How to Sidechain in FL Studio: Make Your 808 Duck for the Kick

When your kick and 808 hit at the same time, they quickly turn into one muddy blob. With sidechain, your 808 ducks for a moment whenever the kick hits. In FL Studio you do that with Fruity Limiter. Here's how to set it up.

What does sidechain do?

A compressor normally reacts to the sound going through it. With sidechain it listens to a different track. Put a compressor on your 808, let it listen to the kick, and the 808 gets quieter every time the kick hits. Then it comes back.

Step 1: give the kick and 808 their own mixer track

Make sure your kick and your 808 each sit on their own mixer track. If they share one track, the 808 can't duck separately from the kick.

Step 2: send the kick to the 808 track

According to Image-Line, you first select your kick's track in the Mixer. Then you right-click the send switch of the 808 track and choose Sidechain to this track.

There's also an option called Sidechain to this track only. According to Image-Line, that's for when you don't want to hear the source audio itself. With a kick you do want to hear it, so leave that one alone.

Step 3: put Fruity Limiter on your 808

Load Fruity Limiter into a free slot on the 808 track and go to the COMP tab. Right-click SIDECHAIN and choose your kick's mixer track.

Step 4: set the compression

According to Image-Line, you lower the Threshold below the peaks and turn up the Ratio. Attack and Release set how fast the 808 ducks and comes back.

A short attack makes the 808 duck right away. The release sets how long it takes to come back. Too long and your 808 sounds pumpy and thin. Too short and you barely hear a difference. Always listen to the kick and 808 together, not the 808 on its own.

Step 5: check that it works

Turn Fruity Limiter off and on again. Does the kick sound clearer with sidechain? Then you're good. Hear the 808 pumping when you don't want it to? Back off the Threshold or Ratio a little.

Sidechain or change your pattern?

Sidechain isn't the only fix. It often also helps to keep the kick and 808 from hitting at exactly the same time, or to pick a kick that fits your 808 better. More tips in how to mix 808 and kick.

Common mistakes

• Kick and 808 on the same mixer track. Then the 808 can't duck on its own.
• Choosing Sidechain to this track only. Then you no longer hear the kick itself.
• The wrong track under SIDECHAIN. Check that the number matches your kick's mixer track.
• Too much compression. Then your 808 almost disappears.

New to 808s? Read what an 808 is. Want to build the whole beat? Read how to make a trap beat in FL Studio. Working in Ableton Live? Read how to sidechain in Ableton Live. Rather start rapping right away? Browse all beats.

FAQ

How do you sidechain in FL Studio?

Send the kick to the 808 track with Sidechain to this track, put Fruity Limiter on the 808, pick your kick's track under SIDECHAIN in the COMP tab and lower the Threshold.

Do I need a separate plug-in for sidechain?

No. You can do it with FL Studio's own Fruity Limiter.

Why can't I hear my kick anymore after sidechaining?

You probably chose Sidechain to this track only. Choose Sidechain to this track and the kick comes back.

Source: Image-Line's FL Studio manual.