“Duck” by Devious Machines – Perfect Sidechain Ducking… Every Time!
“Duck” is an extremely useful mix utility, specifically designed for (you guessed it) and comes with some incredibly useful features:
- Instant sidechain pumping as soon as you load the plugin
- Choose from 8 preset curves or 58 creative and useful Duck patches
- Run on individual tracks, groups or your master bus for different pump effects
- Trigger with audio from a sidechain input or by MIDI notes
- Low CPU usage means you can run Duck on loads of tracks
“Duck” is your one-stop shop for perfect automated volume ducking!
50% off “Duck” by Devious Machines
What Is “Duck” & What Does It Do?
“Duck” is an extremely useful mix utility, specifically designed for (you guessed it) ducking.
Sometimes referred to as “side chaining” (owing to the fact that a side-chained compressor is often used), ducking is a popular mixing technique for making one sound quieter to make room for another (e.g ducking a bass line to make space for a kick drum).
What does it do?
“Duck” applies a volume envelope to the track it is inserted on. This can be played at different speeds and either loops in time to your track or is retriggered from an external source, a MIDI note or another audio track.
What is it for?
The most common use for Duck is to get that modern ‘sidechain compression’ sound where the volume of other instruments is reduced to allow the key rhythmic elements through: typically, the kick.
There are also many other creative uses including:
- Give clarity by ducking audio tracks based on your peaks
- Give chords and pads dynamic rhythm or tremolo
- Add variety to drum tracks with envelope shaping
- Enhance the rhythm of your track with the use of polyrhythms
- Generate new rhythms from any sound
- Trigger dynamic changes from MIDI instruments
Using Duck
Duck’s editor is split into three main areas:
- Preset and Menu Bar – Here, you can load and save presets, and access the plug-in menu.
- Envelope Editor – The area where you can edit the shape of which the dynamic changes will occur. There are preset envelope types. These can be edited. The audio waveform will appear here when playing.
- Lower Panel – In this area, you are able to set the parameters for how Duck will affect you input signal as well as change the envelope itself.
Duck implements a simple-yet-popular concept, giving you a graphical envelope to shape the volume of your sound and enables you to draw your own custom volume shape that repeats at a speed and depth of your choice.
Duck can also be triggered with audio from a sidechain input or by MIDI notes, making it easier than ever for Hip-Hop and Bass Music producers!
For more detailed information read the User Duckumentation.
The Preset/Menu Bar & Envelope Editor
“Duck” comes with a variety of factory presets. You can also save your own presets, or just the curve shape itself. Controls for loading and saving presets are at the top of the plugin window.
Using The Presets
- Loading A Preset – The central bar displays the current preset name. Click on the name to display the preset menu. Select a preset from the menu to load it. You may also use the two arrow buttons on the preset bar to step through the available presets one-by-one.
- Saving A Preset – Click the Save preset button contained within the menu icon. A box will be displayed, prompting you to name your preset. Type a name, and press enter. Your preset will now be stored and will now appear under User Presets.
Saving Curve Shapes – Click the Save curve shape button contained within the menu icon. Red boxes will appear over the preset shapes in the lower panel. Select the shape you would like to replace and find your new shape located in this slot to recall whenever required.
The Envelope Editor
The Envelope Editor controls the shape of the volume envelope.
- Input Level – Meter that allows you to see the loudness of your audio coming into the plug-in.
- Breakpoint – A point in the envelope used to control its shape. To create a new breakpoint double click anywhere in the envelope view.
- Curve Shaper – Changes the style and shape of the curve.
- Playhead – Indicates the position though the cycle during playback.
- Grid – Guide for mapping positions as to where beats are falling. When audio is playing, you will also be able to see the waveform in this section.
- Output Level – Meter that shows the loudness of the affected signal upon output.
For more detailed information read the User Duckumentation.
50% off “Duck” by Devious Machines
The Curve Shaper & Lower Panel
The Curve Shaper
There are three different curve styles available to users in designing envelopes. To change the curve style, right-click on the curve shaper.
- Smooth – Rounded movement from one point to the next.
