How to Sidechain in FL Studio 21

In this tutorial, we dive into the world of sidechaining in FL Studio 21. Sidechaining is a popular mixing technique that helps to create space in your mix by ducking one sound when another sound plays. This is especially useful for making your kick drum stand out against the bass. Let’s break down how to do this step by step.

Key Takeaways

• Sidechaining helps to separate competing sounds in a mix.
• The kick drum is often sidechained to the bass to enhance clarity.
• Use the limiter plugin for effective sidechaining.
• Adjust the threshold and ratio settings to achieve the desired effect.

What Is Sidechaining?

Sidechaining is a technique where the volume of one sound is reduced when another sound plays. This is commonly used in electronic music to ensure that the kick drum is heard clearly, even when the bass is present. When the kick hits, the bass volume dips, allowing the kick to punch through the mix.

Setting Up Your Project

To start, you’ll need a kick and a bass sound in your FL Studio project. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Load Your Sounds: Open FL Studio and load a kick and a bass sound. You can use any samples you like.
2. Create a Basic Pattern: Lay down a simple kick pattern and a bassline. This will be the foundation for your sidechaining.
3. Open the Mixer: Go to the mixer where you can control the levels of your sounds.

Applying Sidechain Compression

Now that you have your sounds ready, let’s apply sidechain compression using the limiter plugin:

1. Insert a Limiter on the Bass Track: Click on the bass track in the mixer and add a limiter. This will be used to control the volume of the bass when the kick hits.
2. Right-Click to Sidechain: Right-click on the kick track and select "Sidechain to this track". This connects the kick to the limiter on the bass track.
3. Configure the Limiter: Open the limiter settings. You’ll see options for threshold and ratio.
   • Threshold: Lower this to determine how much the bass will be ducked when the kick hits.
   • Ratio: Increase this to make the ducking effect more pronounced.
4. Adjust Settings: Play around with the threshold and ratio until you find a balance that works for your mix. You want the kick to be clear without completely muting the bass.

Sidechaining Other Sounds

You can also sidechain other elements in your mix, like hi-hats or snares. Here’s how:

1. Add a Hi-Hat and Snare: Load a hi-hat and snare sound into your project.
2. Repeat the Sidechain Process: Just like with the kick and bass, you can sidechain the hi-hat to the snare. This will help the snare stand out when both sounds play together.
3. Adjust the Limiter Again: Use the same limiter method to adjust the hi-hat’s volume when the snare hits.

Tips for Effective Sidechaining

• Listen Carefully: Always trust your ears. Adjust the settings until it sounds right in the context of your mix.
• Experiment: Don’t be afraid to try different sounds and settings. Each mix is unique, and what works for one may not work for another.
• Use Visual Aids: The visual representation of the limiter can help you see how much the sound is being ducked. Use this to guide your adjustments.

Conclusion

Sidechaining is a powerful tool in music production that can greatly enhance the clarity and punch of your tracks. By following these steps, you can easily implement sidechaining in FL Studio 21. Remember, practice makes perfect, so keep experimenting with different sounds and settings to find what works best for you. Happy producing!