This article describes the parameters of side chainers

 

1. Modulators

Modulators can be understood as the global sidechain parameters, that will then be sent to the channels individually.

Modulators allow to "shape" the input signal to create your basic modulation.

There are 2 modulators available to Side Channels :

1. EF-SC 1  (envelope follower level modulator)
2. EF SC 2

Attack/Release: allows to smooth the source by modifying transient attack and release times.
Offset: this is the "floor" value of the modulation. It is the Level of the sound without level modulation, the level underwhich it will never go.
Amount (Am): This is the amound of modulation that will be added to the Offset. It is a way to set the maximum level of modulation.
Output: is a master gain for the whole modulation signal: it will act on levels of the offset and amounts at the same time.
Master   : is a master gain that acts on both modulators at the same time. It would be used to modify the levels of all modulated channels at once.

Link: It is possible to link some parameters of the modulators, by pressing on the central "link" button, which will link;
- Attack,
- Release
- Offset
- Amount
- Output

When linked, the linked parameters of the EFSC2 will be "blurred" and barely visible on the surface, making them unavailable to edition.

SC Sources: The source of the envelope followers can be:
- Any of the module channels
-The SC1 external modulation input
- The SC2 external modulation input

So the number of source mainly depends on the "size" of the sidechainer: a SC24 has 24 channel sources, and a SC82 has 8 sources, ... + 2 which are the SC1 & 2 input pads.

The 2 EF-SC modules are mono and can be used to build the "left" and "right"  sidechains.
In order to do this easily, it has been decided that the source of modulation will be as follows:
- EF-SC1 will use the left side of the channels
- EF SC 2 will use the right side of the channels

In other words, selecting the channel 8 as a source will be understood like this:
- EF-SC1 will use left input of channel 8
- EF SC2 will use the right input of channel 8

On the contrary, both SC1 and SC2 are available as a source for both modulators.

Importance of the source

You might think that having only two modulators is limited, but think of it as a super-sidechainer raher than the classic "kick compression trcik".
You can use a kick of course, but you should try with a simple drum loop or other less usual sources such as synths programmed with the exact adsr that you want for your pumps.

2. Side Channels

Side Channels are where the level modulations are customized for each channel. - On/Off: when the "SC" is off, the channel is merely a "pass through circuit". All parameters are "blurred" and not available to edition. "SC On" activates individual sidechain functions, and parameters are much more luminous. It is very easy to see in a glance which channels are active. - Type: the modulation can "compress" (remove) or "expand" (add) level to the original level. By using the right type, you can create classic sidechain pumps as well as gated sequences. - Amount: it is the individual amount of modulation for this channel. This amount is common to both left and right sidechains. - Sources (drop-down list selector) Individual Left and Right sources. You can see that you can have all kind of combination per channel. The source selectors include micro-potis that are anchors to assign a midi CC. The very small potis are not the main control of this parameters, and should be used only to assign a midi CC to it. - Offset: offset is like the "Floor" level of the channel, the minimum under which it will not go.

 

The modulators are a basic shape, while the channels allow to "translate" a basic modulator in to various effects (positive, negative and at different level (modulation amount).

The channels Amount and Offsets are essential to get the right gate or compression effect.

The most important parameters to create the right sidechain effect are:
- Source/Attack/Release on modulators
- Type/Amount/Offset on channels

All other parameters are fine-tuners of those main parameters.

Contrary to a compressor, the resulting effect can be very "hard" , because what is needed to be achieved is gates, in addition to "softer modulation" that can sound like a compressor or an adsr, but cannot be used for compression effects because there is no threshold involved (as in sidechain, the threshold is at minimum, allowing the "gate/VCA" produced by the sidechained-compressor to be always active.