A ducking delay is a technique that is a
very widely used in almost all areas of music and audio production.
Essentially, it is a delay effect that uses the power of side-chaining to
create interesting effects such as applying the delay only when there is no
audio signal present on the track.

Side-chaining is the technique where a
certain effect is applied and it will be activated when the other effect that
is chained to it has reached a certain threshold. This effect is really useful
in areas such as podcasting and radio plays, where you might have to apply a
certain filter or effect when the volume level reaches a certain threshold.
Compressors are very frequently side-chained with kicks and other instruments.

How to Create a Ducking Delay

Before you set up the side-chains, you will need a basic
vocal track on which you can assign the delay effect that is to be
side-chained. You can also use any other track you want to add the delay effect
on. But make sure that the volume of this track is well adjusted so that the
effect can be heard properly.

Once you have the vocal track ready, duplicate the track, so
that the events on this track will silence the delay effect. Insert a
PingPongDelay effect from the effect menu of the first track and add it on that
track. Now, adjust the effect settings for the delay according to your need and
activate the side chain button.

Select the second track and open the Output Routing pop-up
menu and select the PingPongDelay effect that you created for the vocal track.
Adjust the volume of the second track so that the effect will be activated on
all levels of volume. 

If this is not calibrated properly, the effect may not be
very pronounced in areas of low volume. Make sure that you keep a moderate
volume on the track and experiment with the delay settings to get the desired
effect.

You can also add a compressor with moderate settings to
adjust the volume to suit the effect better.

Conclusion

Side-chaining is something that every music producer and
everyone who works with audio and music should know. With proper techniques,
you will be able to create interesting effects, change the modulations, add
exciting delay effects, dynamics etc. Ducking delay can be used creatively in
many situations and will help in creating interesting effects and make the
tracks more interesting to listen to.  

Proper side-chaining will help you to spend
less time on automating the track and changing minute settings to make the
effect to work.

So next time that you are working on a song and want to
create a delay effect which is activated only at certain levels of volume, try
creating a ducking delay effect using the side-chain technique. This will help
you spend less time on fixing the effects and to concentrate more on the
creative side of the songs. What are your favorite uses of side-chaining?
Comment below.