Sidechain return effects are the result of excessively covering the overall audio signal. Here’s the explanation: plain sidechain compression is a popular technique amongst many producers. This technique is often for bass lines, as they tend to lower the volume of the bass. This results in letting the kick drum through without altering the low end. However, when the sidechain return effects happen, the sound turns quite unclear. The bright side is that there are several techniques that solve the issue. Two examples are wet signal trigger and dry signal trigger.
Sidechain Return Effects: Towards Solutions
The first problem-solving technique relies on a wet signal trigger and depends on an equalizer. This equalizer sculpts the return effects in the wet portion of the audio signal without interfering with the original mix. Having an equalizer on the return channels is not rare. The reason is it is great at helping wet signals fit better into the overall mix.
Secondly, the other problem-solving technique is related to a dry signal trigger. This technique is sidechains the return channel while using the original dry signal as a trigger for the sidechain compression.
Sidechain Return Effects and Reverb
Occasionally, the reverb that fits the vocal perfectly into a song can also turn the same sounds into slightly incomprehensible ones. Sidechain return effects turn to be quite helpful in these situations. This kind of compression might not be perceptible at a first glance. Nevertheless, eventually, it can make the overall mix sound cleaner.
Sidechain Processing
Sidechain processing is a technique that allows an audio signal from one track to apply control over an audio signal in another one. Overall, sidechain is a pretty helpful process that gives the kick a wider space. The user can sidechain certain frequencies of a sound for them to drop when another sound arrives. This production technique applies to many music genres. The reason is it creates a dynamic volume output of a sound signal while another one plays.
