What first, compressor or eq?

[blackanom]

Is there a rule or is it just a matter of taste?

[IIRs]

Compressor first, unless you feel like trying it the other way round.

[shamann]

Here's a suggestion:

Try one way, try the other. Use which ever sounds best. Any idiot that comes along and says you've got it backwards, give them a good swift kick in the teeth.

Problem solved.

[nibbzious]

it doesnt really matter unless your compressor has some sort of built in brick wall limiter, then you'll want to do the eq first if you're making any boosts

[Galleoneer]

here is how I make it:

eq->compress->eq

1. eq determine the bands that should be compressed in boosting or reducing them

2. compress

3. eq for technical correction and makeup

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or of course use a multiband compressor and than eq

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only a suggestion, at the end it must fit your ear

[Galleoneer]

it doesnt really matter unless your compressor has some sort of built in brick wall limiter, then you'll want to do the eq first if you're making any boosts

technically it does matter a lot

[Steven West]

Someones going to get a swift kick in the teeth....



I never could understand 'Pre/Post EQ' and compressors before, during, and after and all that? I'm like Shamann - what ever sounds good to me one way or another. If it's going on CD, I'll let the mastering studio worry about 'mix compression' and 'overall EQ' and all that.

[bitcrusher]

I never could understand 'Pre/Post EQ' and compressors before, during, and after and all that?

The more you are altering the signal, the more it matters. (boy that sounds idiotic)

Extreme example for a point, say you wanted to tweak a bass guitar sound radically, and actually remove the lows.

If you compress first, and then remove the lows, the compressor is reacting to the low frequencies, and your resulting sound is breathing and not well "compressed".

Of course, I never argue with "what sounds best"..

[nibbzious]

it doesnt really matter unless your compressor has some sort of built in brick wall limiter, then you'll want to do the eq first if you're making any boosts

technically it does matter a lot

what I meant is use whatever you think sounds better, not what someone else tells you to do.

[mauseoleum]

chorus first. fully wet.

[shamann]

chorus first. fully wet.

And last!

[StudioTan]

There isn't a wrong or right way. BUT, there can be a huge difference in the outcome depending on how you're eq'ing the signal AND how the particular compressor you're using reacts to the signal. Switch back and fourth while eq'ing to determine what you like best in your particular situation.

Here's one of many examples: Let's say the track you're compressing is really bass-heavy. Most single-band compressors are going to react to this bass more than other frequencies in the spectrum. Now let's say you want to do a low-cut on that bass because it's not needed and is causing muddiness in the mix. Currently your eq is before the compressor. Now the compressor is going to react differently to the signal because it's not dealing with these heavy bass frequencies. If the eq was after the compressor, it will most likely compress more in this position, giving a different feel to the track. Basically, the more radically you eq, the more different your track will sound when switching order.

I tend to eq before compression most of the time, especially when doing a lot of cutting in the lower frequencies. This way the compressor isn't compressing based on frequency levels that aren't going to be there anyways.

Of course, all compressors react differently to signals, some of which you can control through sidechaining or similar controls that determine how the compressor will react to incoming signals.

[funkadil]

you get the same kinds of dilemmas in all sorts of effects setups. I say just go for it and if you mess things up, you'll know better than somebody who just knows from hearing.

[verstaerker]

can somebody explain what's ment by eq ?




hihi

[blackanom]

equalize the frequencies.