Ducker in the delay and reverb

[Thenewexhibit]

If the ducker detector is set to Block L+R, I assume that means whatever the output signal is before your Delay or Reverb? If so, is there a way to see what your level might be going into those? I’m wondering the best way to dial in the ducker. Of course by ear, but, if for example, if your sound is floating around zero on the meter before any delay or reverb, is it safe to say that if you set the threshold to -3, and the attenuation to -3, then you would be activating the ducker and potentially getting -3dB of reduction?

 

[Thenewexhibit]

@duriehill hello! Are you saying with the thumbs up that the way I described this would be accurate in terms of setting the ducker to roughly get an expected result?

 

[unix-guy]

You'd get 3dB of reduction regardless of Input level as long as it's crossed the threshold.

 

[duriehill]

Yeah, a level meter would be handy but at the end of the day using your ear to dial in helps you hear the impact. Starting with extreme settings and dialling back is a good way.

An awesome feature

 

[GtarLover]

I find the ducker feature to be invaluable. It allows notes to be heard clearly without getting muddled, especially when playing a lead line. Then when you stop playing notes, the delay or reverb will activate and leave you the tail, brilliant.
I like to attenuate 6db with both, that's my sweet spot, and then set the threshold to taste.

I was first introduced to ducking with the TC 2290 unit. Ducking was a revelation for me at that point.

Play around with it, good luck

 

[md1234]

Would my wish solve this, i guess so:
Thread 'Duck meter' https://forum.fractalaudio.com/threads/duck-meter.194438/

 

[Shenks]

IIRC I also apply some damping when using extreme settings so that you don't get a sudden (and jarring) blip of volume on the trails... unless that's what you want of course.

 

[Bakerman]

You'd get 3dB of reduction regardless of Input level as long as it's crossed the threshold.

There's some kind of slope/curve to the reduction. I didn't check exactly how linear it is but for input ~25 dB beyond the threshold, the attenuation will only be about half of the actual attenuation value.

 

[Thenewexhibit]

You'd get 3dB of reduction regardless of Input level as long as it's crossed the threshold.

Got ya! That makes sense, but what I’m trying to find out is where is that threshold? If the block is set to Block In L+R, does that mean that the level that’s showing in the output block is the indicator of what the threshold is?
For example, I set all of my tones to float around 0 on the preset leveler. Does this mean that if I set the threshold to -3, it will be getting triggered?
I suppose I could set the reduction to be for example, -3dB and then turn the threshold all the way down, then I would be getting a constant -3dB reduction pretty much all of the time, but I’d like to use the numbers to my advantage to set it to work dynamically.

I do this with side chaining a bass guitar to a kick drum. Since I know I like 3-4dB of reduction and it works dynamically depending on how hard the kick hits, I have a meter to get me there right away. Since we don’t have that meter, I’d like to know numbers wise if what I mentioned with the Block In L+R correlates.

 

[Thenewexhibit]

Yeah, a level meter would be handy but at the end of the day using your ear to dial in helps you hear the impact. Starting with extreme settings and dialling back is a good way.

An awesome feature

I understand the use your ears, but I do this in mixing for example to side chain a bass guitar to a kick drum, and using a meter not only gets you there faster, but also trains your ear better to know if you need more or less; to actually know what 3dB, or 5dB etc. actually sounds like. That’s why I’d like to know if the input detector of the block when set to Block In L+R correlates to whatever the output block shows pre your delay and reverb.

 

[Thenewexhibit]

There's some kind of slope/curve to the reduction. I didn't check exactly how linear it is but for input ~25 dB beyond the threshold, the attenuation will only be about half of the actual attenuation value.

Interesting! Is this in the wiki? So are you saying if the signal exceeds the threshold by 25, your max attenuation would only be around 12.5 even if the attenuation is set to -25? Maybe I’m not understanding what you’re saying.

 

[duriehill]

I understand the use your ears, but I do this in mixing for example to side chain a bass guitar to a kick drum, and using a meter not only gets you there faster, but also trains your ear better to know if you need more or less; to actually know what 3dB, or 5dB etc. actually sounds like. That’s why I’d like to know if the input detector of the block when set to Block In L+R correlates to whatever the output block shows pre your delay and reverb.

I understand the use your ears, but I do this in mixing for example to side chain a bass guitar to a kick drum, and using a meter not only gets you there faster, but also trains your ear better to know if you need more or less; to actually know what 3dB, or 5dB etc. actually sounds like. That’s why I’d like to know if the input detector of the block when set to Block In L+R correlates to whatever the output block shows pre your delay and reverb.

Cool, yeah I understand, I mix as well.

A utility block would be quiet handy to be able to place anywhere on the grid and connect to a source for measurments and sanity checking.