Gain Follower

[Prime Mover]

For a while now, I've been wanting some kind of dynamic side-chain effect where I can use one track's gain to proportionally control the gain of another track. For instance, I often want to have a track of sculpted Brownian noise follow the level of a an ambient field recording like waves or rain. I've tried expanders, but I can never get the settings right, they always end up being exponential.

The current project I'm working on has some field-recorded rain. I had to low-pass the original recording because there was some traffic in the background that was creating low-end engine rumble. But the low end of a rainstorm is basically brown noise, so I've had some success just throwing in a track of brownian, and EQing it bit. But in this case, my rain track is pretty dynamic, and I'd like the brownian noise to follow that track's relative volume. It'd be nice to gate with silence, peak at 0dB, and everything in between.

Any expander settings or effects that ring a bell?

[buzzsmith]

Strictly top of my head...I wonder if the Waves Vocal Rider might be of some value?

Obviously designed for vocal levels in relation to a mix, but maybe?...

Buzzy


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[Phil O]

See if this is any help:

http://www.bluecataudio.com/Tutorials/P ... kMeterPro/

[stubbsonic]

Another option (if you happen to have one lying around) is a Lexicon MPX1-- which also generates a control stream based on input level.

I recently sold my MPX1 (wasn't using it), and am now doing a little bit of self-kicking. Though the UI was not very intuitive, it was a feature-packed monster box.

I have also used a vocoder for a similar effect. I remember inputing a gusty, haunting wind sound in one input and some indigenous flute & drum music on another and the result was captivating.

[Shooshie]

Waves has a couple of "rider" plugins that I use. They're very successful. I like them.

As for side chaining, you may have to do that another way, using the output from something like Vocal Rider as your sidechain input.

Shoosh

[stringtheory]

i've been getting good results with "Trackspacer" by Wavesfactory. good for subtle stuff, opening up a mix a little for vox, etc., but can also get some interesting effects if you push it. might be able to do what you're looking for.