[@DrewBrashler]

Thanks so much!