12
External Sidechain
The external sidechain enables the compressor to control its
processing totally independent from the audio material running
through it. If an additional audio source is connected to the ex-
ternal sidechain input of the xpressor, compression will not be triggered
by the signals from the regular audio inputs anymore, but by a different
signal which is fed into the sidechain input.
If, for example, a duplicate of the input signal is processed with an equal-
izer and then fed into the sidechain input, the result will be frequency-
dependent compression. Another example is to send the bass drum of a
drum machine into the sidechain input in order to achieve nice groovy
compression that is pumping in sync with the music.
The creative options are almost infinite. Compression can be exactly on
time or totally against it, which can of course be varied on the fly. Single
instruments can be given more space in a mix according to its rhythm.
All of a sudden, static sounds become vivid and sound really interesting!
In addition to the external sidechain input the xpressor features a send
output, which can be used to feed a summed copy of the input signals
e.g. to an EQ and then into the sidechain input - additional sends from
the DAW or the console are no longer needed.
Note:
The sidechain send output (EXT 2) carries a buffered mono signal
which is generated from summing the left and right input signals.
Note:
The external sidechain feature is activated by inserting a ¼“ phone
jack into the sidechain return input (EXT 1). To deactivate it, just remove
the jack from the EXT 1 connector.
