# Ducker or side chain **URL:** \ **Category:** CQ Feature Suggestions\ **Created:** [6 June 2024 15:28 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210 "2024-06-06T15:28:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kdlaudio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eb8c5e/32.png) [@kdlaudio](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/kdlaudio)\ **Post date:** [6 June 2024 15:28 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/1 "2024-06-06T15:28:16Z")
Hello i do corporate AV and one feature that would be amazing would be the ability to have a side chain or ducker on a music channel from a microphone. It never fail, in the wild you are playing back ground music over a meal or break ( and the AV tech needs those from time to time) and someone comes up to the mic to make an announcement. it would be amazing for the music to reduce while the speaking and then ramp up when they stop, it doesn’t have to be on all channels, just a couple. Thank you for taking my suggestion, let me know if you have any questions. ---
**Author:** ![highflyer1953](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/highflyer1953/32/1780_2.png) [@highflyer1953](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/highflyer1953)\ **Post date:** [6 June 2024 17:52 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/2 "2024-06-06T17:52:18Z")
At present you need SQ range or higher for DUCKER function on compression. ---
**Author:** ![highflyer1953](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/highflyer1953/32/1780_2.png) [@highflyer1953](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/highflyer1953)\ **Post date:** [6 June 2024 17:57 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/3 "2024-06-06T17:57:13Z")
Actually Qu range also has ducker, so CQ is only range without, if we keep asking it could happen. Bearing in mind how many improvements have been added in V1.2 ---
**Author:** ![bassman74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/bassman74/32/2454_2.png) [@bassman74](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/bassman74)\ **Post date:** [7 June 2024 08:09 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/4 "2024-06-07T08:09:29Z")
+1 for a ducking function, as I also want to talk over a playback on AV shows In principle, you could use the AMM feature to build a ducking function. The most universal approach would be to add a sidechain to the compressor and the gate 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sita-jenni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@sita-jenni](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/sita-jenni)\ **Post date:** [14 June 2024 13:23 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/5 "2024-06-14T13:23:39Z")
+1 Yes, but probably it would be better to add sidechain to compressor and gate. Then you can even do more, than only ducker. Open new “sidechain”-request. ---
**Author:** ![smilzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5ac83/32.png) [@smilzo](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/smilzo)\ **Post date:** [14 June 2024 17:31 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/6 "2024-06-14T17:31:50Z")
+1 on side chain eq/compressor ---
**Author:** ![snugsound](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/snugsound/32/2487_2.png) [@snugsound](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/snugsound)\ **Post date:** [15 June 2024 14:12 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/7 "2024-06-15T14:12:31Z")
Another +1 for sidechain compression. TBH I was kind of surprised this wasn’t included from the get-go. ---
**Author:** ![dagmat](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/dagmat/32/8614_2.png) [@dagmat](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/dagmat)\ **Post date:** [15 January 2025 14:02 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/8 "2025-01-15T14:02:17Z")
+1 for ducking ? ---
**Author:** ![ntchi](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/ntchi/32/1163_2.png) [@ntchi](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/ntchi)\ **Post date:** [28 January 2025 23:09 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/9 "2025-01-28T23:09:18Z")
Yes +1 on SideChain Comp indeed. Pretty sure the FX engine can handle it. Those FPGA are quite powerful. Very useful for small foot print Corporate gigs. QU and SQ series are too big sometimes. The CQ-18T is the perfect table top size. ---
**Author:** ![musicnorfolk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3e96dc/32.png) [@musicnorfolk](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/musicnorfolk)\ **Post date:** [3 February 2025 00:55 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/10 "2025-02-03T00:55:03Z")
An observation. The coding work would be a bit more complex as the data input for which channels would be side chained would need to be input manually for any algorithm to use as the mixer can’t know which instrument / mic is plugged into to each channel. This more complex coding may be a differentiation point between the lower and higher priced mixers in their ranges as indicated by “highflyers 1953” response above. AMM use might be a possible as all channels are identified as Mic for its algorithm but you could use a DI to attenuate any audio input to Mic level hence “bassman74” comment. Never played with that feature myself yet though. David ---
**Author:** ![Peakinout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@Peakinout](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Peakinout)\ **Post date:** [17 March 2025 22:55 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/11 "2025-03-17T22:55:21Z")
Ducker should be keyed off an output bus , if your using that many buses then you should be using an SQ or QU. ---
