WiN
Sidechain Compressor is a flexible VST/AU compressor plug-in. It can be used as a regular channel strip compressor for clean crisp compression & limiting across a wide range of mixing jobs (e.g. adding punch to drum tracks or presence to vocals). For additional flexibility, the sidechain controls (Lo Cut/Hi Cut/Shape) let you customise the compression response.
However, Sidechain Compressor's real party trick is its Universal Sidechain section. This lets you easily do vocal ducking (standard vocal processing in radio production, to fade out music when a narrator is speaking) or add synchronised ducking effects to dance mixes (making your whole mix "pump" or "breathe" by following a kick drum).
Universal Sidechains work in most multi-track applications, even those that do not directly support side-chaining. It only takes a few mouse clicks and you're up and running!
Notice that when set up like this (External Trig is on), the "send" plug-in does not compress the audio, but passes audio unprocessed directly to its output. Only the "receive" plug-in acts as a compressor. For full details please see the User Manual.
For added flexibility, you can side-chain from one "send" track to multiple "receive" tracks. Just set up as above, making sure that every "receive" plug-in is tuned to the same Universal Sidechain bus.
MIDI CONTROL
If you prefer to control your plug-ins with hardware knobs or sliders, Sidechain Compressor is happy to oblige. Thanks to db audioware's easy-to-use MIDI Learn feature, it's simple to map any on-screen control to your favourite external MIDI control surface.
*** Universal Sidechains work with most multi-track audio software (supporting VST or Audio Units) currently available on PC Windows and Mac OS X. However, you should check that Universal Sidechains work correctly on your system before purchasing. Fully functional demo versions of all our products are available for this purpose.
At the heart of Sidechain Compressor is db audioware's Universal Sidechains, the most popular and well-tested independent side-chain method on the market. Universal Sidechains let you side-chain in most multi track hosts, even if the host software itself does not have that native capability***.
So when you want to do multi track side-chaining, simply open two copies of Sidechain Compressor, one in your "send" track and one in your "receive" track. Set the plug-in controls as shown below and your Universal Sidechain is ready to go!
Γû║ FEATURES
all-new compression algorithm with great vintage sound
easy multi track side-chaining based on db audioware's Universal Sidechains
one-to-one-track or one-to-many-tracks side-chaining
elegant user interface with clear visual feedback
precision control over the compression response (EQ & Shape)
gain control for manual gain make-up or fine adjustment of output level
auto-gain with integrated second stage limiter (ensuring levels never get out of control at extreme settings)
full MIDI control, with easy to use MIDI Learn
Curated by
Pluggi
Music Production Curator
since 2020 72,000+ resources 20+ formats
Personally verifies every resource before publishing. Since 2020 — the most complete free library of VST plugins, samples, presets and MIDI for music producers.
VST WAV NKI MIDI Presets DAW