The order of the Big Three

[jerberson12]

What is your prefered order of the big 3 processors? For me, it really depends on the track. Every order has its own outcome and as long as you tweak it right, it will sound good. But you can vote for one if you have a prefered one or you use one order more often.

 

[Greg_L]

I pretty much always EQ > Compress > Reverb.

But of course, and as always, it depends.

 

[bouldersoundguy]

Since reverbs usually go on effects loops they will usually be after the channel eq and compression. That pretty much makes the question just about eq and compression order on channel inserts which as been discussed at length.

Compressing the output of reverb sounds weird and unnatural to me so I never do it, but there's no rule against it.

The poll doesn't distinguish between compression at the channel level and compression on the overall send to a reverb. Those could sound very different.

 

[chewbacaface]

I would think that compressing reverb is a technique to achieve a specific sound... like what you might here is some parts of an MGMT album or in some dance music like Miike Snow stuff, but it's more of an effect and less of the standard variety. The only time I put the EQ after the compressor is if I need to "fix" something... like when a compressor has added too much air due to tape hiss or S/N ratio. That's just me though and I'm a weekend warrior at this.

 

[Legolas1971]

Yeah, I Eq (mildly) Compress (aggressively) and rarely use reverb...........

 

[VomitHatSteve]

I usually do ECR, but I think sometimes I've done CER too.

Edit: Then, of course, there's the tracks that give me trouble and turn into Eq -> Compression -> Eq again -> Sidechain compress into another channel -> Compress that one -> Reverb on both -> Distortion -> Compression for good measure.

 

[Bobbsy]

Generally EQ-Compress-Reverb, occasionally Compress-EQ-Reverb....but always reverb last because compression can play havoc with EQ tails.

 

[Steenamaroo]

Almost always eq-compress-reverb.

Occasionally I'll have an eq after the compressor, but only If I want to do some wide boosting.
Any cuts go before the comp for me.

 

[Jonesey9]

It's quite normal for me to go Compressor > EQ > Reverb > EQ

I filter out the lows on the way into the reverb then filter the highs on the way out

 

[Massive Master]

Almost always corrective EQ before compression, tailoring EQ after. The point of the effects send is entirely up to the source and what I'm trying to do with it.

 

[Guitargodgt]

eq comp inserted that order

Reverb is always done on a send.

 

[dxm2dxm2]

Depending on the project, I EQ first, then compress. But it depends on how much EQ I need and what I'm trying to achieve. If I have a bass track with leakage from the piano, well, I'll compress the Piano out as much as possible with a multiband compressor, like the Waves C6, and then EQ, and other processing, the bass from there. Much of what I do is clean up on 4 track recordings of live performances.

 

[Jekan]

EQ->Comp->Reverb

Basically your EQ makes your sound 'clean' so cut out the frequences that your compressor shouldn't deal with at all. Then you compress your sound, and at the end use Reverb. If you use reverb before your compressor you could end up making your sound unnecessarily loud/noisy

 

[illsoulprod]

Always Eq, Compress, reverb but...

It's not always the case even if this is my go to chain

 

[redhoney]

Reverb is always last, unless I place a high pass filter after it (but it will be on a send so it will affect only the reverb).
Compress before eq but a high pass filter before the compressor, in fact as a rule I place a high pass filter (set to 35Hz upwards depending on instrument/needs) at the top of each and every channel.

 

[240v]

EQ -> Compressor -> Reverb is general.

For a booming reverb, put the reverb before the compressor.

 

[redhoney]

Agree there..

(sorry I wanted to delete this post but don't know how)

 

[miroslav]

EQ-Comp-Reverb for the mix, on tracks...but at the stereo bus, on the complete mix, I'll do final Comp and then final EQ touch up.

 

[TASCAM MAN]

What is your prefered order of the big 3 processors? For me, it really depends on the track. Every order has its own outcome and as long as you tweak it right, it will sound good. But you can vote for one if you have a prefered one or you use one order more often.[/QUOTE

Are you talking about on a mix down? are during tracking?

 

[gecko zzed]

Are you talking about on a mix down? are during tracking?

I expect he's talking about mixdown, rather than tracking. At least that's the way I interpret it because my chain during tracking is 0. I just go straight in, then deal with the issues afterwards.