**Author:** ![theengineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/48db29/32.png) [@theengineer](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/theengineer)\ **Post date:** [19 March 2025 21:14 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/12 "2025-03-19T21:14:10Z")
Yes it does seem like a hell of an omission for a mixer at this end of the market where such a thing is more likely to be needed than, say, with an SQ or above. ---
**Author:** ![alain-houtekiergmail-com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a8b319/32.png) [@alain-houtekiergmail-com](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/alain-houtekiergmail-com)\ **Post date:** [2 June 2025 03:48 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/13 "2025-06-02T03:48:05Z")
+1 for a side chain on compressor. To keep it simple, perhaps 1 or 2 aux busses, with an EQ, could be added as side chain input ---
**Author:** ![dragojeweb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecd19e/32.png) [@dragojeweb](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/dragojeweb)\ **Post date:** [20 July 2025 15:12 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/14 "2025-07-20T15:12:52Z")
+1 for sidechain compression. I know a couple of bands opting for other brands because this otherwise great mixer is missing what should be a very basic feature nowadays in a powerful digital system such as this one. ---
**Author:** ![bobbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@bobbo](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/bobbo)\ **Post date:** [3 August 2025 20:05 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/15 "2025-08-03T20:05:20Z")
+1 for ducker to duck music playback (including Bluetooth input) when mic or paging triggers an adjustable threshold. Would like - threshold adjustment - depth (dB of reduction) - Hold time for release - Fade back in (dB/sec) after release Two levels of priority Ducking would be awesome, but don’t want to be greedy! I’m using AMM as workaround, but it yields a jerky (unprofessional sounding) experience, due to how fast the release is. AMM also forces the music-audio be connected to an “input” which excludes the use of Bluetooth ---
**Author:** ![chienmort](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/chienmort/32/4428_2.png) [@chienmort](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/chienmort)\ **Post date:** [13 August 2025 23:30 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/16 "2025-08-13T23:30:14Z")
Would it be OK just to reduce the volume rather than compress it? That is what happens on many zone mixers. ---
**Author:** ![Santa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@Santa](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Santa)\ **Post date:** [17 August 2025 05:58 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/17 "2025-08-17T05:58:39Z")
Ducker is probably the most useful feature in the audio engineering world 😅 Yes, people talking over music is a massive issue… GO DUCKER! ---
**Author:** ![skymakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@skymakai](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/skymakai)\ **Post date:** [21 September 2025 05:05 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/18 "2025-09-21T05:05:03Z")
Sidechain compression, aside from recordings having proper time, is my top request. ---
**Author:** ![Thurisaz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/thurisaz/32/6884_2.png) [@Thurisaz](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Thurisaz)\ **Post date:** [28 September 2025 05:04 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/19 "2025-09-28T05:04:25Z")
Hello dear Allen&Heath team and dear colleagues, I hope you are all doing well there! +1 here for the Side chain and the Ducker! ☀ Would be an amazing improvement for the CQ product line if we are able to create side chain compression, or dynamic equalization (in case we need to open some space within certain range of frequencies). This means that we’ll need to have a dynamic equalizer. For the ducked delay and reverb, we’ll need to be able to create per instrument FX channels. Most often when I perform live with my band we are using Mono setup for restaurants and bar & dinner places, or spaces where the Stereo setup won’t work. In such cases the side chain compression / dynamic equalization could save the day. I hope the team would make those important features available for those of us, who use their CQ line products! Best regards! ---
**Author:** ![Thurisaz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/forums.allen-heath.com/thurisaz/32/6884_2.png) [@Thurisaz](https://forums.allen-heath.com/u/Thurisaz)\ **Post date:** [4 November 2025 19:37 UTC](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210/20 "2025-11-04T19:37:34Z")
Dear A&H team and colleagues, I would like to bring to the team’s attention two plugins that could be taken as a good example for what I’m having in mind when I was talking about Side-chain dynamic EQs: 1. Wavesfactory - Trackspacer: > **[Trackspacer | Create space in your mix | Audio plugin](https://www.wavesfactory.com/audio-plugins/trackspacer/)** > > A truly unique plugin that creates space in a mix in the most simple and elegant way. Used daily by thousands of products, musicians and mix engineers. Available in VST, VST3, AU and AAX formats. 1. Steinberg - Frequency 2 Dynamic/EQ: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9CSlbOaO38](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9CSlbOaO38) Would be really great if we could have a combination of both in an insertable 8-band dynamic EQ. This would be a game changer, life saver…. improvement for mono and stereo scenarios. Another good improvement will be an 8-band native PEQ. It will provide far more control. Best regards, Thurisaz [Next page](https://forums.allen-heath.com/t/ducker-or-side-chain/15210.md?page=2)