Using side-chain compression

Another technique to use with compressors is called side-chain compression.…Side-chain compression is when we take an audio signal from a different source…to activate the compressor every time the signal passes the threshold.…To demonstrate this, I've created a new Live set with a kick track.…(music playing) And a pad sound.…(music playing)…A pad sound is a lush sustained sound that comes to emulate what strings would…be in the real world.…It sounds something like this.…

(music playing)…I'm going to add a compressor from the Live browser.…Let's go to Audio Effects and drag a compressor on the pad.…I'm going to click on the Side Chain toggle to open up the Side Chain section,…turn on Side Chain, and change the Audio From to Kick.…Now, we can see that the Threshold signal is coming from the kick rather from the pad.…(music playing)…If we start turning down the Threshold, listen to what happens.…

(music playing)…Let's do the same thing by listening only to the pads.…(music playing)…So, by side-chain compressing a track, we can create that pumping feeling or…