- S-Shape – Two smaller curves in opposite directions from the central point.
- Exponential – Similar to Smooth but with sharper movements at either end based on the shaper position.
The Lower Panel
The Lower Panel allows you to define how, and to what extent, Duck will impact the audio signal. As well as this, you can change the behaviour of the envelope itself.
Amount Knob – Controls the strength of the effect. At 100% the signal can be made completely silent using the volume envelope.
CROSSOVER SECTION
With Duck you can have separate amount controls for the high and low frequencies. In order to use the split-band crossover mode, ensure that the on/off button in the filter section is on. When the filter is active the knobs will go from shaded to highlighted orange.
- Crossover – Sets the point where the low frequency band ends and the high frequency band begins.
- Low & High Amount Knobs – These are separate amount knobs for the low or high frequencies. The amount of reduction in each band is shown by a small dot on the outer edge of the knob which moves when audio is playing.
- Smoothing – If your envelope is causing audible clicks to the waveform because of its shape, use smoothing to round off the signal and remove artefacts.
- Curve Presets – In the upper right-hand side of the lower panel there are a series of shapes, these are your handy preset curves. Select a shape by clicking on it.
- Speed – Sets the speed at which Duck plays the volume envelope. Click on the speed to change it.
MODES
Duck has three modes that cause the envelope to be triggered in different ways. Click on the trigger mode icon to select a new mode.
- Repeat Mode – This is the default. The envelope will cycle continuously in time with your track. This mode can be used to cause regular ducking to aid the mix or generate new rhythms out of the audio.
- MIDI Mode – The next mode is MIDI mode which allows you to trigger the envelope from an external MIDI track contained within your DAW project.
- Audio Mode – This mode triggers the envelope from peaks in an external audio signal.
For more detailed information read the User Duckumentation.
So What Exactly Can I Do With “Duck”?
One of the defining effects of modern music and used in everything from classic House to modern EDM, to tracks by Daft Punk, Noisia and Eric Prydz, “Duck” lets you automate and refine this essential feature of modern music with ease. Not only is it superior at classic “ducking”, it also has many other creative uses including:
- Give clarity by ducking audio tracks based on your peaks
- Give chords and pads dynamic rhythm or tremolo
- Add variety to drum tracks with envelope shaping
- Enhance the rhythm of your track with the use of polyrhythms
- Generate new rhythms from any sound
- Trigger dynamic changes from MIDI instruments
“Duck” is your one-stop shop for perfect automated volume ducking!
Still not sure, try the free 14 day demo HERE!
"Duck" by Devious Machines
50% off "Duck" by Devious Machines
Normally €24 – get it at 50% off before it’s gone!
- 50% off the normal price (normally €24)!
- Perfect Sidechain Ducking… Every Time!
- Instant sidechain pumping as soon as you load the plugin
- Cleaner, louder and more exciting mixes
- Choose from 8 preset curves or 58 creative and useful Duck patches
- Draw your own curves and rhythms to use now, or save them later
- Set the overall pump, or apply to low and high bands with adjustable crossover
- Run Duck in Repeat mode, or use sidechained audio or MIDI signals to trigger
- Smoothing control to remove clicks: including super-accurate pre-smoothing algorithm when in LFO mode
- Run on individual tracks, groups or your master bus for different pump effects
- Low CPU usage means you can run Duck on loads of tracks
- CREATIVE USES INCLUDE:
- Give clarity by ducking audio tracks based on your peaks
- Give chords and pads dynamic rhythm or tremolo
- Add variety to drum tracks with envelope shaping
- Enhance the rhythm of your track with the use of polyrhythms
- Generate new rhythms from any sound
- Trigger dynamic changes from MIDI instruments
- Mac and Windows: VST/AU/AAX plugin
- Still not sure, try the free 14 day demo HERE!
- Whether you’re producing pumping House, Broken Beats, Hip Hop, EDM or Bass Music, Duck delivers in seconds!
What People Think About 50% off “Duck” by Devious Machines
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"For pumping, gating, tremolo, rhythmic chopping and more, this is my new favorite! Duck is a loop/audio/MIDI triggered volume envelope tool that in many cases kicks the carp out of the traditional approach of using a sidechained compressor."
