The MAGIC side-chain tool? TrackSpacer

[@MisterMotel]

When you A/B the trackspacer and the LFO tool that was kinda interesting. i'ts so subtle on its own yet when compared you really hear how smooth it works. the LFO really cuts, Trackspacer sort of smears the cut out.

[@EpithetMusicTV]

since your kick had so much content in the high-mids you needed to use the hi-cut on Trackspacer so that part of the bass wouldn’t have been affected

[@valentinl6640]

"so much content in the high-mids"

[@user-mz3ni8yu4v]

@@valentinl6640 loooool

[@paco83h]

I love the low cpu consumption of the plugin and the fast usage. In busy parts with vocal clashing instruments i tend to use two instances for maximum transparence and control. With one instance on mid/side processing if there are dominant atmospheric instruments like supersaws or strings playing at the same time with a vocal you get super smooth and transparent results that no other plugin achieves. But to be honest when it comes to lower frequencies, my go to plug in is the volumeshaper by cable guys. With it's multiband procecessing it's basically a LFO tool on steroids for less than half the price.

[@DirtySecretz]

Yes, I mainly use it for ducking the mid-top frequencies of the drums and melodics to give the vocals some room - works really well for that

[@zakur0hako]

this is a must plugin for sure

[@benbrooker]

Been using it a while; have started using pro-q 3 to the same too recently

[@DirtySecretz]

Yeah with Izotope Neutron you can use the sidechain with the dynamic EQs to achieve something similar but this seems to do it in a quicker, straight forward way - I suppose each has it's uses!

[@jamest3336]

I use it to give spce in my mids. Every other bus is routed to volume shaper for sidechaining

[@MrC63777]

Hate you now. You made me purchase it. Lol good video bro. Thank you.

[@DirtySecretz]

It is damn useful used in the right places!

[@InfiniteRhombus]

just say what it is, its a multiband eq/compressor combo but it does it in a very specific way and does it quicker

[@mit136speichenumdiewelt]

I find the keys much much smoother. More feeling! Maybe start to compare with Nicky Romero, Kickstart?

[@DirtySecretz]

Kickstart is pretty much the same as LFOTool, they're both volume shapers however LFOTool has a few more features

[@axel.lessio]

This is amazing but I will never understand why they didn't put a make up gain knob as this definitely messes with the levels.

[@whiskyngeets]

That's the point. You're not trying to reshape the envelope of the affected track, you're trying to duck it to make more space for the key signal.

[@matt_canon]

There's no need for a make up gain. On default initialized settings, its likely overdoing it and too much is being cut out. Firstly, ease up on the ratio, less is more with this one, unless you are going for a deliberate ducking effect. Secondly, set your low and high cut filters to localize only the part of the signal that needs to be carved out. Thirdly, tweak the attack and release until the ducking effect is so surgical, that all you hear is a perfect balance in volume. If at this point any ducking is heard, it means too much space is being cut.

[@snyder1555]

You doing wrong like a lot of other testers on Trackspacer. You must side chain the Kick Drum based on the bass frequencies. Now you duck the whole bass simply, because the kick drum has a wide frequency range from ~30 to 500 Hz . Flip the bass and kick into Trackspacer..

[@DirtySecretz]

Interesting idea, might try that!

[@albundy4322]

@@DirtySecretz TrackSpacer also need some more settings to work a lot better. At first the internal 32 analyzers should be ranged by an option : From Hz - To Hz. So it would be possible to analyze the Bass (or what ever) much more exactly by the internal 32 sniffing analyzers. Btw you can analyze what TrackSpacer does, simply place the TrackSpacer on a white/pink Noise signal, feed it with a signal and see watch the result with an analyzer. This plug idea is great, but a lacks a bit of thinking further. :-)

[@show_me_lights]

IMO LFO tool was far better. LFO tool gave the bass groove, but with the trackspacer on the bass it kind of lost that feel. Thanks for the video Richie!!

[@DirtySecretz]

Yeah i think it’s the effect you’re going for I guess, for me it’ll probably change each track! I can’t see LFOTool fully leaving my toolbox any time soon 😉

[@matt_canon]

I wouldn't call this a 'magic' plugin as one can just rely on the ratio alone. Its certainly more surgical in terms of the carving out the needed space, if one spends time getting the right amounts of attack and release, low/high cut filters, and ratio. I also wouldn't say its "better or worse" than LFO Tool or volumeshaper, both have pros and cons. The advantage with LFO Tool or VolumeShaper is that you can freeze that channel for CPU or render it to audio with the effect kept in. Whereas TrackSpacer works similarly to a sidechain compressor like Pro-C2, freezing or offline rendering a channel with it in the chain will disable the sidechain. -- Plugins are like tools in a toolbox, they're best at what they're best at.

