mastering FX order

[audiobot202]

So in terms of using something like Har Bal or Freeq or something visual like that...what kind of an optimal EQ curve are we looking to produce here? Somebody once told me to try and make a slight frown on the curve.

[kritikon]

Depending what you're doing, the opposite probably...a typical loudness curve is a smile, not a frown.

[carlos]

You need to listen to a similar genre of music (commercial)through the mixing and mastering stages and emulate it, if that means adjusting certain frequencies then think about the mix of instruments and how they interact and what frequencies they are hogging, when you think your close then attempt the later stages of whole mix tweaking, eq, multiband comp. reverb, (fairy dust). try your songs on many boom boxes, car stereos etc. Read many tutorials!! But first stage is, be sure you know what your after!!

[MickGael]

...I only want to do some boosting and equalising...

Just a general caveat: whenever possible, boost a frequency range by cutting another. Your mixes will thank you.

[audiobot202]

You need to listen to a similar genre of music (commercial)through the mixing and mastering stages and emulate it, if that means adjusting certain frequencies then think about the mix of instruments and how they interact and what frequencies they are hogging, when you think your close then attempt the later stages of whole mix tweaking, eq, multiband comp. reverb, (fairy dust). try your songs on many boom boxes, car stereos etc. Read many tutorials!! But first stage is, be sure you know what your after!!

Yeah..I think I'd have to be listening to something fairly non commercial to get the sound I'm after.
Simplicity is for me. And since I don't do Trance or similar styles overcompression doesn't really work for me.