Sidoskatkeaminen

Sidoskatkeaminen, often translated as "side-chaining" in English, is a signal processing technique primarily used in audio production. It allows one audio signal to control the volume of another audio signal. The core idea is that the "side-chain" signal, which is not heard directly, triggers changes in the "main" audio signal.

The most common application of sidoskatkeaminen is in music mixing, particularly with the "ducker" effect. A classic example is using a vocal track as the side-chain signal to control the volume of a music track. When the vocalist sings, their voice (the side-chain signal) momentarily lowers the volume of the music (the main signal), making the vocals more prominent and easier to understand. When the vocals stop, the music volume returns to its original level. This creates a pumping or ducking effect.

Beyond vocals and music, sidoskatkeaminen can be used for various creative and functional purposes. For instance, it can be employed to automatically lower the volume of background music when dialogue occurs in a film or podcast, ensuring clarity. It can also be used to create rhythmic effects, where a percussive element triggers volume changes in another instrument. The controls typically associated with sidoskatkeaminen include threshold (the level at which the side-chain signal starts to affect the main signal), ratio (how much the volume is reduced), attack (how quickly the reduction happens), and release (how quickly the volume returns to normal).