Sidechain compression uses an external trigger signal, such as a kick drum, to govern the gain reduction applied to a different audio track or bus. Whenever the trigger signal crosses the compressor's threshold, the processed audio ducks in volume and returns when the trigger subsides. This creates dynamic space for low-frequency transients and can introduce an exaggerated rhythmic pumping motion across instruments.
How the songs in the archive use it
The technique ducks synth pads, bass elements, and guitars behind kick drum hits to carve out headroom and create rhythmic breathing in tracks such as The Less I Know the Better, bad guy, Closer, STAY, Sunflower, Starboy, Genesis, and Fireflies.
How to do it in Logic Pro
This technique ducks the volume of a track whenever an external trigger, such as a kick drum, plays. Use it to prevent bass and kick elements from clashing or to create rhythmic pumping effects in pads and synths.
Insert Compressor on the track or bus you want to duck.
Set the plug-in header's Side Chain input menu in Logic Pro to the trigger track, such as your kick drum.
Lower Threshold until the trigger signal causes noticeable gain reduction on the meter.
Adjust Attack and Release to sculpt the speed and groove of the ducking envelope.
Plug-in
Control
Value
Listen for
Compressor
Circuit Type
Platinum Digital
clean and transparent ducking response
Compressor
Threshold
-20 dB
compression kicking in whenever the trigger hits
Compressor
Ratio
4:1
clear reduction in target volume during trigger peaks
Compressor
Attack
10 ms
fast enough to duck immediately without an audible click
Compressor
Release
120 ms
smooth recovery back to full volume in time with tempo
A general method with Logic Pro's own plug-ins. Control names are checked against Apple's manual; the values are starting points, so adjust them by ear.
Songs that use it (7)
What each track sheet's analysis found, with the sheet's own score. Analysis, not verified credits.
Sunflower by Post MaloneSidechain Dynamic Pumping: Drum programmer trigger routed to SSL 9000J channel sidechains to dip polyphonic synth pads on every kick strike.Sheet score 6/10 · Source given: Manny Marroquin mix breakdown archives; Inferred: not confirmed against Discogs/MusicBrainz · Open the full track sheet
STAY by The Kid LAROISidechain Pumping Compression: Keying FabFilter Pro-C 2 to the kick drum ducks the master synth bus by 4dB, generating an aggressive rhythmic pulse.Sheet score 6/10 · Source given: Mix acoustic stem analysis; Inferred: not confirmed against Discogs/MusicBrainz · Open the full track sheet
Starboy by The WeekndSustained 808 Grounding: Roland TR-808 sub-bass routed through discrete saturation, ducked under the transient kick to maintain hyper-clean low-end authority.Sheet score 8/10 · Source given: soundonsound.com · Open the full track sheet
Closer by The ChainsmokersSidechain Ducked Lead Chops: Sliced vocal formants keyed to the kick drum trigger aggressive gain reduction creating syncopated future-bass drop rhythmsSheet score 9/10 · Source given: Sound On Sound Inside Track · Open the full track sheet
Closer by The ChainsmokersLow-End Pumping Separation: Sub-bass fundamentals duck hard beneath kick transients, freeing headroom for massive stereo synth chord stacksSheet score 9/10 · Source given: Sound On Sound Inside Track · Open the full track sheet
Genesis by JusticeHard Sidechain Ducking: Routing four-on-the-floor kick transients into internal bus compressors to forcefully pump the stereo synth pads and brass stabs rhythmically.Sheet score 9/10 · Source given: Documented electro-house mixing methodology · Open the full track sheet
Fireflies by Owl CityStereo Ping-Pong & Sidechain Ducking: Extensive syncopated delay lines on synth plucks, paired with subtle sidechain compression pumping triggered by the kick drum to create rhythmic breathing.Sheet score 8/10 · Source given: Robert Orton mix breakdown · Open the full track sheet
Acceptable in the '80s by Calvin HarrisMaster Bus Pumping: Instead of setting up complex internal routing (impossible on the Amiga), Harris routed the entire mix through an Alesis 3630 compressor, allowing the loud kick drum sample to compress the rest of the track, yielding the exaggerated "French Touch" pumping effect.Sheet score 9/10 · Source given: SOS interview deductions · Open the full track sheet
Want these sounds in your own mixes? Every song above has a full track sheet with its signal chains and a step-by-step recreation for your DAW. Open Track DiveAll techniques