> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.sampler.meiji.industries/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Set Up Sidechain Ducking

> Create rhythmic space by letting one channel step out of the way of another.

# Set up sidechain ducking

## What this recipe is for

Use this when the kick, bass, loop, or texture are fighting for the same space.

Ducking is not just for obvious pumping. It is also one of the cleanest ways to make a mix breathe.

## Best first target

Start with one of these:

* kick ducking a bass channel
* kick ducking a long melodic loop
* snare ducking a noisy texture that is crowding the backbeat

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Choose the source channel">
    Pick the sound that should trigger the duck, usually the kick.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose the channel that should move out of the way">
    Open the ducking controls for the sustained or crowded sound, not the trigger source.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the duck source and amount">
    Choose the trigger channel and start with a moderate amount. You want space, not collapse.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Adjust threshold, attack, and release">
    Shorter settings feel tighter and more obvious. Longer release settings create a more dramatic swell. Tune the movement so it supports the groove instead of flattening it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Compare before and after in context">
    Toggle the effect while the loop is playing. Keep the duck only if the groove gets clearer, heavier, or easier to follow.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## What good looks like

The groove should feel:

* clearer
* punchier
* easier to hear without increasing overall level

## Related pages

* [Mixer And Effects](/guides/mixer-and-effects)
* [Effects And Parameters](/reference/effects-and-parameters)