PRESONUS studiolive III series Owner's Manual page 43

5 The Fat Channel
5.1 Fat Channel Navigation
5.1.2.1 Sidechaining the Gate
9. Key Listen. Touch to enable the Key Listen function.
10. Output Meter. Displays the post-Gate signal level.
11. Gain Reduction Meter. Displays the amount of Gain Reduction applied by the
Gate to the channel.
12. Expander. Enables the Expander.
13. Gate. Enables the Gate.
14. Input Meter. Displays the pre-Gate signal level.
15. Release. Sets the Release time for the Gate/Expander.
16. Range. Sets the Range for the Gate.
17. Threshold. Sets the Threshold for the Gate/Expander.
18. Attack. Sets the Attack time for the Gate/Expander.
Power User Tip: Use the Tap button to "null" button any parameter by pressing and
holding the Tap button while adjusting the control of your choice to return that control to
its default setting
As previously mentioned, the Gate's key filter can be sidechained to another channel.
This allows you to select a different channel as the trigger source for your StudioLive
Gate's Key Filter. Sidechaining has many uses:
Tighten up a Rhythm Section. You can use a sidechained key filter to tighten up
a rhythm section by sidechaining the kick drum channel to the bass channel and
setting the gate to open at the frequency of the kick drum. This, combined with a fast
attack and release, will make your rhythm section more cohesive. Increase the release
time to loosen the feel.
Rhythmic Effect. Another great use for a sidechain is as an effect in EDM production.
Try sidechaining a drum loop to a sustained source, like pads or strings. By doing
this, every time a drum hit triggers the key filter, your sustained source will be heard.
Between hits, this source will be silenced. Playing with the attack and release will
transform this effect from a rhythmic pulse all the way to a chopped-up stutter.
This tutorial will guide you through the first use case. Please note, that while
sidechaining the kick drum to the bass channel can tighten up a good rhythm
section and make them sound even better, it will not correct timing issues and will
actually exaggerate them if your bass player and drummer aren't in the pocket.
For this purposes of this tutorial, we'll use the dynamics of the kick drum on Channel
1 to trigger the gate for the bass on Channel 15.
1. Press the Select button on the bass channel, to bring it into focus in the
Fat Channel.
2. Press the Gate button in the Fat Channel, to access gate/expander controls
for the bass channel.
StudioLive™ Series III
Owner's Manual
39