How to Create a Pumping Effect (Like Sidechain Compression) in FL Studio [Advanced]

You may have heard those cool effects artists like Axwell, Ingrosso, Guetta, Antillas and many others use in their songs, the "pumping effect" on the Lead Synths or the vocals, like fading in and out.

Its really easy to do this in FL Studio and many other DAWs like Ableton, Cubase, Reason, etc.

Step 1: 4 to the Floor Kick

First create a basic kick line like this one. I'm using the standard 128 bpm rhythm.

How to Create a Pumping Effect (Like Sidechain Compression) in FL Studio [Advanced]

Step 2: Linking the Kick

With your kick channel selected go to your mixer (Press F9). Once it opens up, select the insert one channel and link it to the kick.

Step 3: Adding Our Vocals, Synth, Bassline, Etc.

Now we choose our favorite VST Plugin or add some vocals. I'm using Harmless.

For our bassline, I've created a basic line.

Step 4: Linking The "Bassline"

Now we basically repeat Step 2. We go to the mixer (F9) and with our Harmless selected in the sequencer, press CTRL-L in the "Insert 2" Channel on the mixer.

This will auto-link the Harmless to the Insert 2.

Step 5: The Effects

Now it's time to add the effects and get that nice feeling for our vocals/bassline.

For the Kick

On the mixer we add a Fruity Peak Controller.

Note: Make sure the Mute case is unticked.

For the Vocals/Bassline

We select our Bassline's Channel and add a Fruity Stereo Enhancer.

Now Comes The "Tricky" Part.

This is really easy, but it's the "hardest" part on this tutorial.

On the Fruity Stereo Enhancer, we right-click the Volume Knob and select Link to controller.... When the menu pops up, go down to the Internal Controller section. Select Peak ctrl (Kick) - Peak + LFO and in the Mapping formula, select the little arrow on the left. In the drop-down menu, select Inverted and Accept.

This is how it should look like.