Logic Pro X - Sidechain Pumping Effect with an Aux Track + Compressor

[@That1Guy]

i think you can now run the midi instruments as a side chain source, so no need to make extra sends or bus's. Your vids are amazing. its like going back to music school. thanks again

[@kryseneign2739]

i kept getting so confused about how to sidechain and i had to review this a few times. thank you so much!

[@zizmonkey4277]

Literally was coming to your channel to see if I could find this subject in your tutorial series.... -find out this was just posted yesterday... MusicTechHelpGuy always coming through! Glad I didn't spend $50k to go to audio engineering school

[@chaisingty3964]

best tutorial I've seen on youtube. I learned so many additional small features to Logic Pro X just from observing this video. Thanks guy

[@UltimatePoliceClips]

Another trick for this, because if you have parts where the drums drop out but you still want the sidechain to engage and for consistency through the track, is to make duplicate the kick track, and copy over the kick audio, and run the sidechain through that channel. Then on the channels strip, where it says “stereo out”, select “no output”. Won’t hear the second kick but sidechain will still kick in.

[@jamie36]

You can also automate the volume of the kick down to 0 right?

[@UltimatePoliceClips]

@@jamie36 not sure, but I don’t think so as there would then be no signal triggering the compressor. When you set it to “stereo out” to no output, the signal is still there to trigger the compressor. If the volume is down then there would be no signal triggering it. Don’t quote me though 😅👍🏼

[@jamie36]

@@UltimatePoliceClips fair enough. I'm rather new to logic (as in, I've been using it for a year now) so I was just putting my first thoughts here lol. I'll have to experiment with it myself first but it just felt easier 😅

[@alpine10]

If you want to use your midi kick, just just add a pre fader bus to the midi track, then use that bus as side chain input source.

[@Creature_NL]

Way easier is to put an audio kick on a random audio track with NO output stretched along the whole track and select that audio track for sidechain in the compressor on the track you want to sidechain. When you got parts in your song with no (midi) kick, you still got the sidechain effect without hearing the kick as it has no output. You don't need any bus or extra routing like shown here. Important for the sidechain impact length is that with an audio kick, you can short the kicklength for a much tighter or longer sidechain effect.

[@anastav6915]

Thank you for the info!

[@vganfood]

This is much easier! Thanks for the tip, saved me watching the rest of this video haha!

[@Jewpacca]

Doesn't that mean you're only compressing the one track though? I think the reason MTHG uses an Aux here is so he can duck multiple tracks at once.

[@Reza_Audio]

I always do the same And I like this method more than others. but I still want to improve it. to expaian what I mean it's better to ask this question "What if I need to use the exaxtly the same output wave shape of my midi kicks which already had some EQ, compression...on it. I mean I want to use the same similar output of my midi kick on trigger kick in this method. should I do copy/paste all plugings which is on midi kick slot? or there is any specific routing way to reach this result I am looking for? I am trying to create a template which fulfiill this idea

[@requamusic]

Brilliant, thanks!

[@t33nyplaysp0p]

SideChain starts at 5:10

[@shawnsteinhart5936]

Great channel easy to understand and stellar production thanks man! You're a hero to people like us!

[@boudewijngroenhuijzen8786]

very helpfull. At first hand I thought this was a difficult trick but your way of explaining makes it easy to accomplish ! Cheers

[@synchro505]

Thank you MTHG. Have made multiple templates for myself in Logic so it's all dialed up and ready to go. Works well for the Downtempo style as well for certain vibes. There are a few other methods out there too, but this one is my go-to for most of my sidechain needs.

[@partysuit1821]

Thank you for all of your tutorials. They are really improving my mixing skills.

[@jakeofalltradesmusic]

I remember something with a kick side chain... but then when I tried it, I was confused why it wasn't working... converting the midi to an audio file was the key. Thank you.

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

In more recent versions of Logic, you can now side chain input from software instrument tracks. But the input signal is based on the audio output of the instrument on the track, not the MIDI itself. So as long as you have an instrument loaded up, you can now use instruments as side chain inputs. At the time of making this video this was not possible.

[@muffevans5667]

Quick tip: @3.35, select the region you wish to cycle and hit cmd u. It will loop that region or any combination of selected regions.

[@8bitcomposer]

Brilliant video - one of the clearest explanations I have found online. Good job :)

[@MJ-tg6wb]

I’ve heard it explained several times before and was lost until now. Good job thanks

[@Sleekdjs]

A good clear concise tutorial

[@cbmtrx]

You can do this by routing the track to an aux track, and using the aux as the side-chain source.

