Compression and EQ (before or after)

[swivelingchair]

When is is the ideal time to use compression and EQ? In other words, do you compress/EQ before the signal reaches the DAW/Tape or after the signal is already recorded? I know that both can be done, but what are your deciding factors and what are the applications for one verses the other? Or is it all jus personal preference?

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

When is is the ideal time to use compression and EQ? In other words, do you compress/EQ before the signal reaches the DAW/Tape or after the signal is already recorded? I know that both can be done, but what are your deciding factors and what are the applications for one verses the other? Or is it all jus personal preference?

*In general*, the rule of thumb is that you apply effects during tracking only if you are absolutely sure via previous experience that the result is indeed going to be exactly - or at least quite close - to what the final mix is actually going to need it to sound like. If you're not sure about that to the point hwere this question even comes up, then you're usually better off waiting until the mixing stage before you add that stuff; that way, you can alway go back to the original source and start over without having to re-record if you inadvertantly stick yourself with improper processing on the way in.

G.

 

[RAMI]

..............IF you even need to add one or the other.

 

[RRuskin]

I'll use eq during record and playback. Rarely, anything drastic but enough to reduce something(s) objectional or enhance something(s) desired. I never use compression on the way in when recording myself. When engineering others, however, I'll patch one in to tame things down a bit. Again, nothing so drastic that might create the need to work around a bad decision but just enough to make things a bit more manageable. Id anything drastic is called for it's done during mixdown.