5 Ways to Sidechain in FL Studio 24.2 in 2026

If you’ve ever listened to EDM, hip-hop, or pop tracks and noticed the “pumping” rhythm where the bass ducks every time the kick hits — that’s sidechaining. It’s one of the most essential mixing techniques every modern producer must know.

In FL Studio 24.2 (2026), Image-Line has made sidechaining easier, more flexible, and more powerful than ever before. Whether you’re producing electronic music, trap, or cinematic soundtracks, understanding the 5 Ways to Sidechain in FL Studio can help your mix sound clean, professional, and punchy.

This guide will take you step-by-step through all the main sidechaining methods — from traditional compression to automation and plugin-based ducking — so you can choose the one that best fits your workflow.

What Is Sidechaining in FL Studio?

Sidechaining is a mixing technique where the volume of one sound (for example, a bass) is automatically reduced whenever another sound (like a kick drum) plays.

The goal is to create space and clarity in your mix — so your kick cuts through cleanly while your bass or pads smoothly duck in volume.

In FL Studio, you can sidechain almost anything:

• Kick and bass (classic EDM technique)
• Vocals and background instruments
• Synths and pads for rhythm and texture
• Sound effects triggered by a specific beat element

Why Sidechain in 2026?

Modern music trends in 2026 still rely heavily on sidechaining for energy and groove. Producers like Martin Garrix, Illenium, and Alan Walker use it in almost every track.

With FL Studio 24.2’s new updates — improved Fruity Limiter, better automation envelopes, and enhanced Mixer routing — sidechaining is now smoother and faster to set up than ever.

Method 1: Sidechaining Using Fruity Limiter (Classic Compression)

Step 1: Route the Kick to the Bass Channel

1. Open the Mixer.
2. Select your Kick track, then right-click on the Bass channel’s send icon.
3. Choose “Sidechain to this track only.”

This sends the kick signal to the bass channel for sidechain control without affecting its main volume.

Step 2: Add Fruity Limiter on Bass

• Open the Bass mixer track.
• Add Fruity Limiter as an effect.
• Click on the Comp tab (Compression mode).

Step 3: Select the Sidechain Input

• In the Fruity Limiter’s Sidechain dropdown (top right corner), choose the Kick input.

Step 4: Adjust Compression Settings

• Threshold: Around -30 dB (start point)
• Ratio: Between 4:1 and 10:1
• Attack: 0.5–5 ms
• Release: 100–300 ms

When you play the track, you’ll see the limiter reacting every time the kick hits — ducking the bass accordingly.

Pro Tip: Adjust the release time to control how fast the bass returns to full volume. Short release = tighter pump; long release = smooth glide.

Why it works:
This is the most traditional and precise way to sidechain in FL Studio — ideal for detailed dynamic control.

Method 2: Sidechaining with Fruity Peak Controller

Step 1: Add Fruity Peak Controller on Kick

1. Insert Fruity Peak Controller on your Kick track.
2. This plugin generates an automation signal based on the kick’s volume.

Step 2: Link Bass Volume to Peak Controller

1. Go to your Bass channel’s volume knob.
2. Right-click → Link to Controller.
3. In the dialog box:
   • Internal Controller: Choose Peak ctrl – Peak.
   • Mapping formula: Invert (to duck volume when the kick peaks).

Step 3: Fine-Tune the Response

In the Fruity Peak Controller, tweak:

• Base: Controls minimum volume level.
• Vol: Controls how much ducking occurs.
• Tension: Adjusts curve smoothness.

💡 Pro Tip: For smooth EDM-style ducking, set “Tension” to around 0.5 and “Base” to 0.6–0.8.

Why it works:
This method uses real-time volume automation — great for creative effects like ducking pads or vocals.

Method 3: Sidechaining with Gross Beat or Volume Automation

Step 1: Add Gross Beat to the Mixer Track

• Insert Gross Beat on the channel you want to duck (like a pad or synth).
• Select the “Sidechain” or “Volume Gate” preset.

Step 2: Adjust Envelope Timing

• Edit the envelope shape in Gross Beat to match your kick rhythm.
• You can create a smooth fade-in curve to replicate sidechain compression.

💡 Alternative:
You can also create your own Automation Clip for the channel volume:

1. Right-click the channel volume → Create Automation Clip.
2. Draw curves to manually duck volume in sync with your kick.

Step 3: Sync to BPM

Ensure your automation or Gross Beat envelope lines up exactly with your project tempo for consistent rhythm.

Why it works:
This is the fastest way to create sidechain-style volume movement without using compressors or routing. Perfect for beginners or creative volume patterns.