[@glenncarr4514]

Thanks so much for this amazing, amazing series of Logic Pro X tutorials. The package is enormous and your information is so helpful! It has saved us hours of hard slog. Cheers Mate from Glenn & Dave.

[@shtunot]

Great video! One part that got me confused is that when creating a "aux track" you can choose to create a "Buss 1" by "right clicking the "input" dialog of the aux track. But when you have to route the other tracks to it you have to "right click" the output and select "buss 1" from the menu. Still very new to logic. Love all of your videos. Helping a ton.

[@kallelaakso130]

Great video! I also prefer using the filter option of the compressor in hi pass to get just a ticky kind of transient as the sc source. The release time can then be more controlled and to be significantly faster because the compressor doesn' t have to wait for the low frequencies tail to shut up. Of course there are various ways to do the same thing. (messing around with the sc source)

[@bkshowpodcast]

I am new to producing EDM and I found this video super useful! I was a good step in the right direction. I was very happy once I accomplished this. Thank you for the help.

[@dfgm318]

Hey , how to export the project session as a single track including the aux sidechain effect ?? will you please guide me:)

[@kallelaakso130]

And also to set the compressor so that it always reaches the zero point between the pumps so when there's no sc source active, you don't have to deal with any extra channels with the volume being particularly high. (not as an any kind of rule thoug)

[@chopsguitarist]

dude, this is exactly what I was trying to do!! subscribed!!!

[@filippobeltrami6403]

Amazing job, thanks a lot dude! Old school methods are really the best ways to learn the basics and how to be efficient :-) Very clear and precise tutorial, cheers!

[@sleepcraft6292]

thank you so much. ive probably watched this 5 times by now

[@danthefamilyman8757]

Just learned so much in 15 minutes!!!! Thanks for awesome content!

[@jonmaclin8344]

THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH!!!!! THIS HELPED ME SO MUCH!!! I was not only able to fix my mistakes by trying to do it myself, but also you made it easy to understand.

[@chrisb1699]

Great tutorials, easy to follow explanations, really helpful, thanks for posting!

[@notsure1135]

Easier way; if you use ultrabeat or similar with multi outs, make an output for the kick, send it to an aux, remove the aux output, open a compressor on the target track and select sidechain, using the recently created aux. Neater, housekeeping wise...

[@MrBoopiebe]

You are a really good music tech help guy !! thanks for the tuto

[@rmwreckurd1007]

really enjoying these extra bonus videos with cool tricks. Keep these coming, they're fantastic. Also, would you be against doing song remakes? Maybe doing 1 song from each different genre, like rock, edm and hip hop? I think that would be cool for us who have watched most of your videos to watch your workflow and how you would go about producing different sounds, while combining many of the things you've shown us.

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

+Rm Wreckurd I've considered it, but I would not be able to play the original song in the video because I'll get flagged for copyright. Too many of those, and the channel will get shut down. :(

[@muroturco]

THIS VIDEO IS GOLD !

[@arielprada]

Always Learn something new in your channel bro. Thanks

[@settyr]

Well put together and explained.

[@crystalpistol4723]

THANK YOU, this was the perfect explanation i was looking for in Logic

[@jeffoff7795]

Super helpful and easy to follow. I appreciate it.

[@MetalFatigued]

30dB of compression 😳 holy shit! I don't mix EDM so I don't ever see the needle moving like that. Cool to see a compressor used in a stylistic way tho. I would've gone with a slightly slower attack time and quicker release, the compressor was grabbing it so quickly it was rounding off the attack which put it at odds with the kick. But I'm a rock & metal guy so what do I know lol. Cool video

[@RafiBarides]

for some reason i don't have that side chain option at the time of the compressor?

[@davidlealmusic]

Thank you man! Great tutorial.

[@arminbagheri1]

Hi, how did you get into this arp strings on brassy and funky sound on alchemy? thanks

[@colonelw.g.sparkman6931]

I'm trying to set up a side chain compressor on an aux bus. I know how to do this and to assign the compressor to side-chain to the track of the kick drum. My problem is the instrument tracks that I would like to have ducked under the kick are already assigned to a SUM (Track Stack), which is Bus 11. If I switch the Bus of these tracks to the aux bus with the side chin compressor, then they will no longer be controlled by the Sum track. Is there a way to set up both Bus 11 and Bus 16 (For side-chain)? If so, can someone please explain how to set this up? Thanks!!

[@jamesdacus7367]

the fisrt video that actually has made sense how to do this.

[@nikamusicofficial]

Thanks a million MTHGuy, cool channel too! :)

[@HellaHipHop]

you can use midi. you send it to a bus. then delete the bus aux.

