SIDECHAIN EFFECT

You do not need a physical iLok key to use Sidechain Effect. You do however need a (free) iLok account, and the (free) iLok License Manager app on your computer to use the Sidechain Effect or the Demo.

Sidechain Effect enables you to trigger a variety of effects with a sidechain input.

Think Billie Eilish’s Xanny where the bass rattles the vocals, but with 13 different hand-picked effects you can mix and match to taste.

Trigger distortion or delay-throws on a vocal with a kick drum, trigger phaser and bandpass effect on a vocal with a bass guitar. The creative possibilities are endless.

After you instantiate the plugin, select a track as the sidechain input in your DAW’s sidechain input dropdown.

Some DAWs, such as Pro Tools, require sending a sidechain signal using a bus, and selecting that bus as a key input. Here is how to do that.

Set the sensitivity (the level of the sidechain input) so the meter shows green with occasional yellow.
Engage different Effects you’re interested in with the button next to each.
Adjust each Effect’s Shape setting and Mix level.

Adjust the Attack and Release times to taste.

You can sync the release to your session tempo – perfect for a pumping compressor effect. Speaking of the pumping effect, try the ‘Punchy’ release setting…

Reorder Effects to your liking.

The Add and Subtract in the Master section determine if the plugin adds the engaged Effects when there’s input signal, or removes them when there’s input signal.

You will receive an email with a serial number as well as a link to an installer, to the email you provided at checkout.

First, run the Sidechain Effect installer.

If you already have iLok license manager on the computer:

1. Launch your DAW.
2. Click ‘Activate’. (If you are not presented with the activation window on launch of your DAW, launch the iLok License Manager, log in to your iLok account and select Licenses -> Redeem Activation Code from the toolbar, and enter your serial there instead.)
3. Enter your serial number
4. Choose where to authorize your license to (Local machine or iLok key). Each license includes activation on two devices.

If you don’t already have iLok license manager on the computer:
An iLok account and an iLok License Manager installation is required.
A physical iLok key is not required.

1. Create a free account at iLok.com (Don’t forget to activate the account by clicking the link in the confirmation email).
2. Download and install the iLok License manager.
3. Launch and sign in to iLok License Manager.
4. Launch your DAW.
5. Click ‘Activate’. (If you are not presented with the activation window on launch of your DAW, launch the iLok License Manager, log in to your iLok account and select Licenses -> Redeem Activation Code from the toolbar, and enter your serial there instead.)
6. Enter your serial number
7. Choose where to authorize your license to (Local machine or iLok key). Each license includes activation on two devices.

* Online access is required for the initial activation of Sidechain Effect or the Demo

• macOS: 10.13 or newer.
  Usually works on 10.12 but not officially supported
  DAWs: All major DAWs that support 64-bit VST3, AAX, or AU
  Native support for Apple Silicon chips
• Windows: 8.1 or newer
  Usually works on Windows 7 but not officially supported
  DAWS: All major DAWs that support 64-bit VST3 or AAX

** Note that the DAW must support sidechain inputs. For example GarageBand does not support sidechain inputs, and therefore the plugin will not work properly in GarageBand.

Each license includes two authorizations (aka activations), both of which need to be associated with the same iLok account. For example you can authorize the license to your device and to an iLok key, or to two different computers, as long as they use the same iLok account.

Yes. Click the ‘download demo’ button’.
Download the installer and run it. When you launch your DAW you will be presented with the option to run a 7 day, fully functional version of the plugin. Click ‘Try’ to activate the demo.
After 7 days you will have the option to activate the plugin with a serial you receive if you purchased the plugin.

Note that you need a (free) iLok account, and the (free) iLok License Manager app on your computer to use the Sidechain Effect or the Demo. See installation instructions above. Note also that local machine authorization is not available for the demo – only iLok cloud or iLok Key.

Try to rescan your plugins. Here is a good walkthrough on how to do so.

If that doesn’t work, close your DAW, re-install Sidechain Effect with the installer, then launch your DAW again. If necessary, rescan the plugins again.
With Ableton Live we’ve found that that ‘hard’ rescan where you hold down the ALT or Option key when clicking ‘rescan plugins’ is often helpful. This will rescan all your plugins so may take a bit longer.
If that doesn’t work, confirm your OS and DAW is supported in the compatibility question above.

Local machine authorization option is available only for full licenses. It is not available for the demo.

Sidechain Effect has a free, 7-day fully functional demo for you to try the plugin before you buy it, ensure you like it, and that it is compatible with your system.

Nonetheless, if within 7 days after purchase you have not authorized your serial, you can contact the SoundBetter support team to request a refund. Once 7 days have passed from the purchase date, or if you authorized your serial to your iLok account, no refund will be issued.

Sure! We would love to hear what you create with Sidechain Effect.
Please send links or mp3s to info@soundbetter.com detailing how you used Sidechain Effect on the track. Please specify if you own all the rights to the track, and if you give us permission to add the audio track to the demos. Note that we cannot add all tracks we receive to the demos.

Tag your experience with the plugin, or any tracks using Sidechain Effect on SoundBetter’s socials, and we will do our best to reshare.

Please write info@soundbetter.com for any support

• Go to C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3 and find Sidechain Effect.VST3
• Change the filename to remove the .VST3 extension. This should turn this file into a folder.
• Within this folder find the ‘Contents’ folder, and in it the x86_64-win folder. In it, find a file called Sidechain Effect.VST3
• Move this Sidechain Effect.VST3 file to the main VST3 folder here: C:\Program Files\Common Files\VST3
• Relaunch your DAW, and begin a rescan of your plugins folder.

Launch Logic’s “plugin manager”, select Sidechain Effect, and press Reset & Rescan Selection.
Restart your computer, and relaunch LogicPro