[@DirtySecretz]

It's not a one-does-all plugin because most rarely aren't but it certainly has its uses

[@joezazasin7]

Might be just me, but the Trackspacer sounds clumsy on low frequencies

[@donnas8408]

Why isn’t there a video how to do the routing for ProTools for bloody sakes!

[@spy-v-spy1848]

It is so awesome & it has been my to buy list, but I am cheap 50 bucks just seem like 20 bucks too much for a side chain tool.

[@DirtySecretz]

Keep an eye out for their sales, every now and again they'll have it at 50% off

[@matt_canon]

2:03 Is the song supposed to be completely mono? I guess it works if it's strictly for playing in clubs with mono systems.

[@DirtySecretz]

No, it's probably the screen recording setting - the track as with all of mine are done in stereo

[@DANTonYoutube]

remix is sounding wicked man

[@DirtySecretz]

Thanks, full breakdown coming soon!

[@stu7720]

Can’t you just use LFO Tool to modulate a hi pass/band reject filter? Hmmm I think I still prefer LFO Tool tbh. It’s more flexible.

[@DirtySecretz]

Yeah you can choose to just shape the lows for example but not quite frequency shaping. I still think LFOTool is a brilliant plugin, god knows I’ve banged on about it on this channel enough but Trackspacer definitely has impressed me!

[@8azulak670]

What Ableton theme are you using? Nice video.

[@DirtySecretz]

It’s this one: www.abletonthemes.com/themes/sonic-academy-tweaked/3553

[@vivekphilip4970]

Dude! Don't just play with the ratio knob. Use the attack, release and low/high cut! Cheers!

[@joeybtheman1906]

when should u use high attack and release and when should u them as low settings

[@EdSoloUK]

I was thinking of getting this, has it still replaced LFO tool? I use cable guys Shaper Box, you can choose the frequency its ducking (LFO Tool only has hi and lo pass) the good thing about Shaper Box and LFO tool is that you can get the shape exactly how you want it. I reckon Trackspacer is probably better for things with moving frequenices like vocals, but for kick and bass LFO tool or Shaper box is probably better, so i wondered if you still using it.

[@DirtySecretz]

It actually _hasn't_ replaced LFOTool for me. It did for a short while but I realised I wasn't quite getting the same effect that I wanted from it. Saying that though, TrackSpacer has become an essential tool for me especially for making room for vocals - I usually use it on the drum tops and synths, it's perfect for that in very small amounts (around 1-5% maybe).

[@EdSoloUK]

@@DirtySecretz Thanks for the info

[@DirtySecretz]

@ojgom17 yes, if it needs it. Just using a subtle amount just gives it that space it needs. I could use EQ but I find Trackspacer just so much quicker

[@ulisesortegaaragon4013]

My trackspace doesn't show the frecuencies or anything in it's screen. did I installed it wrong?

[@DirtySecretz]

You need to make sure you set up the side chain correctly because if there is nothing coming in from that Track Spacer won’t do anything.

[@producerfuji_official]

Question so basically you use the low pass and high pass on the track spacer plug-in to pin point the area in the mods in the track for the vocals to sit right ???

[@DirtySecretz]

The high pass and low pass are used to define which frequencies are going to be ducked. For example, if you increase the low pass it'll ignore everything below that when it comes to ducking focusing just on the upper frequencies. I find this useful on my drums where I'll put the track spacer on my tops (high hats, claps, percussion), set the sidechain as my vocal and then increase the low pass so it ignores the lows, take the high pass down to ignore the real highs and focus really on ducking just the upper mid range where I find they clash.

[@producerfuji_official]

@@DirtySecretz thank you ✅🔉🔊🔈

[@marshmallow51343]

Great Video! The Tool Does Not show the frequency curves (Blue, white) . Do you know what Could be the Reason?

[@DirtySecretz]

If it's not showing the curves you probably haven't got the side chain signal going into it correctly, It'll just remain static if that's not setup.

[@marshmallow51343]

@@DirtySecretz in cubase there’s a button I can just press for side chaining, so the path should be correct.

[@DirtySecretz]

@@marshmallow51343 I don't really have any experience with Cubase so couldn't say for sure but thats usually the only reason when it's not doing anything is that it's not receiving the signal some how - might be worth a Google to find a cubase + track spacer tutorial just to double check.

