Sidechain frequency compression (equalization)?

hey there. so i was pondering. if i wanted to use a sidechain compression style method of subtractive EQing, or whatever, i wouldnt know what to do. lets say youve got some nice hats just ticking away, and i want only the those frequencies, say 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000, to be subtracted from say a synth thing going on at the same time, is there any way to subtract those hi frequencies from the synth without pulling down each harmonic that it shares with the hats with an equalizer, in a nice easy method similar to sidechain compression? sorry its all worded so badly...

and as a side question, if this doesnt exist can it exist with max/msp?

No, you'll need to do just that: subtract from the synth with EQ.

Sidechain compression at a particular frequency will simply trigger the compressor whenever, let's say, your high hat hits, assuming you boost the high hat frequency going into the sidechain.

Actually, you can do this quite easily in FL studio with the peak controller and any eq whatsoever.

what your describing is what i would call a "sidechain multiband compressor" (if i had to put a name to it). if you were willing to set the frequency range(s) that you want to compress yourself this would be pretty easy to do in max/msp. you would just have to build a multiband compressor and add sidechain capability. i don't know if there are any plugins out there that do this already or not.

if you wanted to have the device actually scan the input content and extract frequency information for the multiband compressor automatically that could be a little more tricky, but again, possible.

edit: after reading Saibot's post perhaps you might consider a different method: build a frequency dependent envelope follower (peak controller), that outputs midi cc's. then you would have the flexibility to route to any midi mappable parameter your want, in this case an eq band.

  On 1/5/2010 at 8:18 PM, ryanmcallister said:

what your describing is what i would call a "sidechain multiband compressor" (if i had to put a name to it). if you were willing to set the frequency range(s) that you want to compress yourself this would be pretty easy to do in max/msp. you would just have to build a multiband compressor and add sidechain capability. i don't know if there are any plugins out there that do this already or not.

 

if you wanted to have the device actually scan the input content and extract frequency information for the multiband compressor automatically that could be a little more tricky, but again, possible.

 

edit: after reading Saibot's post perhaps you might consider a different method: build a frequency dependent envelope follower (peak controller), that outputs midi cc's. then you would have the flexibility to route to any midi mappable parameter your want, in this case an eq band.

exactly. i didn't get your intentions exactly but it seems you are trying to do one of two things:

1. have a specific frequency interval in a trigger feed trigger the ducking of another specific frequency interval or

2. just have a simple trigger duck a specific frequency interval

In the first case you should send the trigger audio to another track (or sens) with a bandpass (isolating your preferred trigger freq range) followed by a peak controller with muted output. In the second case just put a peak controller on your preferred trigger (i'm gonna guess some lead or something) with unmuted output.

Finally, in both cases, just find the EQ band parameter in the effects section and "link to controller" in peak mode with a "1-output-0.5" formula.

Alternatively, as mcallister noted, there are actual multiband compressors that take sidechain input (at least one in the waves series, if i'm not mistaken). This would only work in DAW's with true sidechain capability (such as Cubase 4 onwards, logic, possibly FL Studio 9 [haven't checked myself]).

Max\msp is quite a stretch for this simple a trick. But sure, knock yourself out, be Autechre.

Have fun.