Sidechain ducking arrived in 1010music Bento firmware v1.6. On current firmware, you configure the track that should become quieter, then choose the track, pad, clock, audio input or external MIDI event that will trigger the level reduction. For the familiar kick-to-bass effect, select the bass track as the target and the kick track as the trigger. To duck everything routed through the main output, use MIXER > menu > Compressor.
Check the installed firmware before changing any settings. The official downloads page listed Bento v1.6.1 when checked on 13 October 2026, while the feature was introduced in the v1.6 release notes dated 13 June 2026.
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What sidechain compression does on Bento
Sidechain ducking, often called ducking, lowers one signal when another signal crosses a trigger condition. A kick can briefly reduce a bass line, making both parts easier to distinguish. A clock trigger can create a rhythmic pumping effect without an audio source, while an external MIDI note can make a pad or effect dip at selected moments.
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This target-first design is the easiest way to avoid a common setup error. If you configure the kick track and select the bass as its source, Bento will try to lower the kick when the bass crosses the condition. Always ask, “What should become quieter?” before opening the configuration page.
Firmware requirement
Install firmware v1.6 or later before following the procedure. Sidechain ducking is a v1.6 feature, not a capability of the older v1.3.17b compressor documentation. The earlier manual describes compression on the combined tracks and effects routed to Out 1 and lists conventional compressor controls, but it does not document the later track-level ducking system.
Use the firmware version shown on your Bento and compare it with the current release shown on 1010music’s official downloads page. If the unit is below v1.6, update it using the manufacturer’s documented update procedure, then reopen the project and verify the version before configuring a ducker. Do not assume that seeing a Compressor page on older firmware means track sidechaining is available.
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Track-to-track setup: make a kick duck a bass track
This is the standard setup when you want the bass to move out of the way of each kick. The kick remains the trigger; the bass receives the level reduction.
- Check the firmware. Confirm that Bento is running v1.6 or later. Version 1.6.1 was listed on the official downloads page on 13 October 2026.
- Select the target. Press TRACKS and select the bass track, or whichever track should become quieter. Do not select the kick track at this stage unless the kick itself is the intended target.
- Open the ducker controls. Tap menu > Config Track. Press the Down arrow until the ducker controls appear.
- Choose a track trigger. Set Trigger to Track. Set Source to the track carrying the kick. Track sources are Tracks 1–4.
- Set the threshold. Adjust Threshold to the level at which the kick should start ducking the bass. The Track trigger threshold range is 0–100%.
- Set the reduction. Adjust Depth for the amount of level reduction. The v1.6 release notes suggest starting between 60% and 80%, then tuning by ear.
- Enable the feature. Turn Sidechain on. The graph changes from gray to the track color when it is enabled.
- Test playback. Press PLAY. The graph playhead should move each time the kick triggers the ducker. If it does not respond, lower the threshold and confirm that the selected source is the kick track.
The trigger source is detected before its fader and mute. Consequently, the kick can still duck the bass even when the kick track’s fader is down or the track is muted. This is useful when you want the timing information from a kick pattern without hearing the kick itself.
For a clean first test, temporarily use a simple four-on-the-floor kick and a sustained bass note. That makes the graph movement and the amount of reduction easy to hear. Once the relationship works, restore the full pattern and fine-tune the timing for fills, syncopation and longer bass phrases.
Ducker controls and usable ranges
Bento exposes four timing and amount controls. The values below are documented ranges, not universal recipes; the right settings depend on the tempo, envelope and arrangement of your project.
| Control | Range | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Attack | 1–20 ms | How quickly the target level falls after the trigger. |
| Hold | 0–500 ms | How long the target remains down before recovery begins. |
| Release | 0–500 ms | How long the target takes to return to its full level. |
| Depth | 0–100% | How far the target level dips. |
| Threshold for Track and Audio | 0–100% | The level a source must cross before the ducker fires. |
Starting settings for a kick and bass
Begin with Depth around 60–80%, as suggested in the release notes, then adjust the timing controls to the musical result. A short Attack makes the bass move quickly at the kick’s onset. Hold keeps the reduction in place through the part of the kick you want to clear. Release determines whether the bass snaps back between kicks or rises more gradually. If the bass sounds chopped, reduce Depth or shorten Hold and Release; if the kick still lacks space, lower the Threshold or increase Depth.
