In what order do you put comp, eq, verb, etc?

[TCW]

Generally speaking, in what order do you put autotune, comp, eq, verb for vox, guitars and bass tracks. (No autotune for guitars! :wink: )

Thanks!

 

[Ninja]

Usually autotune, EQ, compressor, delay, reverb.

Can sometimes be better to have the compressor pre the EQ, depending on what you are trying to achieve.

 

[brian]

If you need to auto-tune, try doing that first. Use EQ pre compression if you want the compressor to react more or less to certain frequencies. You can emphasize the lows and upper mids for example on drums to get a different reaction from the compressor, which sounds cool especially if you really lay into it and mix that signal in parallel. Also cutting any unwanted resonances before compression prevents the comp from reacting too much to stuff you don't want.

Use EQ post compression if you want to compensate for any unwanted frequency loss from compressors (ie loss of highs, or very low bass...although this shouldn't be much of a problem if you pick the right one), or just to change the general tone after the dynamics are controlled how you want them.

Sometimes I use EQ pre and post compression, but depending on how heavy-handed the adjustments are the character of the sound can change drastically. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes not.

Verb I mostly use on a post-fader send, and usually EQ the return or at least filter it.

 

[Paul Woodlock]

Autotune always in offline processing mode.


Compression and EQ order can vary really

 

[TCW]

Autotune always in offline processing mode.

Hi Paul,

What do you mean by this?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[Dan Duskin]

AutoTune first (in offline processing, applied only to events that need it, and only using it in manual/graphic mode)

Noise Gate is next (if needed)

Compression follows

EQ after compression (most of the time)

Limiter (if needed)

-------------------------------------------------------

Effects like delay and reverb go on effects sends...

 

[Paul Woodlock]

Autotune always in offline processing mode.

Hi Paul,

What do you mean by this?

Thanks,
Tom

It means I select a particular phrase of vocal that needs tuning and use autotune to process the actual audio file using graphical mode.

 

[Mark Edmonds]

Hmmmm, as a general response, I'd say that you are applying processing for a reason and if you don't have a mental goal of what you are trying to achieve, you haven't thought out why you are chosing the processing you are. Why are you EQing? Why are you compressing? How does each bit get you towards the sound you hear in your head? That will tell you the order.

Generally, I tend to EQ before Comp because it means I can \"key\" the Comp a little if I need to but I'll EQ afterwards again if needed or Comp before EQ as required. No hard rule.

Autotune as Paul says - get that close to the source as possible.

Reverbs nearly always last although once in a while, I might put a minute touch of a modulating type fx afterwards to move the tail around a little depending how sterile the reverb sounds but that is more a reflection (haha!) on the quality of ITB reverbs than anything else.

Mark

 

[ed_mcg]

This is pretty much in line with what has been said:

Autotune first.

Pre-compression eq - remove that which you don't want the compressor to work on: roll off the low end and high end if it's not of interest; maybe dip some in between. For example bass: HPF at 40 (or so), there's a lot of energy at 190Hz, so dip some there, then LPF at 3k to 8kHz.

Compression - as required

Post-compression eq - this is where the tone shaping happens; for example, if you want a little boost for the high end of a vocal for some crispness / presence.

Send to a reverb, mix it in subtly.

You need to watch out for compression following reverb, since it will pull up the reverb tail and that can get both overwhelming and annoyingly metallic sounding.

 

[Stuart Stuart]

I like to low cut before the compressor and have a cambridge after for any colouration work.