Waves RCompressor sidechain in Live 9.5 + "audio to"

[crjmcc]

Hello

I use the Glue compressor *a lot* and am really happy with the sound. But I got fed up of hearing how great the Waves plugins are, so took the plunge this Black Friday and bought a bundle that has the RCompressor, TG123456 and C1 and the various Waves EQ's.

I spent a bleary eyed Saturday A/B'ing Live's EQ8 and Glue vs the Waves plugins.
I have to say it's clear as day to me the quality upgrade and why everyone bangs on about the waves plugins. They are EXCELLENT.

So - I wanted to sidechain the RCompressor from my kick track and duck the bass track a bit. Easily done in Glue, just expand the tab, select the source channel - then tweak till you get what you want.

I tried to figure out how to setup the 'extra' sidechain channel required to route the kick channel sound in to the RCompressor - but I just got a bit lost sadly.
I then noticed the "audio to" box in Live's channel and found I could route a channel to Master and a secondary input. At this point I realised I was 'guessing' and decided to ask on here for advice

Anyone currently use the Waves compressors in Live 9.5 and understand sidechaining setup? and if the "audio to" can be used to route the sidechain signal?

thanks
Chris

Renaissance Compressor Plugin | Waves
Abbey Road EMI TG12345 Channel Strip Plugin | Waves
C1 Compressor / Gate Plugin with Sidechain | Waves

[Stromkraft]

Anyone currently use the Waves compressors in Live 9.5 and understand sidechaining setup? and if the "audio to" can be used to route the sidechain signal?

Likely not, even if it would appear that if the input is shown this would be possible. Waves does explicitly not support side-chaining in Live, which is in the compatibility fine print.

I have recently asked Ableton to please work with Waves on this issue and I have asked Waves to do the same. It would be great if all Live + Waves users did the same.

Ableton support hinted that some specific Waves plug-ins may support side-chaining. I'll make some tests later. I'll suggest you do the same. I have made some set ups for the Native Instrument Solid series, that I plan to share later. Possibly this set up could in theory work for Waves too.

Also note that Waves isn't supported in AU form in Live, nor should you put Waves plug-ins in your Set Templates. My last bout with instability was caused by the latter.

[crjmcc]

I figured it out using RCompressor.
You basically have to copy your source channel and use the copy as a silent duck channel, whose output routes to the input of the compressor.

In the first image :
1. Kick (side) is a copy of the "kick" channel with a 4/4 kick pattern.
2. The audio to is routed to the channel that contains the compressor
3. If you have more than one plugin that accepts the input on that channel - you must choose which input you want to route the signal in to(I only have one so it's greyed out).
4. The compressor highlighted here is actually running on the "string" channel (see its highlighted white)



Click the "SC" option on the RCompressor for sidechaining, then dial in the amount you want and adjust the Compressor as you desire

[Stromkraft]

I figured it out using RCompressor.
You basically have to copy your source channel and use the copy as a silent duck channel, whose output routes to the input of the compressor.

Good work! However, there is no need to copy the channel as you just can send the input from one channel to another. Of course you can have 2 copies by choice and treat the SC source differently.

My solution with Native Instruments plug-ins involved using 2 sends, one with SC signal and one with the signal going to be processed and then running these returns to an audio track where I've placed the effects.

I've yet to get any SC signal into Renaissance Channel, even though the inputs clearly are visible to Live from the sending track. In the C1 plug-in, which would be wonderful to have SC on, there simply are no SC buttons to be found, nor are the inputs visible to Live.

[Stromkraft]

I've yet to get any SC signal into Renaissance Channel, even though the inputs clearly are visible to Live from the sending track. In the C1 plug-in, which would be wonderful to have SC on, there simply are no SC buttons to be found, nor are the inputs visible to Live.

Update: It does seem to be working with RChannel, VComp and inPhase of those I've tried. As per usual you need to route audio specifically to the SC inputs of the plug-in. Also Waves now states in their supported host material that they do support side-chaining in Ableton Live whereas Live was absent before.

However, the C1 Compressor Side Chain doesn't seem have a SC button, nor does it have any inputs that Live sees. I've asked Waves to clarify.