Which is first : Compress or Equalize ??? (The question is not what u think)

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mr Music
  • Start date Start date
M

Mr Music

New member
Ok so I was reading up on compression, equalization etc....
I made some attempts and it was pretty cool...Im not really new to it, but I do have this one question that I never really got completely...

So this is what I dont really get...

What is that INDICATION that tells you if you should COMPRESS or EQUALIZE FIRST???


This is what ive noticed...

Equalize -> Compress

When doing so on vocals- they tend to come out more crisp and professional sounding...Correcting the frequencies first and then adding some smoothness and pump with the compressor...that makes sense...

With instruments and drums etc- I tend to hear everything much brighter for reasons...



BUT THEN AGAIN YOU HAVE PEOPLE THAT COMPRESS first....WTF?

Compress -> Equalize

When doing on vocals- they tend to come out much smoother, but somehow not as enjoyable as with Eq first.....out of about 10 people that i know who mix- 7 like to use compressor first...



My question is NOT if I should compress or equalize first but more like

WHAT IS IT THAT TELLS YOU GUYS WHICH TO PICK FIRST???????????


For kicks, snares, hats, vocals, bass, percussion etc....

Please Help me out because its getting me paranoid lol...I dont really think its a dumb question really...lol...cuz im not askin about HOW to do it, but more like WHY...
 
stayyyyy calm.
This has been discussed numerous times. My rule of thumb is to correct first, then add. In other words, correct mistakes with EQ if need be (ie. get rid of a ringing sound), then use the other plugins after to enhance the sound. Generally if I don't need to correct anything, I compress first then EQ. There are ups and downs to both sides of this idea.

If you compress first you are taming the peaks and dynamics of the overall signal before you add EQ to spots which will boost. But if you're using compression because you don't want parts of the sound to stand out so much, then perhaps you need to EQ it first so that when adding to a frequency section you're not boosting the parts that stand out! OR you can subtract EQ instead of add.

Now if you EQ first and get the sound you want, why would you want to go back in and then just smash down on the frequencies that you just boosted because you liked?!

It's all personal taste. But I highly recommend correcting before enhancing.
 
Don't forget you can always EQ > Comp > EQ also in the digital world or if you have a stereo EQ :)
 
It's funny, because I was just reading an article on this exact thing from Bob Katz trying to calm peoples nerves on the thought.


He claims to do EQ before compression 90% of the time. But as in anything audio, it's all based on judgement.


However, I will tell you this (to be added to the endless list of useless information):


-If you compress after an EQ, you will probably tend to find yourself resetting thresholds alot more often. We know a wideband compressor selects compression from the highest peak in the source (in a peak detecting compressor).

However, this helps keep your EQ changes (if not too drastic) under control pretty well. So it helps fatten up your mixes and push things up to the front (if you like to boost). I think of fat ladys cramming into a phone booth to help me remember that.

David Botrills mix of Coheed and Cambria's latest album seems to be a relentless use of compression after EQ (at least it feels that way to me).


-If you compress before an EQ, you shape up your source somewhat before you even hit the EQ. EQ adjustments would tend to be more presise and more surgical to mold.


After all, they don't design pre/post buttons on consoles for nothing.
 
Last edited:
Awsome! Load off my shoulders LOL!

to the 3 of you= thank you so very much!

:)

Later
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top