The Best 5 Ways to Sidechain Kick and Bass

Looking for ways to clean up your mix's low end? Or maybe you are wondering why your kick and bass are ten times louder than the rest of your track when you do the car test. Well, here are the top 5 methods you can use today, to sidechain your kick and bass for a punchier, more polished mix and feel.

5. Dynamic EQ Sidechaining

Dynamic EQ sidechaining is perfect for targeting specific frequencies where your kick and bass clash. With a plugin like FabFilter Pro-Q 3, you can sidechain just the low-end frequencies of your bass, allowing the rest of the sound to breathe without being squashed by a traditional sidechain compressor.

Pro Tip: Focus on the 40-120 Hz range where kicks and basslines typically overlap for more precise control over your mix.

4. Clip Adjusting

Clip adjusting is a simple method where you manually adjust the gain of the audio clips in your bass track to lower the volume wherever the kick hits. This is essentially a manual version of volume automation but gives even more granular control over each hit. In most daws (Digital Audio Workstation), you can even create a fade in for the bass and fade out for the kick to blend them further.

Pro Tip: Use this method when you want more control over individual kick and bass hits without the need for extra automation or plugins.

3. Kickstart Plugin

Kickstart is a super popular and easy-to-use plugin created by Nicky Romero. It allows you to quickly apply a rhythmic sidechain effect with its various presets, perfect for genres like house, EDM, and pop. It doesn't require routing or complicated settings—just pick a preset and adjust the mix amount.

Pro Tip: Experiment with Kickstart’s different curves to get a sidechain effect that fits the energy of your track.

2. Volume Automation

Using volume automation is one of the most precise methods for sidechaining. By manually automating the bass track's volume to dip when the kick hits, you have complete control over the amount and timing of the sidechain effect.

Pro Tip: Use curved automation to make the sidechain feel smoother and more natural.

1. The Soothe 2 Trick (Jaysen Joshua's Method)

Jaysen Joshua's Soothe 2 trick is a great way to sidechain only the frequencies where the kick and bass clash. Instead of ducking the entire bassline, Soothe 2 dynamically reduces the overlapping frequencies, making the interaction between your kick and bass more natural.

Pro Tip: Target the low-mid range (around 100-300 Hz) with Soothe 2 for smoother sidechaining without losing bass power. (See the real settings used by Jaysen below.)

These sidechaining techniques will help your kick and bass work together smoothly in any mix. From dynamic processing to rhythmic pumping, there’s a method here to fit your style and workflow.