EQ /Compression Digital?

[Blor007]

Effects:
-Hi, I'm looking for effects that make your drum sound big.
(Arent we all )
But the effects i get in Cool Edit or DirectX plugin ''Waves 5.0'' well they just suck, or maybe i used the wrong one (RVerb).
-And should there be different echo's on different drums? (like snare /kick drum ) Or should it be added to the drum mix Or both?
Compression:
-When you want to digitaly compress something, i just normalize my track and then i compress the signal. Is that the right way? or should I gate it first?
-And Graphic EQ BEFORE or AFTER the compressor. And my final question: I got a function Serial or Parallel for adding the effects.


So 4 questions:

Good Echo/Reverb plugin for drums?
Different echos on different drums?
How to use compression?
Serial or Paralell/ Eq before or after compression?


Thx in Advance , i'm really clueless about this one

 

[Farview]

-And should there be different echo's on different drums? (like snare /kick drum ) Or should it be added to the drum mix Or both?

You can use the same reverb on all the drums (go light on the kick...really light) but sometimes it is neat to use different ones on the snare than the toms. You get a 'bigger' sound, (if I am understanding your definition of big) by turning up the pre-delay on the verb and keeping the decay in the 1.5 second range. The rverb is fine, you just have to tweak it.

Compression:
-When you want to digitaly compress something, i just normalize my track and then i compress the signal. Is that the right way? or should I gate it first?

Why are you normalizing the track? All that is doing is bringing up the noise floor. I try not to gate my drums, but sometimes it is necessary. The gate goes before of the compressor. You don't have to compress all the individual tracks. I normally just compress the snare and kick (for metal I limit the kick) and send the overheads to a buss and compress them (slightly). Then I send the entire kit (including the overheads) to another buss and compress that. If you can get that drum buss comp to pump in time with the song it is really cool.

-And Graphic EQ BEFORE or AFTER the compressor. And my final question: I got a function Serial or Parallel for adding the effects.

I wouldn't use graphic EQ, I would use parametric. If you EQ before the compressor, it will change the way the compressor reacts to the drum. It could be cool, or not. That just depends on what you are trying to do.

You can add EQ anywhere you want, but you don't have to add EQ, compression or reverb to anything. There are no rules here