Ducking (Vocal) Effects Channels

[Some1else]

Hi guys,

Í´m running 4 effects an my SQ5 1. Reverb for Acoustic guitar 2. Delay for Acoustic Guitar 3. Reverb for the Vocals 4. Slap Back Delay for the Vocals.
Everthing sounds ok so far but I want to squeeze the maximum out of it😅
Is there a possibilty to „duck“ the Reverb and Delay (channels) for the vocals?
I want the effects on the vocals being „kept down“ to get maximum clarity while singing and only coming up when the vocals are getting quiter/paused.

Thanxx in advance

Kindest regards from germany

Andy

[Some1else]

Addendum

Í´m routing my vocal channels NOT directly to Main L/R but through a separate group (not DCA) and from there to Main L/R
I also do route my two Vocal FX first into a separate FX group (not DCA) and from there to Main L/R.
So I ´m looking for a way to duck/compress the FX group while there is enough signal on the Vocals (group) and release the FX ducking/compressing when the vocal group is getting quiter.
Hope you can understand what I ´m trying to do ?🙄

Regards Andy

[Tobi]

Hi Andy,
Yes you can. Send the reverb to a stereo group and use the groups compressor/ducker with a Sidechain.

Best Regards,
Tobias

[Some1else]

Hi Tobi,

Thanx for your quick response. My vocals and FX groups, were already set up as Stereo groups.
All i have to do now is to find the way of sidechaining it 😅 will try my best and report

Do you have any parameters you can recommend for ducking the reverb and delay in the FX Group? Should I choose ducking for the compression or a compressor for vocals? Fast attack and fast release times I assume?

Regards Andy

[Tobi]

I dont know what you mean… Your FX ist already a stereo group.

I mean: Use one of the 12 Mixes, configure it as Stereo group. The Take the FX Return Signals, remove them from LR and add IT to that group. The Go to Processing of the group, to compressor and use Library to TT he load the ducker. Enable side chaining and use the original vocal Channel as Side Chain source.

I would then use a quite fast Attack, and also a fast Release. Then you have to fine tune threshold and gain reduction.

Did you mean that, too, or we’re we talking different?

Best Regards!

[Some1else]

Thanx Tobi, nearly all is answered. Only one question is open.
When using the sidechain, is it „better“ to use the ducker or a compressor (from the library) to compress the FX signals?
I am asking this because the „curve“ from the ducker looks very different to that of a compressor.
See attachment. The left one is what the ducker looks like and on the right is what the curve of a compressor looks like

Kind regards

Andy

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[Tobi]

For ducking Bass against kick use fast compressors, in your Case, FX, I would Go with ducker…its fast enough and simpler to configure.

[Some1else]

With some playing around, I finally got the sidechaining working as I wanted to with compression on the FX Group

@tobi Thanxx man!!

[Tobi]

You are Welcome. Happy mixing.

[Author]

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