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These are listening decisions rather than fixed specifications. A sustained sub-bass may need a longer recovery than a short pluck, and a fast pattern may require a shorter Hold to avoid overlapping reductions. Attack, Hold and Release are independent: a fast Attack does not automatically produce a short duck, because Hold and Release can keep the target reduced.
Depth at 100% is the maximum documented reduction setting, not a recommendation. For a transparent mix, use less reduction and let the kick’s transient create the separation. For an obvious pumping effect, use a deeper setting and a release that follows the project rhythm. Make one change at a time while the loop plays so you can identify which control changed the groove.
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Firmware v1.6 documents five trigger types. Track and Audio respond when a signal crosses a threshold. Pad, Clock and MIDI respond to discrete events. The choice determines whether ducking follows sound level or a deliberately scheduled event.
| Trigger | Source selection | How it fires | Important limitation or use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Track | Tracks 1–4 and a 0–100% threshold | Source audio crossing the threshold | The source can be muted or have its fader down because detection occurs before those controls. A track cannot choose itself as its source. |
| Pad | A source track and Pads 1–16 | Pad events | Useful when a particular pad hit, rather than the whole track’s audio level, should create the duck. |
| Clock | 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or 1/1 division | Clock events | Creates tempo-synchronised rhythmic ducking without an audio trigger. |
| Audio | Audio input such as In 1 or USB, plus a 0–100% threshold | Input audio crossing the threshold | On an External track, the Audio Source list omits the input already assigned to that track. |
| MIDI | Omni or MIDI channels 1–16 and a note | A note received from an external MIDI device | Bento’s own pads and sequencer do not trigger the ducker in this mode. |
Using a pad as the trigger
Select Pad in the target track’s ducker controls, then choose the source track and one of Pads 1–16. This lets an individual pad event control the target, even if other sounds share the same track. It is useful for a one-shot transition, a vocal chop or a selected percussion hit that should create a repeatable dip regardless of its recorded amplitude.
Using the clock for rhythmic pumping
Choose Clock, then select 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2 or 1/1. Because the clock supplies the events, no threshold adjustment is involved. Choose a division that matches the movement you want; faster divisions create more frequent reductions. A 1/4 setting creates one event per quarter-note pulse, while 1/16 produces much denser movement. The actual character still depends on Attack, Hold, Release and Depth.
Using an audio input
Choose Audio, select the available input (the notes specify In 1 or USB), and set the threshold from 0–100%. This is appropriate when an incoming microphone, instrument or computer stream should make a Bento part dip. If the target is an External track, Bento removes the input already used by that track from the Audio Source list, preventing that input from being selected twice in the same configuration.
Using external MIDI
Choose MIDI, select Omni or channel 1–16, and specify the note. Only notes arriving from an external MIDI device trigger the ducker in this mode. Playing Bento’s own pads or running its internal sequencer will not create the MIDI trigger. If the graph does not react, check the transmitting device, MIDI channel and note before changing audio thresholds; MIDI mode is event-driven and does not use the Track or Audio threshold behavior.
Duck the entire main output
Track-level ducking affects the selected target track. If the desired result is to lower the complete mix, configure the compressor on the main output instead.
- Press MIXER to open the mixer.
- Tap menu > Compressor.
- Configure the sidechain options on the Compressor screen, selecting the trigger and setting the available threshold, timing and depth controls.
- Play the project and watch the compressor or sidechain display to confirm that the main output responds to the trigger.
This output-level configuration applies ducking after the tracks routed to the main output are combined. The earlier v1.3.17b manual describes the Out 1 bus as receiving the mixed tracks plus Bento Delay, Reverb and Mod FX; v1.6 adds access to the compressor and main-input sidechain settings from the Mixer menu.
