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Couple of dumb but important questions..... (pg. 2)
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| jasonf |
So you shape a sound by compressing it and then process it in a way that changes its shape? Logic says it should be the other way arround.
Why? |
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| Storyteller |
Maybe it's easier to put it this way. Make sure the core of the sound is correct first, before you're adding more (slightly or heavily changed) instances of the same sound such as delay/reverb do.
It's the same as with just about anything. Make sure the main part works, then start adding stuff. Not the other way around because then you'll need to fix the main part in the end doubling your trouble :). |
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| chick |
| quote: | Originally posted by jasonf
So you shape a sound by compressing it and then process it in a way that changes its shape? Logic says it should be the other way arround.
Why? |
because the purpose of boosting IS changing its shape. and if you boost it before compression, it has no sense..
at least i understand it this way..
okay i have a question. why do you all put equalizers first? i always put them at the end. is there any difference? |
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| Rodri Santos |
| quote: | Originally posted by chick
because the purpose of boosting IS changing its shape. and if you boost it before compression, it has no sense..
at least i understand it this way..
okay i have a question. why do you all put equalizers first? i always put them at the end. is there any difference? |
I usually use 2, one for the dry sound and other just for mastering purposes, i have noticed that if you add reverb to some channels they expand to some frequencies that you don't want to be used (50 hz for example for the kicks) and i cut them with an EQ at the end. |
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| DJ Robby Rox |
I know its not a big deal but I was thinking I had more control the other way. It would be easier to draw out what I thought was happening to the sound but I honestly thought I had more control leaving it toward the end.
I figure if anything it won't hurt to try compression first in the chain and I'll see if anything feels/sounds different over the next few weeks. =]
Thanks for the advice!
| quote: | Originally posted by Storyteller
Hey Robby,
In the end it doesn't matter what you do as long as it sounds the way you want it to. However, I'd recommend you to put the compressor somewhere at the beginning of the chain. Before or after the filter/eq. This gives you more control to sculpt the initial sound without compressing the delay/reverb as well. This way you have a bit more dynamic space to work with which would likely result in a better/more clear definition of the sounds used. Make them stand out a bit more and such.
Compressing those effects means the initial sound and the effects will be closer in terms of dynamic range which makes them harder to distinguish from the original sound. Thus it most likely clutters the mix up a bit. If that's what you're looking for it's ok but in standard cases I would advise like said in the above paragraph.
Again, in the end the sound is all that matters though :). |
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| Stephen Wiley |
It's always best to use EQ before compression to get rid of the frequencies you don't want immediately. For instance the lower 40hz and below and other frequencies that could introduce phasing problems. An equalizer works better before compression because it is more effective at cutting the frequencies because they are not as compressed together, so there are more dynamics there which allow you to use different poles for the most precise EQ'ing possible (unless you use an expander on the source, but this is for extreme cases)
I know what I said above contradicts a bit what I've said since I use parallel compression first, but it's somewhat of a different type of compression. It doesn't compress as hard as normal compression and gives you a bigger, fuller sound. When it is a problem I will EQ first before anything.
You need EQ after, most notably reverbs, because you're going to have reverb tails that go into frequencies you do not want them in. This is a very common problem and can cause a lot of muddy sounds if you're washing a track hard. Some reverb units/programs have built-in parameters to control this, others don't. Just need to know your software, trust your ears, and pay attention to your spectrum analyzer. |
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| sako487 |
| Wouldn't putting the EQ last make a cleaner mix? I'm guessing the reverb would kinda add some muddiness, even after reverb EQ. |
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| jasonf |
No because if you EQ a plucked sound with filter envelope and boost it at 5k you are changing its dynamics.
The attack has lots of highs but the sustain doesn't so by EQing you are increacing the volume of the attack making it louder than the rest of the sound.
If you compress before the EQ your compressor is working with different dynamics than whats in your mix.
EQ effects different notes in different ways as well.
As for the reverb its better to use a send channel for it and process it by it self, unless your reverb has some type of EQ. |
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| Beatflux |
| quote: | Originally posted by Stephen Wiley
For instance the lower 40hz and below and other frequencies that could introduce phasing problems.
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Phasing problems for the compressor?
| quote: | Originally posted by Stephen Wiley
An equalizer works better before compression because it is more effective at cutting the frequencies because they are not as compressed together, so there are more dynamics there which allow you to use different poles for the most precise EQ'ing possible (unless you use an expander on the source, but this is for extreme cases)
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Huh? |
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| Waza |
I use Eq before compression about 90% of the time. If Reverb is on the channel then i adjust the reverb to taste. Somtimes the reverb will have like a bandpass or a low pass - etc eq on it.
Music is about exploring all different ways of doing things, so if it works for that particular sound then there's nothing wrong in doing it that way. |
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| jupiterone |
corrective eq (filter unwanted frequencies)
gating
compression
enhancement eq (boosting/lowering frequencies)
mostly all that should be in your inserts unless you're doing some wild
after that, aux effects
think SSL when doing your channel strips. first come filters, then the gates/compressors, then the actual equalizing. rules, rules, rules, i know. but those are the main plugs you should have on your strips for each channel. i mean 80% won't need a gate but it's how i've been learning to do it lately at school and it is yet to fail me. however, in no way should enhancement EQ come before filters |
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| Fledz |
When you EQ, you're polishing the sound. If you compress afterwards, you can undo a lot of work that you just did by EQing. On the other hand, if the volume drops after EQing, it's very simple to bring it back up by adjusting the compressor a little bit.
Now that way that I understand it, this isn't a critical chain order while doing a mixdown, but during mastering it seems to be widely accepted that EQ goes after compression because you're working on the entire track, not just sections. |
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