Method 4: Sidechaining Using Third-Party Plugins (Volume Duckers)

In 2025, many producers prefer dedicated sidechain plugins that make the process easier. These plugins automatically create the pumping effect without complex routing.

Popular Plugins:

1. Kickstart 2 by Nicky Romero
2. VolumeShaper 6 by Cableguys
3. LFOTool by Xfer Records
4. Duck by Devious Machines

How to Use (Example: Kickstart 2)

1. Add Kickstart 2 to your Bass or Synth track.
2. Choose a ducking curve (shape of volume dip).
3. Sync it to your project tempo (1/4 or 1/8 beat).
4. Adjust Mix/Depth to control the strength of the effect.

Pro Tip: Use Kickstart 2’s MIDI Trigger mode to link it directly to your kick pattern — achieving realistic sidechain movement.

Why it works:
Third-party plugins offer instant setup, visual envelopes, and tempo syncing — ideal for electronic producers who value speed and flexibility.

Method 5: Advanced Multiband Sidechaining with Maximus

For professional engineers and advanced producers, Maximus (FL Studio’s mastering plugin) can perform multiband sidechaining, where only specific frequency ranges (like the bass frequencies) are ducked.

Step 1: Set Up Sidechain Routing

• Route the Kick track to the Bass track → “Sidechain to this track only.”

Step 2: Add Maximus on Bass Track

• Open Maximus → Go to the Low Band section.

Step 3: Enable External Sidechain Input

• Click on the “Comp” (Compressor) tab inside Maximus.
• Set the sidechain input to the Kick channel.

Step 4: Adjust Compression Curve

• Lower the threshold for the Low Band only.
• Set ratio around 3:1–6:1 to duck just the low frequencies when the kick hits.

Pro Tip: Leave the Mid and High bands untouched for transparent and clean low-end mixing.

Why it works:
Multiband sidechaining gives you surgical control — perfect for detailed professional mixing where you don’t want the entire sound to pump, only the bass frequencies.

Comparison

Pro Tips for Perfect Sidechaining

1. Always Match the Kick and Bass Frequencies

If both elements share too much low-end, sidechaining won’t fix it alone. Use EQ to separate frequencies before applying compression.

2. Don’t Overdo the Ducking

Subtle movement often sounds cleaner than extreme pumping — unless your genre demands it (like big room EDM or future bass).

3. Use Visual Feedback

Plugins like Wave Candy or FL Studio’s new Spectrum Analyzer (2025) help visualize how the volume dips in real time.

4. Save Presets for Workflow

Once you find your perfect sidechain settings, save them as Fruity Limiter or Maximus presets to speed up future projects.

5. Combine Multiple Techniques

Use Limiter sidechaining for bass and automation ducking for synths — layering methods gives your mix more depth and dynamics.

FL Studio 24.2 Improvements for Sidechaining

The latest version of FL Studio introduces several enhancements that make sidechaining smoother:

• Improved Mixer Routing UI: Easier to “Sidechain to This Track Only.”
• New Fruity Limiter Interface: Real-time visual compression curve and precise attack/release meters.
• Reduced Latency Rendering: Perfect synchronization between kick triggers and sidechain response.
• Enhanced Automation Clips: Curved tension control for smoother ducking effects.
• MIDI-linked Sidechain Support: Trigger sidechain directly from any MIDI instrument.

These updates make FL Studio 24.2 one of the best DAWs for dynamic mixing in 2025.

Creative Uses of Sidechaining Beyond Kick and Bass

While sidechaining is mostly used for the kick-bass relationship, it can also add movement and space to your entire mix. Here are a few creative ways:

1. Vocals vs. Instruments: Duck guitars or synths slightly when vocals play to keep lyrics clear.
2. Pads vs. Snare: Create a breathing rhythmic texture by ducking ambient pads on snare hits.
3. FX Ducking: Make reverb tails fade smoothly during loud drum hits.
4. Cinematic Impacts: Duck background music when impacts or explosions occur for dramatic emphasis.
5. Live Performance Transitions: Use automation to control intensity dynamically in DJ sets or live sessions.

FAQs

Conclusion

Sidechaining is more than just a mixing trick — it’s an art form that defines the groove and clarity of your music. With FL Studio 24.2 in 2026, you now have multiple powerful ways to achieve it — from the classic Fruity Limiter method to modern plugin-based ducking and advanced multiband control with Maximus.

Experiment with these 5 Ways to Sidechain in FL Studio, and find the workflow that fits your style. Whether you’re crafting an EDM banger or a chill lo-fi beat, sidechaining will give your tracks that professional, breathing feel that makes them stand out in every mix.