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Use main-output ducking when every element should move together, such as lowering a complete performance under an external announcement or making an entire arrangement pulse from a clock. Do not use it merely because the kick and bass need separation: output ducking will also reduce drums, effects and any other track routed to that output.
Track ducking versus main-output ducking
| Decision | Track-level ducking | Main-output ducking |
|---|---|---|
| What becomes quieter | One selected target track | The complete main output |
| Where to configure it | TRACKS > menu > Config Track, then the ducker controls | MIXER > menu > Compressor |
| Typical use | Kick creating space in bass, or one instrument responding to a pad, clock, input or MIDI event | Lowering the whole mix when an input or event arrives |
| Source choices | Track, Pad, Clock, Audio or MIDI | Sidechain options on the main-output compressor |
| Effect on other tracks | Other tracks are not reduced by that target’s ducker | Everything routed through the main output is affected |
Choose the track screen when only one element needs space. Choose the Mixer compressor when the trigger should lower the complete Bento output. If you need both behaviors, set up the individual target first, then add output ducking carefully and listen for compounded reduction.
How sends behave during track ducking
Track-level ducking also ducks that track’s Reverb and Delay sends when those sends are set in the Mixer. Sends configured on an instrument dashboard are not ducked. This distinction matters when a wet effect continues at full level while the dry target track dips: check where the send was created before treating that behavior as a malfunction.
For example, if the bass dry signal drops but a Mixer-created delay send drops with it, that is expected. If an instrument-dashboard reverb remains steady, the send is outside the track-ducker path. Move or adjust the send location only if that different behavior suits the arrangement; it is not evidence that the sidechain failed.
Project, mute and source behavior
- Sidechain starts off. Sidechain is off by default for each new track and project. Enable it deliberately after selecting the trigger and setting the controls.
- Muted sources still work. Track detection occurs before the source fader and mute, so a muted kick can continue to control the bass.
- No self-triggering. Bento excludes the target track from its own Track source list.
- Settings are saved. Ducker settings are saved with the project. Copying a track also copies that track’s ducker settings.
Because settings travel with a copied track, copying a bass track can also copy its sidechain assignment and timing values. Review the copied track before using it in a different project; the source track number may no longer represent the sound you intended.
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Troubleshooting a ducker that does not respond
The graph stays gray
Sidechain is probably disabled. Return to the target track’s ducker controls and turn Sidechain on. When enabled, the graph changes from gray to the track color.
The graph is enabled but never moves
Press PLAY, confirm that the source track or event is active, and lower the threshold for a Track or Audio trigger. For Track mode, verify that the source is not the target itself; Bento does not allow self-selection. For MIDI mode, send the note from an external MIDI device rather than Bento’s pads or sequencer.
The kick is audible but does not duck the bass
Open the bass track, not the kick track, and check that Trigger is set to Track with the kick selected as Source. Then lower Threshold and confirm Sidechain is enabled. Remember that an audible kick can still be below the selected threshold at the detector, so test with a lower value.
The ducking is too subtle
Increase Depth toward the documented 60–80% starting region, or lower Threshold so more trigger hits qualify. Check that you are adjusting the target track rather than a different track. If only some kicks trigger, inspect their level consistency and threshold rather than immediately increasing Depth to 100%.
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The bass does not recover before the next kick
Shorten Hold or Release. Recovery time is material-dependent, so reduce the values until successive kicks produce distinct dips without making the bass jump unnaturally. A long release can intentionally create a smooth pump, but it can also make a busy pattern sound permanently reduced.
An effect tail remains loud
Determine whether the reverb or delay send was set in the Mixer or on the instrument dashboard. Mixer sends follow the track ducking; instrument-dashboard sends do not.
The wrong parts are moving
Check the scope before changing timing. Track mode lowers only the selected target; Compressor under the Mixer lowers the main output. If drums and effects are also dipping, you may have configured output ducking when you wanted a single-track ducker.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A reliable setup checklist
- Bento is on firmware v1.6 or later.