[@shaun3295]

For some reason in my ableton I don't have the little drop down box where you selected the sidechain input from the kick... Is this a recent update or is it something in settings? Thanks for the video btw

[@DirtySecretz]

Yes a simplified version of sidechaining came in the Ableton 10.1 update, makes things a load easier. Here's an article on it and also how to achieve the same thing if you don't have the latest update: help.ableton.com/hc/en-us/articles/209775325-Sidechaining-a-third-party-plug-in

[@shaun3295]

@@DirtySecretz Sick cheers for that, such a cool feature I better update my live

[@fpsoundpacks]

Never change a running system! I think you have more control with envelope follower linked to a very good eq like fab filter pro q 2 or 3. Ok you can't cut frequencies that way but do we need to? I tried the Trackspacer today and for me it sounds not like a very good eq in there. Bass gets very "scraping" (can we say that?) while ducking and looses detail. Let's make music again and not waisting our time and talent to overhyped plugins which make our crappy music sound "pro". Like "Ok, that's not my style and i would never add his or her song to my playlist but it sounds so pro that i'm blushing right now 😳. I will never achieve that myself" 😭 Don't get on that train!

[@DirtySecretz]

Well it's been over 2 years since I've done this video and since then I have used Trackspacer in every project I've done. I don't believe this is an overhyped plugin, it does a great job of doing what it does - it's just about using it in the right places. I still side chain my bass rather than using this, however where Trackspacer really shines is making room for vocals. I tend to put a very subtle amount of it on any instrument or drum tracks that interfere with the main vocal and in these small amounts it works great. It's not a one-stop shop but it's a really useful tool.

[@fpsoundpacks]

@@DirtySecretz This is cool, vocals are not my main territory and didn't considered to use it for it.

[@anthonyacosta7235]

Is it only used on the tracks . Not in the master mix?

[@DirtySecretz]

You wouldn’t do it on the master channel because everything goes into that. So for example if you did put it on the master and set the kick to the be side chain source the master would duck the kick but the kick is also being ducked by itself because that is also going into the master channel.

[@matrixate]

MSpectralDynamics does this, but 100x times better with extreme accuracy and way more control. It's really meant for professionals though that know what they're doing. This thing is a simple toy in comparison.

[@DirtySecretz]

At a 1/3 of the price you'd expect it not to be as good but it still does work very well!

[@matrixate]

@@DirtySecretz Even at that price, I feel it's overpriced. Whatever though. I tried them both...needless to say, I have not used for TrackSpacer. Once you try MSD, and you figure it out, I can almost guarantee, you'll never go back to TrackS. Good review though. I would have expected your channel to have more subs though!

[@Shane-zo4mg]

meh kinda low quality sounding last time I demoed it. A better spectral sidechain is SMART comp but more expensive for sure

[@ITSEAZYBOY]

Isn’t compression just automating the volume anyway? What’s the actual difference between lfo tool and side chain compression

[@BlankPageBeats]

No difference

[@MULTIMAN-MUSIC]

Compresion is not the same than automating volume... A compressor "compresses the signal", basically above the threshold the signal is compressed. A ratio of 2:1 means every two decibels that go above the threshold only one makes it out... a 5:1 ratio means every 5 decibels that go above the threshold only one comes out... this changes the signal response, attack and release to mention some... but automating the volume leaves the signal dynamics and transients untouched, making it more transparent. There are also "expanders" which work oposite than a compressor, signal above the threshold get expanded rather than compressed. Hope it helps.

[@BlankPageBeats]

@@MULTIMAN-MUSIC but if you're using for sidechain compression it doesn't matter. They both do the same thing it's just different ways of controlling the signal

[@MULTIMAN-MUSIC]

@@BlankPageBeats nope, side chain volumen automates volume with an external “side chain “ signal, a side chain compressor only compress when the side chain signal is present... 2 completely different things. People use multi band compressor as de-essers for that same reason. Hope it helps.

[@BlankPageBeats]

@@MULTIMAN-MUSIC yes - both automating volume of a signal. One using an external trigger, one using manual automation. End result = the same.

[@picabocarecordingstudio9507]

Sound is MONO

[@TheEarlyAstrotype1024]

I call this plugin as a spectral sidechain compressor, the best way to sidechain. Unfortunately, it's paid.

[@DirtySecretz]

I think it's quite a reasonably priced plugin, especially if you catch it on a deal. I think it's a small price to pay for the awesome job they've done with it.

[@Sampsadioz]

Just copped it with 30€, its in sale for rest of the week

[@No-Pressure-Only-Results]

Wtf is sidechain?

[@joeybtheman1906]

smh

[@agopo]

#ad

[@DirtySecretz]

??