Sidechain Compression [Logic]

[wirez]

Hey all,
I've found an issue when I'm sidechain compressing in Logic and wondered if anybody else had the same problem, and had found a way to fix it...

When I'm ducking bass (or other sounds, but the problem usually happens with bass more than others) when my kick drum hits, it's causing the bass to create a sort of pop/click sound at the start of every bass note...

Here is the way I set the sidechain compression up -

Pre fade send kick or other trigger to a bus
Change buses output to nothing
After all other effects/processing in the signal chain, add a (standard logic) compressor (circuit type platinum) with the sidechain set to the bus the trigger is sent to.
I then change the compressor type to peak as opposed to RMS.

Here is what I've tried to stop this clicking -
Adjusted the ADSR on the bass sound itself
Adjusted the attack and release some more on the compressor
Changed the compressor type from peak to RMS (not ideal for the ducking sound I'm looking for, but was checking to see if the clicking problem persisted, which it did...)
Adjusted the Knee of the compressor
Generally tried compressing harder with a harder ratio and threshold, and the opposite

Does anybody have any ideas what's causing this click/pop and what I can do to sort it?!

[Depone]

Not sure whats goin on here. I was gonna suggest using a different circuitry type? might fix it. VCA is an amazing compression type. It adds subtle harmonic distortion to the compression to bring warmth to it. I find the platinum setting to 'smooth' it doesn't add enough character for me.

At times my bass will distort with the compressor cause the attack/release is too fast (especially on VCA mode).

As you havant tried changing the circuitry type, i suggest to try this out.

Also are you driving into the compressor to high? does it compress with the threshold all the way up? Is the clicking during note on/off or all the way through?
It also sounds like a buffer size problem to me. Try increasing/decreasing the buffer size under the audio prefs. Larger buffer will result in more latency when playing notes in, but will be fine if your using keyboard/mouse to sequence.

Hope i have helped. Let me know if it works.

[wirez]

Not sure whats goin on here. I was gonna suggest using a different circuitry type? might fix it. VCA is an amazing compression type. It adds subtle harmonic distortion to the compression to bring warmth to it. I find the platinum setting to 'smooth' it doesn't add enough character for me.

At times my bass will distort with the compressor cause the attack/release is too fast (especially on VCA mode).

As you havant tried changing the circuitry type, i suggest to try this out.

Also are you driving into the compressor to high? does it compress with the threshold all the way up? Is the clicking during note on/off or all the way through?
It also sounds like a buffer size problem to me. Try increasing/decreasing the buffer size under the audio prefs. Larger buffer will result in more latency when playing notes in, but will be fine if your using keyboard/mouse to sequence.

Hope i have helped. Let me know if it works.

Hey dude, thanks for replying!
Unfortunately, I've tried every single thing you've suggested already! Haha, really don't understand it... It's not a CPU/latency issue or a monitoring issue because I have a pretty new Mac with a decent spec and never usually have any issues, it's just with sidechaining bass I have recently changed monitors so it's not that either...
I rarely add more gain than the amount deducted when compressing and never really need to add gain when sidechaining bass, so I don't think it's that either... It's during the note on/off, but it's not a CPU thing, I'm pretty sure..

[Sharmaji]

play with attack/release and threshold. if you've got a long attack that's letting a faint bit of the orig. sound thru before the compression kicks in--that's your snap/crackle/pop.

in sidehcaining, i usually start with the attack all the way down at zero, the ratio at about 8 or so, the threshold set to take off as much as i'm looking to do, and the release set to the 'groove'-- the funk of your sidechain is really in the release.

but yeah, start with the attack super-fast so the input key triggers the compression immediately.

[r]

just put a envelope on ur bass sound don't sidechain it too heavy like u do. You can also move your midi not a bit more of the count. Maybe your kick sample isn't startin EXACTLY on the 1. I know ur problem, i got it 2 but i fix it mostly with an envelope

[gidman]

Just out of curiosity, what synth are you using? Because i find that with the ES2, no matter how much i play with the adsr, i still get a click when using it for a sub. If you low pass the sub around 500hz, i find it removes it. May help

[wirez]

Just out of curiosity, what synth are you using? Because i find that with the ES2, no matter how much i play with the adsr, i still get a click when using it for a sub. If you low pass the sub around 500hz, i find it removes it. May help

Hey dude, I've actually tried it with a number of synths (and samples) it's definitely the compressor causing the click as opposed to my patches... But I have had this problem with the ES2 also, but managed to sort it! It was an issue with the vector and router matrixes. When making Sub basses on ES2, just turn all of the vector and routing preferences off, including where it says 'x, y + mix' in the vector window, then readjust your cutoff and drive, your ADSR attack and release a tiny bit and you should no longer have the problem with the ES2 sub bass... Until you decide to use sidechain compression

[Grimace]

my bass's output is routed to a bus, in that bus i have logic's compressor set it too vca (fuck platinum shit always clicks) and obviously have the sidechain to the kick, trust me have the attack a bit up (it distorts without any attack) and a decent release, raise the ratio & bring adjust the threshold


no lie that mofo will be gone

VCA!

[sudden]

im having this issue aswell.
exactly same setup with the prefade to the bus from the kick channel with no output on the bus channel.

the platinum peak setup on the compressor seems to be the only settings where i can completely eliminate any clicks or pops. VCA or anything else is faaar to noticable.

its sounds like what shamarji said where the sub it is letting a faint bit of the kick through as the compressors is acting off the sidechain.
what i dont understand is why im hearing any kick at all when its just a blank signal(as there is no output) feeding the compressors sidechain. the only sound i should be hearing is sub wtf!

[Depone]

adjust the attack and release times, when they are too quick, distortion and clicks occur

[sudden]

ive done that trust me. i get a sound of the kick bleeding through with pretty much every attack release setting. its to the point where sidechain is not useful whatsoever on any other circuit type.

[AJGR]

are you getting clicks on your attack, release or both? if it's attack use a slower attack time on your bass amp envelope.
do you tune your kicks with your bass? i always do and have never had any problems with clicks and side chaining.
what are you using for your kicks? maybe it's MIDI timing is shit. try bouncing the kick to audio, flex time it so it's in time and side chain from an audio track and not a bus.

also what version of Logic are you running?

[Ldizzy]

wasnt there something about very low freq info inducing severe distortion in compressors and highly affecting their behaviours.. let me dig for info ...

but first dinner...

[sudden]

i can use hats, snares whatever, with no output, even on an audio track with the side chain coming from the audio and not a bus and I still get weird distorted muffled sound coming through. attack release times can be whatever i hear this sound as soon as the compressor starts working. only the platinum w/peak sounds decent. using logic 8. updating to 9 pretty soon here so hopefully that helps.

[mwb01]

Not sure whats goin on here. I was gonna suggest using a different circuitry type? might fix it. VCA is an amazing compression type. It adds subtle harmonic distortion to the compression to bring warmth to it. I find the platinum setting to 'smooth' it doesn't add enough character for me.

At times my bass will distort with the compressor cause the attack/release is too fast (especially on VCA mode).

As you havant tried changing the circuitry type, i suggest to try this out.

Also are you driving into the compressor to high? does it compress with the threshold all the way up? Is the clicking during note on/off or all the way through?
It also sounds like a buffer size problem to me. Try increasing/decreasing the buffer size under the audio prefs. Larger buffer will result in more latency when playing notes in, but will be fine if your using keyboard/mouse to sequence.

Hope i have helped. Let me know if it works.

platinum setting is great for a smooth ducking