Using Sidechains - AudioTech

[@이광진-y8k]

This video is also helpful in 2021. Thank you.

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Retrocowboy100]

Thank you so much for explaining that. I finally understand that its basically a continuation of the mixers insert to patch in additional gear. That makes sense now. Thanks..... I think I have some ideas for improving my vocals now.

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

Glad it helped you out.

[@haczabim]

5:05 Hi, a question, when you say the units work together when sidechained, does that mean that the signal connected to input 1 of the 3630 is processed in parallel- so not after secondary effects, but straight from input and then blended with the external fxs before output? I looked at the manual and from my limited knowledge, in the diagram apparently the signal comes back and then go to the compressor, gate, etc. Thank you, good, helpful information on this video!

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

That’s going to depend on the units used but yes I believe say another effect would come first. It’s like a secondary fx loop within a mixers fix loop. Haven’t touch outboard gear in years. I have a digital mixer now.

[@haczabim]

@@TheGospelGuitarist Thank you for your response. In the past days I've been researching sidechain compression and found out it's a way to change the signal that triggers the threshhold. So the compressors engages when another signal crosses it, for example you plug a background music track to the compressor and sidechain it to vocals, so when vocals or a narration come in and cross the limit, compression triggers and background music is compressed and reduced in level. This also is used for bass and drums, etc. To do it you would need a mono TS cable only, the ring can be used to send the signal to another device. Now of course(I'm figuring this as I type hehe) if like you say you used it as an fx loop, that very well may be! What you did was send and return the same signal, which triggered the compressor. But it can also be triggered by a secondary source. And at the compressor output you must have had the compresed signal coming from input, but without the fx's, right?

[@haczabim]

@@TheGospelGuitarist On another note I have been reading a lot of negative comments about the 3630(hard to dial in, noisy, etc) and thinking about getting the dbx266 xl instead. What is your experience like with the Alesis?

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

It does what it does well. not always easily. The DBX are decent units and just as noisy. If you don't know how to use a compressor properly which takes time, you will get this pumping on the audio. You don't want and should never hear a compressor working. They are transparent unless you like the effect for a purpose. Actually, very good compressors are $$$$ digits in price so don't sweat the lower end stuff.

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

On another note, experiment for yourself. There is something I can't put my finger on that I love about that ol'3630. I love old MXR stomp boxes for guitar because of the tone. Berhinger has quiet units but the life somehow gets taken from the audio signals. Can't stand their stuff.

[@peteryousef5177]

please, I want to ask. if i have a personal monitor mixer behringer p16 and i have an analog mixer but i do not have a direct out . So what should I do ? i have only 2 aux

[@willycalderonofficial]

Hello, how would one connect the sends/returns to a patchbay? Two separate cables, top to bottom same row?

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

Send to bay in and bay out to return

[@willycalderonofficial]

TheGospelGuitarist Thank you

[@i.syntaxerror]

Thank you for that.

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

You’re welcome!

[@jayadevasarkar3431]

Hi! Newbie here in audio set up. I have a mackie profx 16 v2 and a pair of QSC CP12 powered speakers. Could you please guide me on how to connect the mixer and speakers to the dbx 266 xl compressor, dbx 234 xs crossover and dbx 231s graphic equalizer? More power and TIA!

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

I have a lot of stuff on my playlists. Get started there. As a newbie, a 31 band eq can get you into a LOT of trouble if you don't know what you are doing. This is not a home or car eq. They can be good and they can be evil. 2nd, you don't need a crossover with powered speakers. They have amplifiers operating at specific freq's. for each speaker in the cab already. You can use outboard gear in a lot of ways. You mixer has a simplified graphic eq. Assign it to FOH and start there. 31 bands are more used to fight feedback freq's. You need to learn how to find them and there cause in order to deploy the eq properly. Save the 31 band for stage monitors. I can't instruct you step by step on the setup. That's just too much stuff and setup needs vary all the time. Grab an audio course free online and just start adding knowledge. Audio engineering is not an overnight learning thing. READ THE MANUALS ON YOUR GEAR! You can find online copies at the companies and other websites. If you don't know the piece of gear and what it does, then you cannot deploy it correctly.

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

Try this, mixer and speakers only. Mixer output to the speaker inputs. Leave out all the other gear for now. Start playing with the board, plug in a cd player or some source of music. Play you instruments through it. Channel eq is usually all you need for instruments. Play with the controls, get comfortable, but use your head. If you see red lights anywhere on the board staying lit back off the inputs. Find out what you can do with only the mixer, then add other gear where and when it's needed. Practice getting good sound!

[@jayadevasarkar3431]

Thanks for the prompt reply. I am accustomed with using the mixer already. I just want to now the correct way of connecting the equalizer, compressor and cross over to the mixer. The equalizer and compressor affecting all channels of the board not only one channel strip.

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

Aux sends for compressor and eq although I would not use the 231 that way. Whatever settings are used on any piece of gear on Aux sends are the same on all channels. Placing them on inserts is a better way to go. That way you can plug in the compressor on the vocal channel and set it for vocals. Same with the eq's. I don't know how you are using the system. Live and home recording are vastly different. In home studio I can see the eq on an Aux send to use when needed on a channel and you don't have to keep moving wires. lol

[@jayadevasarkar3431]

Great! Thanks for all your advice! You're right, going with the basics is essential. I really appreciate for taking the time to answer to all my queries. Hope you continue to share to everyone all your knowledge, experience and expertise in the audio world.

[@dharmakissoon]

was very helpful .so if my next rack have a side chain i can keep adding on? like maximizer, feed back destroyer, eq and compressor.

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

Yes you can just use the last output to connect back to the unit.

[@dharmakissoon]

i notice you said instead of using an eq you can use a effects unit ,don't mixer console have a 1/4 auxiliary port dedicated for it?

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

Depends on your needs bro, hook up what you need where you need it.

[@rickyroeuth]

I have a lexicon mx200 that have Left and Right input/output. What side right or left will the send into?

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

Either the left or the right.

[@joecarreiro4246]

What the name of those snake cables

[@TheGospelGuitarist]

HOSA cables. You can find them in any good music store.

[@alphonsadebardelaben6805]

thank you

[@TheGospelGuitarist]