- The intended target track is selected in TRACKS.
- menu > Config Track is open and the Down arrow has reached the ducker controls.
- The correct trigger mode and source are selected.
- Threshold is low enough for the source material, when using Track or Audio.
- Depth is set intentionally; 60–80% is a documented starting suggestion, not a required value.
- Attack, Hold and Release suit the tempo and the length of the target sound.
- Sidechain is on and the graph is no longer gray.
- Playback is running and the graph playhead responds to trigger events.
- The Mixer send location has been checked if reverb or delay behavior seems unexpected.
- The target scope is correct: one track in Config Track or the full mix in Mixer Compressor.
- The project has been saved after testing.
Frequently asked questions
Which Bento firmware first added sidechain ducking?
Firmware v1.6 introduced it. The official downloads page listed v1.6.1 on 13 October 2026, so verify your unit rather than relying on the older v1.3.17b compressor screen.
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Select the bass first because it is the target that should become quieter. In the bass track’s Config Track ducker controls, choose Track as the trigger and select the kick as Source.
Can a muted kick still trigger ducking?
Yes. Track detection occurs before the source fader and mute, so a muted or fully lowered kick can continue to duck the target.
Can Bento duck several tracks with one kick?
Configure the ducker separately on each target track that should respond to the kick. A track-level ducker affects its selected target, not every track. To lower the complete output at once, use MIXER > menu > Compressor.
Why can I not select the target as its own Track source?
Bento excludes the target track from the Track source list. Choose another track, or use Pad, Clock, Audio or external MIDI if those event types better describe the trigger.
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Does the internal sequencer create the MIDI trigger?
No. MIDI mode responds to notes from an external MIDI device. Bento’s own pads and sequencer do not trigger the ducker in this mode.
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Is a threshold required for every trigger?
No. Track and Audio use a 0–100% threshold because they respond to signal level. Pad, Clock and MIDI are event-driven and use their selected event, division or note instead.
Will track ducking lower my reverb and delay?
It lowers Reverb and Delay sends set in the Mixer along with the target track. Sends configured on an instrument dashboard are not ducked, so their tails can remain at full level.
Are the settings retained when I save?
Yes. Bento saves ducker settings with the project, and copying a track copies that track’s ducker settings as well. Recheck the copied source assignment in a different arrangement.
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Key points to remember
Bento’s sidechain workflow is target-first: select the signal that should become quieter, then assign its trigger. Firmware v1.6 introduced the feature, and v1.6.1 was the version listed on the official downloads page on 13 October 2026. Track, Pad, Clock, Audio and external MIDI triggers cover both audio-driven and event-driven ducking. For a kick-to-bass pattern, configure the bass track, choose the kick as its Track source, enable Sidechain, and tune Threshold, Attack, Hold, Release and Depth while the project plays. For whole-mix ducking, use the compressor under the Mixer menu instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What firmware do I need for sidechain on Bento?
Use firmware v1.6 or later. Version 1.6.1 was listed on 1010music’s official downloads page on 13 October 2026.
How do I make a kick duck the bass?
Select the bass in TRACKS, open menu > Config Track, choose Trigger: Track, select the kick as Source, set Threshold and Depth, turn Sidechain on, and test with PLAY.
Can I use a clock, pad, audio input or MIDI note instead of a kick?
Yes. Bento v1.6 provides Track, Pad, Clock, Audio and MIDI trigger types. MIDI triggers require an external MIDI device.
How do I duck the whole mix?
Press MIXER, tap menu > Compressor, and configure the sidechain options on the main-output compressor.
Why is my muted source still causing ducking?
Track detection happens before the source fader and mute, so a muted source can still trigger the target.
The Bottom Line
On Bento, sidechain setup starts with the target, not the trigger: select the track that should dip, assign its source, enable Sidechain, and tune the documented Attack, Hold, Release, Depth and threshold controls. Firmware v1.6 or later is required. Use TRACKS for one-track ducking and MIXER > menu > Compressor when the entire main output should respond.
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