Order of FX - Clipping and EQP

[Ploki]

I thought plugins that affected all frequencies equally would be linear and those that don't non linear? I know what the two mean but hard to wrap my head around it

What TJ Shredder wrote, just adding some more theoretical stuff.

"linear" in this context more often than not refers to transfer function.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transfer_function
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gain_compression
this is a compressor transfer function, dashed line is "linear":

st-pa18_graph.jpg

any time there's a non-linear transfer function (input does not equal output), there's distortion and some difference in peak values.

Lets move on:
EQs:
in EQ's, linear usually refers to "linear phase" which means that any EQ moves don't cause phase ripples.
Phase ripples = peaks.
If you use a normal (minimal phase) EQ, you will likely cause additional peaks.
However transfer function of an EQ is completely linear - EQ by itself does not add any harmonic content, yet can still cause higher peak value even when cutting.

Depending on your processing chain and your goal, this can cause compressor after an EQ to work harder than it would have to otherwise.

By "EQ" readings i figure you mean Peak loudness levels, right?

[briefcasemanx]

It's pointless to think of most of these effects, most of the time, in terms of "eq readings", or changes in peaks. That's not a useful way of thinking about most effects other than EQ or Dynamics processors.

EQ specifically deals with spectral balance, which I think you're calling "EQ readings". Dynamics processors are processors that deal with or create volume changes, such as compressors, transient shapers, limiters, etc. (Note that a limiter is just a compressor with more extreme settings).

When people use effects such as flanger, reverb, chorus, etc, they are not looking to get a specific EQ curve or a specific change in volume peaks. These are effects that change over time and can have extremely complex changes in EQ or volume peaks that are well beyond the human brains capacity to quantify in real-time. These effects are qualified, not quantified. What I mean by qualified is that people generally just tweak these effects until they sounds good to their ears. If you're just mixing a song, looking at these effects in scopes is unlikely to give you much useful information.

Even with EQ and Dynamics processors, it's not necessary to use scopes and scientific analysis tools. Provided you understand how the processor and all it's parameters work, you can just tweak it until it sounds good to your ears. I would recommend not using any scopes or analyzers when first starting out. Just find out how to use each processor (read the manual, watch YouTube videos, read forums like the beginner forum here) and then tweak things by ear to get practice using them.

Scopes and analyzers can be good for *learning* how EQ or Dynamics processors affect sound signals, but as a beginner you're probably not going to know the proper way to use them for this purpose, so stick to YouTube videos if you're a visual learner

As a beginner don't even mess with clipping yet.

[Ploki]

EQ specifically deals with spectral balance, which I think you're calling "EQ readings". Dynamics processors are processors that deal with or create volume changes, such as compressors, transient shapers, limiters, etc. (Note that a limiter is just a compressor with more extreme settings).

Technically dynamic plugins deal with dynamic range changes. Level doesn't really need to change all that drastically. (i know i'm being terribly pedantic)

As a beginner don't even mess with clipping yet.

eh, clippers are the easiest. gain gain, chop chop

[briefcasemanx]

EQ specifically deals with spectral balance, which I think you're calling "EQ readings". Dynamics processors are processors that deal with or create volume changes, such as compressors, transient shapers, limiters, etc. (Note that a limiter is just a compressor with more extreme settings).

Technically dynamic plugins deal with dynamic range changes. Level doesn't really need to change all that drastically. (i know i'm being terribly pedantic)

As a beginner don't even mess with clipping yet.

eh, clippers are the easiest. gain gain, chop chop

Technically, I tried to stick to easy to understand concepts and didn't want to increase my post length describing what dynamic range is, which wasn't necessary to get across my point.

I'm not giving the advice to avoid clippers because they're hard to use.