For my first post on this blog, I'd like to discuss my obsession with sidechain compression. Its the sound that puts the bounce in my step while walking around the City bearing headphones. Its the musical technique DJs employ to move the floor like a choreographed ocean wave. Its the uncredited cousin of house music's "umm cha umm cha umm cha."
Technically, sidechain compression is a production technique. It uses a compressor (device that reduces the volume of an input when it reaches above a set threshold amount) to dynamically effect the output based on the sidechain input. The sidechain input is most usually a bass drum signal. So, whenever the bass drum hits, the compressor reduces the volume of the track being compressed, and as the bass drum releases, the compressor raises the attack level of the track. Usually, the compressor is set to a long attack and short release, never letting the level get to the decay point. The result is the fading in and quick release of the track being compressed.
Non-technically, listen to the following clip (The Bloody Beetroots - Dimmakmmunication) and you'll get it. Pay attention to the organ-like synth at the beginning, and then listen to how it changes when the bass drum enters around 0:44. For a more drastic example, pay attention after "Hey DJ" around 1:35.
By the way, it is my dream to DJ a club and drop this track, watching the crowd go nuts after "Hey DJ."
Another one of my favorites is Autoerotique's remix of Lykke Li- Little Bit. Many different tracks of the song are sidechained, including the bass and a little bit (pun intended) of the vocals. Autoerotique also puts most of the instruments on the syncopated off beats, making it impossible for an engrossed listener to sit still.
Another great track is Purple Haze - Bliksem (Purple Haze is the alterego of Sander van Doorn, master of dark and heavy house music).
And, last, no post on sidechain compression could be complete without the modern classic Deadmau5 - Ghosts N Stuff.
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