[@recording001]

Why would you delete the bus aux?

[@HellaHipHop]

actually a better option is to send the buss aux to "no output" which is pretty much deleting it from playing... you do this because otherwise it would be playing the sound twice. once on the track. and once on the bus. but even with the bus sent to no output, muted, or deleted... the compressor will still read the midi files and duck it like its supposed to.... tbh if you watch like 2 other youtube tutorials on ducking bass in logic you will most likely find this method of doing it.

[@recording001]

Yeah that's what I do as well. When you said, "delete the bus aux", I thought you might have been referring to something else.

[@ChristopherMcLarenExperience]

So it's the SC group that is being brought down whenever the kick hits so the kick cuts through?

[@hollowlung4486]

Whenever the kick hits the compressor is triggered so yes.

[@CMane]

Nice! Thanks for a solid tutorial on sidechaining. 😁👍👍

[@timmyarisa]

Really helpful man! Thank you!

[@matiasmorandi9033]

why does the source signal needs to be audio? cant it just be MIDI?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

A lot has changed this this video. In older versions of Logic, the sidechain source had to be an audio track, or the audio signal coming from an aux track. In newer versions of Logic, you can directly use a MIDI instrument track as your sidechain source.

[@matiasmorandi9033]

@@MusicTechHelpGuy thanks for taking the time to answer man, i appreciate it. been watching your videos for a while and they really helped me a lot.

[@HANNAH-GT]

excellent video!

[@XaniaKorinec]

This is amazing, so simple yet cool

[@justinlamofficial]

I don't have the option at the upper right corner of the compressor that is a dropdown menu under "Sidechain".... pls help

[@atsuda8541]

me neither :/

[@vale.boardriders5975]

Go to preferences/advanced tools and enable all options

[@init1508]

vale.boardriders thank u dad

[@stellar808]

Changing the project BPM will botch the digital audio kick side chain, unless doing the Bounce In Place again. Boy, I got a wonky effect trying to change the BMP, even with "Keep" enabled for sync to beat enabled. (LPX 10.4.1)

[@childnoirr]

So I tried to apply the same instructions to a wav sample. When i bus the sample, I dont get sound. I get channel signal, but no sound. Any way to help sidechain samples

[@ectyka]

You are awesome bro. Big love and thanks from Hawai’i 🙌🏽🤙🏽

[@alexpetlenko3366]

Great tips there! Got my pumping kick now! ;)

[@fuondjingamietee4884]

You are so helpful, keep up the great work

[@davidforgie]

Thanks for the content!

[@connorhebert5568]

Ayyy thanks mate! Super simple tutorial!

[@bpawansindhe992]

finally found the information which I was look for.... thanks Music TEC guy

[@buschtrout1499]

Good video but just curious as to why there isn't and option to use an instrument track as a source for sidechaining?

[@chrismccarthydilema6977]

Hey Busch. It's simply because the source from the sidechain only recognizes an audio track, and not midi or instrument track

[@EliLage]

could you show us how did you get into this arp strings on brassy and funky sound on alchemy?? tnkss

[@tammycrockett1825]

I followed these instructions with my bass and kick and now the bass is not audible. I can see the signal coming through on it's channel strip. Beyond frustrated

[@tajtagore4117]

Why dont audio tracks play through the aux channel? When i connect them to the sidechain group, nothing plays through it. Is this only for MIDI?

[@billsny9243]

I watched and followed the directions exactly 3x but it's not working. Is there something left out?

[@Dwooswa]

any way to sidechain with volume automation?

[@zanngoc]

How do you join all the parts into one part at 3:57 ? Please help me out Tech Guy :)

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

Select the regions and press J

[@francescochiarello8544]

i can't click on stereo Output! Why?

[@ThunderBlastvideo]

I use vintage opto instead since it has more range of sidechaining I dont like platinum because it almost always clips

[@StayForTheFireworks]

Dude! Amazing! This helped my track out so much.

[@gbaliad]

great stuff... thanks so much for all your videos!

[@ManCalledMif]

great explanation. thanks

[@baszero]

Got a question: what are the PROs and CONS of routing the "to be pumped" tracks through the extra track via OUTPUT versus adding a compressor to each of the "to be pumped" tracks and telling the compressor to source the SC GROUP track? is it better from a performance point of view, as the way you present it, you only have one compressor versus in the other scenario you would have multiple compressors?

[@eddieince7274]

Just explored ur channel, great tutorials....

