This is usually my chain for hats/high freq sounds:

EQ(lowcut and boost if needed) ->route to HHATS bus

On the high hats bus:
Distortion/bitcrush(sometimes)
More EQ
Saturation
Compression

then sended to a reverb

Placing the compressor before or after is really just a matter of taste

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There will be a difference - you can think of it as the EQ you apply being 'compressed' as well.

Compression's a non-linear process, so its position in the FX chain matters... it's sort of like the difference between (1 + 2) x 3 and 1 + (2 x 3). EQ and delay are both linear, so unless your plugins perform any sort of odd magic it theoretically shouldn't matter whether you EQ then delay or delay then EQ (sort of like 2 x 3 vs 3 x 2).

As you normally EQ things by ear, I'd say EQ after compression is probably a better way to go as then you're just EQing it as it will be heard. That's for all sounds, not just drums, and even the final mix.

Although having said the order doesn't matter, that's in an ideal world... plugins aren't perfect so could potentially add some funny frequencies, so I normally try to keep EQ to last in the chain as I can use it to get rid of these.

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eq after compression.

quote:

Originally posted by Stu Cox There will be a difference - you can think of it as the EQ you apply being 'compressed' as well.

This is an important point. If you are using your EQ to boost frequencies (i.e., additive EQing), particularly in the lower frequencies, you are probably better off doing that after compression. The reason for this is that, if you are additive EQing first, the boosted signals will increase the overall gain feeding into the compressor, which will cause compressor to react more frequently/severely, which will in turn squash the entire signal of the mix/submix/track. If you are using the EQ to attenuate frequencies (i.e., subtractive EQing), then the placement relative to the compressor is less important in terms of how the two (i.e., EQ and compressor) will interact.

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quote:

Originally posted by ken_lee eq after compression.

i do this, but rarely compress percussion or hats, the high end of my mixes has usually headroom enough so percussion and hats are more in the background but with a nitid sound. This for trance, lately i've introduced into house and sometimes percussion needs some compression to be more appealing.

quote:

Originally posted by ken_lee eq after compression.

and if your compressor keeps getting triggered by the low content which makes the attack and release all wonky ?

there is no proper way. It depends on your goal and your material. Many people EQ before and after to compensate for the initial adjustment.

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im usualy using filter for that. hi pass on everything but bass, kick.
instrument -> chorus/unison -> distortion -> filter -> compression -> eq -> mixer
thats me though, everyone should find their own way.

quote:

Originally posted by Ravist When placing drums what does everyone tend to do afterwards? Is there a big difference if you compress first and then eq or eq and then compress? I tend to compress and then eq.

In place of "everyone", you should specify "for those of you who compress drums" and ask them what they do. I can't remember the last trance song where I compressed my drum sounds. I don't find it necessary for my songs.

quote:

Originally posted by Ravist I tend to compress and then eq.

Compression often changes what a sample/instrument sounds like; so, yes, applying EQing after compression is a good idea. For instance, if you squash a sound with compression you may find that a certain part of the sample/instrument that was producing a nasty humming noise is now less apparent and, so, needs less drastic EQing.

quote:

Originally posted by Mad for Brad Many people EQ before and after to compensate for the initial adjustment.

Boom.

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