Audio Dynamics Sidechain Compressor

Audio dynamics processor with an external sidechain input. The dynamics processing is driven by the sidechain signal instead of the input signal itself.

Supports four modes: downward compression, upward compression, downward expansion and upward expansion.

Settings

bypass

Bypasses the module processing when activated (ON).

• OFF (0): Module processes normally
• ON (1): Input passes directly to output without processing

in

Audio input flow(s).

out

Audio output flow(s).

mode

Selects the dynamics processing mode. Each mode defines how the module reacts to signals relative to the threshold:

• down comp -- Downward compression. Signals above the threshold are attenuated toward it. This is the classic compressor behavior: it tames loud peaks while leaving quieter parts untouched. The louder the signal exceeds the threshold, the more it gets reduced. Use it to control peaks, glue a mix together, or add sustain to instruments.

• up comp -- Upward compression. Signals below the threshold are boosted toward it. Quiet details are brought up without affecting loud signals. Unlike downward compression which pushes peaks down, upward compression lifts the quiet parts up. Use it to reveal subtle details, add presence to vocals, or thicken a sound without squashing transients.

• down exp -- Downward expansion. Signals below the threshold are pushed further down. It acts like a gentle gate: the quieter the signal is below the threshold, the more it gets attenuated. Use it to reduce noise, bleed, or room ambience between notes.

• up exp -- Upward expansion. Signals above the threshold are boosted further up. It restores dynamics that were previously lost (e.g., by over-compression), making loud signals even louder. Use it to add punch and restore transient impact.

The ratio controls the intensity of the effect in all modes. The knee smooths the transition around the threshold.

threshold

Sets the level (in dB) where the processing begins.

ratio

Sets the intensity of the effect. For example, with a ratio of 3:1 in downward compression mode, a signal 6 dB above the threshold will come out only 2 dB above the threshold. In expansion modes, the ratio is internally remapped to a musically useful range.

knee

Sets the width of the soft knee transition zone in dB. At 0 dB the knee is hard (abrupt transition). Higher values create a smoother, more gradual transition between the passive and active regions around the threshold.

makeup gain

Adds a fixed amount of make-up gain (in dB) at the output, so an optimum level can be maintained after processing.

attack time

Attack time in ms.

release time

Release time in ms.

gain change

Shows the current gain change in dB. Negative values indicate gain reduction (downward compression, downward expansion), positive values indicate gain boost (upward compression, upward expansion).

sidechain

External sidechain audio input. The envelope of this signal controls the dynamics processing applied to the main audio input.

See also

• DYN Gate
• DYN Compressor
• DYN Limiter
• DYN Envelop Modifier
• Dynamics
• Audio Envelope ADSR
• Audio Dynamics Soft Clipping
• Audio Dynamics Simple Gate
• Audio Dynamics Sidechain Compressor
• Audio Dynamics Compressor
• Audio Dynamics Limiter