Reaper Blog
Music Industry Blog
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"Duck by Devious Machines is a side chain processing tool that should be in every mix engineer or producer's arsenal. It's one of those tools I never knew I needed and then when I started using it I was amazed it hadn't been a standard piece of kit for years. I mean we have all used side chain compression using a compressor in our DAW... but Duck really does take ducking and pumping to the next level"
Audio Animals
Music Industry Blog
Sheldon – :
“Duck” by Devious Machines is a great tool. This is great for ducking bass for the bass drum in a mix. Really useful for EDM and other kinds of music as well.
Ryan – :
If it looks like a duck, ducks like a duck… it’s a duck! Looking forward to using this on lots of projects!
Johan – :
Very handy plugin. Quick results. Will check out more from Devious Machines. This was my first one from them.
Cesar – :
I have the usual suspects of envelope shaping like LFOTool and shaperbox 2 and I doubted I needed Duck but is easier to route, the ability to route the signal of the channel as the trigger for the lfo is really helpful and something I didn’t realize woulb be so helpful when creating snares. In terms of ducking I think it’s the best, there is a place for shaperbox and LFOTool, but when you only want to duck this is it.
Giles – :
Duck is awsome low on CPU and great for sound design and paticulary Houes bassed genres as it gives the bass and instuments a great puse as it pull out and puches in. Intuative easy to install and use and it has some really usefull presets.
Heiko – :
You really could not ask for more. DUCK is the tool I recommend trying if you are into ducking! Add movement to your tracks with a few clicks. DUCK!
Adam – :
Does what it says on the tin. I have other effects that can accomplish something similar, but the speed and ease of use of Duck made it well worth picking up.
Des – :
I love volume automation tools and I have them all I think.
For this one its really cool for my work flow
I like that there is no click most of the time, so less tweaking and the visual sidechain so you can draw the curve you want.
Compared to LFO Tool, and Cableguys Volume Shaper, it has its pros and cons, but for this price its a no brainer.
Frank – :
It was very easy to get some very unique sounds quickly and undo some creativity block! I recommend at this price for sure!
Frank – :
Really cool sidechain tool. Easy to use, good quality. Mandatory for every EDM pro Trance project. Outstandig.
Yukitoshi – :
It’s full of useful operations and doesn’t just fit into simple ducking.
Various ideas are born.
I like it.
Fabian – :
The perfect ducking tool. Easy to use and great results. You can trigger it via Midi or Audio Input. Highly recommended
Chris – :
Devious Machines are absolutely worth recommending. I have their Monster Pitch and it’s a real monster! This is simply the next one to eventually get the whole collection. Once I saw MIDI triggering I knew from this point on it’s a nobrainer.
Reed – :
Duck is so easy to use and it’s very light on the CPU too. I was able to get it working right out of the box without needing any instructions. I highly recommend it!!
Max – :
Pretty much perfect volymshaper, especially now that it can display the sidechain waveform, super imposed on the ‘ducked’ waveform.
Alex – :
The product is good for automatic pumping. This is great being able to crossover Low and Hi freq, and choose pumping ratio between 0 to 100%. Midi trigger is also good, even if the velocity is not taken into account. Audio (Sidechain) mode is far too imprecise, and input volume cannot be properly tweaked.
Lloyd – :
This is a well designed plug-in and is super easy to use. I have a couple other volume-shaping tools which have a few different features, but they are not as intuitive to work with as this one. Duck is great for gating, rhythms and other sound shaping options besides just ducking. A great tool for the toolbox, to be sure, and be sure to check out Devious Machines TEXTURE plugin for another super cool tool.
Maxwell – :
Perfect little plug-in! Extremely easy to use. Nice presets to start off with. Wouldn’t mind more elaborate presets to save more time though.
miguel – :
Un vst de sidechain que puede dar mucho de si y muy facil de usar. Tengo mas de cinco pluig y este es uno de mis favoritos.
Dan – :
I have several duckers, but! This one is my go to and the one I highly recommend as it has all the options!