Sidechain Gate: A Simple and Effective Tool for Sidechain Gating
In modern music production, the sidechain technique has become almost indispensable. It allows for the creation of a dynamic link between different elements of a mix, giving tracks energy, space, and a professional sound. One of the most common applications of sidechaining is sidechain compression or gating, where the volume of one signal is controlled by another. It is for such tasks that the Sidechain Gate plugin from Slim Slow Slider was developed – a simple but extremely useful tool.
What is Sidechain Gate?
Unlike a regular gate, which opens or closes depending on the level of the signal itself, a sidechain gate uses an external “control” signal. When the level of the control signal exceeds the set threshold, the gate opens, passing the main signal. When the control signal falls below the threshold, the gate closes. This allows for the creation of rhythmic effects or “pumping,” as well as effectively “clearing” the mix, allowing instruments to “breathe” and avoid frequency conflicts.
Features of the Sidechain Gate Plugin from Slim Slow Slider
The Sidechain Gate plugin is designed with an emphasis on simplicity and functionality, providing musicians and producers with an effective tool for implementing sidechain effects. Here are the key features:
- Simple Interface: The plugin has a minimalist design, which allows you to quickly understand its operation and adjust the necessary parameters without long manuals.
- Two Stereo Inputs: It is equipped with two stereo inputs. The first is for the main audio signal that you want to process with the gate. The second is a special “Key Input” or “Sidechain Input,” where the control signal is fed (for example, the signal from a kick drum, bass, or any other source that should control the gate’s operation).
- Requires Flexible DAW Routing: An important condition for the correct operation of Sidechain Gate is support for flexible signal routing by your DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). You will need to set up a send from the control signal track (for example, the kick drum) to the Sidechain Input of the Sidechain Gate plugin, which is placed on another track (for example, the bass or synth pad). Most modern DAWs have such routing capabilities.
- Compactness and Lightness: The plugin is resource-efficient and does not overload the processor, which allows you to use it in large projects.
Areas of Application for Sidechain Gate
Thanks to its simplicity and effectiveness, Sidechain Gate finds its application in many scenarios:
- Creating the “Pumping” Effect: A classic example is sidechain gating on a synth pad or bass, controlled by the kick drum signal. This creates a rhythmic “pumping” effect, which is a hallmark of electronic dance music but can be used to add groove in any genre.
- Cleaning up the Mix: Using the gate on a bass track, controlled by the kick drum signal, allows the bass to sound only in the pauses between the kick drum hits. This helps to avoid the accumulation of low frequencies and makes the mix cleaner and denser.
- Rhythmic Effects: Sidechain gating can be used to create interesting rhythmic patterns on sustained sounds (pads, drones, atmospheric sounds) or even vocals, using percussion or any other rhythmic element as the control signal.
- Dynamic Control of Instruments: It can be used so that one instrument “steps back” into the background when another is playing and returns to its previous level when the controlling instrument falls silent.
The Sidechain Gate plugin is available as a free VST plugin for Windows operating systems (32-bit architecture). This makes it an excellent choice for musicians and producers looking for a simple but effective tool for solving standard sidechain gating tasks without the need to master complex multi-functional plugins. It is ideal for quickly implementing dynamic effects in your tracks, helping you achieve a more controlled and energetic sound.
If you are working on Windows and your DAW supports flexible sidechain signal routing, the Sidechain Gate from Slim Slow Slider will be a valuable addition to your arsenal of free plugins. Try it in your next projects to experience all the simplicity and effectiveness of this tool!
