Ducking is an essential technique for EDM production.
You can create it with a sidechained compressor or a dedicated ducking plug-in. This guide explains both methods.
What Is Ducking?
First, let’s define ducking.
EDM kicks are often very full and occupy a wide portion of the low-frequency range.
In rock, the bass often plays with the kick. In EDM, layering a heavy kick and bass at the same moment can create too much energy and make the mix feel crowded.
Ducking lowers the bass, synths, and other layers while the kick is playing.
The sudden reduction in volume causes the bass and synth layers to surge around the kick, creating the pumping groove associated with EDM.
The effect is difficult to communicate in text, so watch this explanation and demonstration.
Create Ducking with a Sidechained Compressor
The effect most commonly used for ducking is a compressor, which is included with virtually every DAW.
I use Logic, so this example uses its built-in Compressor. The principle is the same with other compressors; configure their corresponding parameters similarly.
Insert the compressor on the track you want to duck and select the drum track’s kick as the sidechain input.
Start by setting Attack and Release to their minimum values. Low values create the effect, but beginning at zero makes it easier to hear before you refine the settings.
A higher Ratio creates stronger compression. I often begin around 5:1 or 6:1, though starting above 10:1 is also fine.
Some compressors may not include Knee. Its effect can be subtle here, so a moderate setting is fine.
Make Up controls gain and may not appear on every compressor. Set it roughly for now and adjust the final level later.
Play both the processed track and the kick that triggers the sidechain, then adjust Threshold. You should hear the ducking begin to work.
Finally, play the full song and refine each parameter.
Create Ducking with a Dedicated Plug-In
Sidechain compression is the traditional method, but setting up its routing can become tedious as a song grows.
It requires a kick or another trigger before the track can duck. With several drum tracks, it can also become unclear which kick should be the sidechain source.
Dedicated ducking plug-ins avoid that setup and are another useful option.
Examples of plug-ins that create EDM-style ducking include:
- LFO Tool
- VolumeShaper
- OneKnob Pumper
- Kickstart
- Duck
- coreFX VolumeFormer
These were the main options I found at the time. I would eventually like to compare all of them directly.
I owned Kickstart, whose strengths were simplicity and low cost. It was about ¥1,500 when this article was written, making it inexpensive to try.
Update: I Bought coreFX VolumeFormer
I later purchased coreFX VolumeFormer.
Kickstart lets you choose from preset waveforms, while VolumeFormer lets you draw a custom curve. I like the much finer control it provides.
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