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How to Use a Graphic Equalizer in the Side Chain of a Compressor

The job of a compressor is to turn the volume down when a track gets too loud and to turn the volume up when a track gets too quiet, thus "compressing" the track's dynamic range. Sometimes you will want to compress certain frequency bands more than others, which is easily done using a graphic equalizer in the compressor's side chain insert. This way, you can use the equalizer to apply different amounts of compression to different frequency bands.

Things You'll Need

  • Graphic equalizer
  • Compressor with sidechain insert
  • 2 TRS cables
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Instructions

    • 1

      Plug one end of the TRS cable into the “Sidechain Out” jack on the compressor, and plug the other end into the “In” jack on the graphic equalizer.

    • 2

      Plug one end of another TRS cable into the “Out” jack on the equalizer, and plug the other end into the “Sidechain In” jack on the compressor.

    • 3

      Increase the volume on the equalizer’s frequency bands to which more compression ought to be applied. For example, to reduce the volume of sibilant “s” and “p” sounds in a human voice, increase volume in the 5- to 10-kHz range on the equalizer. The compressor will receive a stronger signal in that range, and will thus apply more compression to it.

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Recording Music

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