KVR Audio

qa2pir · Post by **qa2pir** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:40 pm

use your ears

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Thu Jul 05, 2012 9:48 pm

Don't polish a turd, distort it.

ducter · Post by **ducter** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 8:32 am

GFunk wrote:Compression 1st, then eq.

Totally agree.

Compressors have a bad habit of shaving some frequencies off.

By the way, does anyone know how an EQ works?
How does it for example take 3dB off at 3000 Hz?
You might be surprised to know.

DuX · Post by **DuX** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:50 pm

Actually, EQ *before* compressing have its advantages, too. I wouldn't call it the "law" to put an EQ after the compressor at all. I actually do more of EQ before the compressor. It depends on what you're trying to achieve. EQ before compressor works almost like an exciter since the frequencies you boost get evened a bit by the compressor. It's a rather interesting effect.

Xenobt · Post by **Xenobt** » Fri Jul 06, 2012 11:51 pm

Monitor low!

And DuX makes a good point, if you have instruments or vocalists that get a little harsh or edgy as they get louder, a tube-type compressor will take the edge off very nicely!

So 2nd tip: Never say never!

KVR/eSoundz: Xenobt

camsr · Post by **camsr** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:32 am

DuX wrote:Actually, EQ *before* compressing have its advantages, too. I wouldn't call it the "law" to put an EQ after the compressor at all. I actually do more of EQ before the compressor. It depends on what you're trying to achieve. EQ before compressor works almost like an exciter since the frequencies you boost get evened a bit by the compressor. It's a rather interesting effect.

Yeah but it also lowers everything else in relation. It works well on some material, to excite.

I use EQ pre-compressor on the master to give a little selectivity to the range of interest, and then post-compressor to bring out the final balance. It's redundant but I think it makes highs breathe better.

GFunk · Post by **GFunk** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 1:53 pm

DuX wrote:Actually, EQ *before* compressing have its advantages, too. I wouldn't call it the "law" to put an EQ after the compressor at all. I actually do more of EQ before the compressor. It depends on what you're trying to achieve. EQ before compressor works almost like an exciter since the frequencies you boost get evened a bit by the compressor. It's a rather interesting effect.

Alright I didn't say you should never do it but the topic is "short mix tips" so I kept the statement short. I personally find it more beneficial on the whole to eq after compression otherwise the resulting sound can end up boxy with not enough lows or highs.

Your comment is a worth while point but I would still follow this process with an eq after.

thecontrolcentre · Post by **thecontrolcentre** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 1:59 pm

Take a break. Go out for a walk.

Mike20 · Post by **Mike20** » Sat Jul 07, 2012 6:22 pm

In regards to EQ Before/ after compression, i find it is best to sometimes do both, mostly when i am EQ'ing it is cutting, so i find it more beneficial to cut with an EQ before the compressor, that way you have removed the frequencies you don't want and you can even out the frequencies you do want

But if you are EQ'ing say with a nice analogue modelled compressor for some 'air' or even a boost on your vocals, i would almost always do that after the compressor, because then it is like you have evened the sound to as you want it, then the final EQ can not be harmed by the compressor and you will probably not need to EQ as much

+1 mixing at low volume, most of my mixing is around 65db no higher - sometimes i crank it up at the end to hear how it is sounding, things really do sound better when they are louder, i could sit there for 2 minutes throw a kick, clap and any synth together and at 100db it would probably sound great, bring it down to 70db and it would sound bad, if you can get something sounding 'big' or good or whatever at 60/70db then you know that it is going to sound extremely good at 100db

ducter · Post by **ducter** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:13 am

By the way, does anyone know how an EQ works?
How does it for example take 3dB off at 3000 Hz?
You might be surprised to know.

Haven't heard from anyone.

Doug1978 · Post by **Doug1978** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:43 am

Always make love when doing the final mix.

Burillo · Post by **Burillo** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 8:52 am

don't try, you'll never quit.

dark_virus · Post by **dark_virus** » Mon Jul 09, 2012 6:39 pm

Don't believe the "there's no rules" rule.

ducter · Post by **ducter** » Sun Jul 15, 2012 7:25 am

Doug1978(tempID) wrote:Always make love when doing the final mix.

I hope you have or that you will have, many children.

You will have to be a very talented person to be able to split your concentration on both "jobs" at the same time.

Bill Clinton had a "hard" time doing it

AngeFragile · Post by **AngeFragile** » Tue Jul 17, 2012 2:06 pm

A simple thing which hasn't been mentioned...Your ears are always a 'morning person', they are most sensitive earlier on. The later it becomes in the day the more you'll be tempted to turn in more high throwing your mix off balance.

Best short mixing tips