Any smart way to apply effect only during pauses?

[111]

As a metal guitarist I`m not used to synthesizers and processing them but a friend of mine asked for help with recording and mixing his stuff, so I`m working on it. There`s an intermittent lead synth part across the whole track, and I want to add some delay and reverb, but only on the "tail" of each synth part, because constant delay\reverb sounds awful and muddy. Is that possible to automate the process in Reaper? I don`t want to draw bypass on the whole track. I imagine there might be a side-chain trick, but can`t figure it out for myself

[JHaas]

If I understand the problem, you could add the Reverb and delay as send effects, and put a compressor following each one, side chained to the synth lead track. When the synth lead stops, the compressor releases to allow the effect level to rise. This is commonly called “Ducking”, some delays have a ducking feature built in.

[jrk]

Originally Posted by 111

As a metal guitarist I`m not used to synthesizers and processing them but a friend of mine asked for help with recording and mixing his stuff, so I`m working on it. There`s an intermittent lead synth part across the whole track, and I want to add some delay and reverb, but only on the "tail" of each synth part, because constant delay\reverb sounds awful and muddy. Is that possible to automate the process in Reaper? I don`t want to draw bypass on the whole track. I imagine there might be a side-chain trick, but can`t figure it out for myself

There's a few ways of doing it. This might work for you

First of all, set up a track with the fx you want and do a send from your synth to that. The fx will be 100% wet - you can mix them in to taste.

On that fx track add (say) ReaComp (as the last fx) - turn the ratio up high and the threshold down
select detector input = aux L&R
Then add a receive on the fx track, from the synth onto (new channels 3/4)

(That's the sidechaining bit.)

And bingo, while the synth is playing the compressor should "duck" the fx right down , but when the synth stops, the compressor releases and the fx comes back up.

[111]

Originally Posted by JHaas

If I understand the problem, you could add the Reverb and delay as send effects, and put a compressor following each one, side chained to the synth lead track. When the synth lead stops, the compressor releases to allow the effect level to rise. This is commonly called “Ducking”, some delays have a ducking feature built in.

Yes I guess that`s what I need, thanks I`ll try it a bit later

[111]

Originally Posted by jrk

There's a few ways of doing it. This might work for you

First of all, set up a track with the fx you want and do a send from your synth to that.

On that fx track add (say) ReaComp (as the last fx) - turn the ratio up high and the threshold down
select detector input = aux L&R
Then add a receive on the fx track, from the synth onto (new channels 3/4)

(That's the sidechaining bit.)

And bingo, while the synth is playing the compressor should "duck" the fx right down , but when the synth stops, the compressor releases and the fx comes back up.

Thanks! Didn`t see your post while typing mine

[111]

ok when I do a send from synth track to track with FX on 3\4 and switch Reacomp to AUX inputs, no sound here, only if I send to 1\2, then it sounds, but with no ducking effect. What could be my mistake?

[jrk]

You need *two* sends from your synth to the fx track
-> 1/2 these will go into the delay / reverb / whatever

*and*

-> 3/4 the sidechain of the compressor. (detector input = aux L&R)

[jrk]

like this...

[jrk]

Or, alternatively, if you use the in/out pins on something at the top of the fx chain, you can do it with the one send, like this...

[111]

Thanks a lot!!!