[@jakeyboy2929]

Great video once again. Loved that it touched on electronic music too. Really good for me

[@thewatchers9123]

Good video. The only drawback, if I'm understanding right, is that effect changing the uniformity of the mix after the sequence. Or am I missing something?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

Yeah, sometimes in order to get a deep pumping/ducking effect with this, you have to bend over backwards to get it right in the mix, and re-gain stage the compressor so it doesn't clip on the peaks of the ducking.

[@qwertyuiop123-q7f]

My Midi drum kick track is disabled from going to bounce in place, but my other midi tracks (synths and pianos etc.) have the option to bounce in place, what do i do?

[@Dragonfable123]

My problem is that whenever the part that was being ducked down by the kick is stopped the volume of the audio tail of that ducked down track is SUPER loud. I don't have a problem with it being loud during the playing of it but once I stop the part im ducking down it gets really loud and it's hard to compose while that keeps happening. Is there a way to stop the loudness 'aftermath'?

[@FlashMobP]

Great explanation ! Thank you !

[@Penguinz13989]

i cant duplicate my drum track. what do i do?

[@3ricMusic]

What do s sidechain? And what does it do? Like you mentioned compression, what is this to do with it and what effect does sidechaining have?

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

+Eric Boisson Side Chaining takes the signal of an audio track and applies that signal to the compressor. So as each kick hits in the audio track, the compressor will compress harder. When the kick isn't hitting, the compression isn't hitting. The kick is essentially a modulation source for the amount/motion of the compression, to vary the amount of compression across time.

[@muroturco]

Does anybody know if I should sidechain all the tracks into the same compressor inside the same aux track?

[@jay_retro_gamer2472]

Thank you this is a brilliant tutorial, it will help greatly 🙂

[@neonroy89]

MTHG - Was looking for really a simple way of SC'ing, as I got the perfect example from you. Now a days, Using NR-Kick, Volume Shaper has been really robotic kinda effect which works like 1/4,1/8 etc (but useful for Dance music). 'Only works when bounced into Audio file' was the answer was looking out for.. Thanks man. Regs- Sourav aka Neon Komet

[@ekimnamtnuts]

Excellent video, good presentation manner. Is this really the only kind of application for side chaining? I only record actual physical instruments in the Rock genre, is there any scenario whereby side chaining might be relevant to me? I've never really been into that ducking effect, it has always sounded to me like a badly set up compressor but I know it has become a fairly typical effect found in electronic music. Would rock bands use this effect maybe in a more subtle way to help for example a snare drum cut through a mix or some other application like that? I suspect that side chaining is probably a whole subject of it's own!! Any information appreciated.

[@ms769]

I have tried everything and still can't manage to figure out how to just sidechain a few tracks in a large mix- compressor keeps on sidechaining every track ad i can't figure out how to make it work for just 3.

[@StanleyKubick1]

thanks for this, always informative and thorough

[@jamesblack6800]

THX man, made me learn something new :)

[@nineseveneleven]

It was very-very useful! Thank you

[@TimWatsonDrums]

Great lesson as always!

[@lethallukehh]

what was the point of using the marquee tool to seperate your kick and then repeat it if you were just going to join it again? Seems like a pointless exercise, correct me if im wrong? Thanks musictech!

[@caseylee2739]

idk what I'm doing wrong but when i go to compressor i don't hear anything? i followed your instructions but something i did not must have been wrong? the compressor shows there is activity but i don't hear any sound?

[@lavish5014]

same here man

[@brentmichaelstewart]

Just curious what your kick and bass sounds are in this video?

[@jacobsmith7564]

Thanks mate !

[@vnce9100]

@MusicTechHelpGuy I have some troubles with the sidechaining technique with applying the compressor, once the sc pattern is gone, the instrument that I put through suddenly goes very high volume...I do not know what causes that...

[@arnabdas8597]

Could be the auto-gain that is causing that.

[@burnwolfpromotions]

I love you man

[@ybou14]

Hi, where is this old analog looking compressor ? I always get the digital one... from a nostalgic old guy !... lol

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

+Yves Boudreau Yeah, it was an updated look for Logic 10.1. Just update Logic and it will update it. It's a free update as long as you bought Logic X.

[@nickjfontaine]

Cool new intro tune!! lol

[@ybou14]

I guess it might be because I have an older version of Logic X 10.0.7 .... The thing I don't understand is that the OS are free to upgrade but to upgrade Logic, you have to pay another $200 ?????

[@MusicTechHelpGuy]

+Yves Boudreau If you own 10.0.7, you should be able to update for free. You don't have to re-buy it. I started on 10.0.0 when I bought Logic X, and I only had to pay for it once.