Sound Performance Lab Model 2049 manual Applications, Sidechain

Applications Using and enjoying the Kultube

External compression control

Frequency-selective Compression

De-Essing

Ducking: Automatically a desired level relation between two signals (e.g. music and microphone)

Ducking & De-Compression: Transferring rhythmic structures to any signal

Sidechain

Use of the SIDECHAIN inputs expands the possibilities for controlling compression. A typical application is frequency-selective compression, whereby an external equalizer is used to raise the frequencies at which the compressor should respond or to filter out the frequency band you wish the compressor to ignore.

If a summed signal has a lot of bass for example that you want to preserve, you often run into the problem that the compressor responds strongly to these frequency ranges, making it difficult to process mid- and high frequencies. By using the equalizer to reduce bass frequencies, the Kultube will no longer respond to them as intensely and you can address the other ranges with no difficulty.

Yet another typical application is de-essing: The corresponding frequency range (around 6-8kHz) is raised so that the compressor engages precisely there to reduce the sibilance. To monitor the filtered signal (i.e. the signal supplied by the EQ), press the KEY LISTEN switch on the front panel. Now you can easily monitor the EQ setting without any additional measures. As soon as you need to use the signal in the sidechain, simply press the KEY ON switch.

Another interesting and useful feature is ducking, whereby the sidechain is fed for example with a microphone signal. The music volume is reduced whenever speech is introduced (great for DJs). Other very interesting effects can be obtained by turning on decompression mode with the ducking appli- cation. To do this, turn the MAKE UP GAIN controller to full clockwise (means lower in this mode!) and use the Threshold and Ration controllers to deter- mine the desired processing point. Now the loudness of the music signal is controlled by the sidechain, i.e. the louder the sidechain, the louder the music signal becomes. This technique allows you to create totally new sounds! Here is just one example: feed a synthpad to the audio input of the Kultube and a drum loop to the sidechain. The synthpad now gets the same rhythm as the drum loop!

Note on the VU meter: if the meter indicates output level, pressing the KEY LISTEN switch will show the signal from the sidechain input

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