Should you EQ or compress first?

Each position, EQ pre (before) or EQ post (after) compression produces a distinctly different sound, a different tonal quality, and coloration. As a rule, using EQ in front of your compressor produces a warmer, rounder tone, while using EQ after your compressor produces a cleaner, clearer sound.

Should a compressor go first?

So, a compressor can be used first in order to balance the dynamics of individual tracks or busses and make them sound tighter. Afterwards, when combining these tracks or busses, chances are that you'll have to resolve “static” problems like masked energies with an EQ.

How does compression affect EQ?

With normal EQ, you boost the frequencies within a certain range and the other frequencies are unaffected. If you add a compressor after that EQ, you're still going to get the same relative change in tonality, but the compressor can't abide the gain increase, so it knocks the whole signal down.

Should you compress before recording?

So perhaps the best advice is to conservatively apply the best of both worlds: use a little compression while recording — just enough to help limit the most unruly peaks and phrases and to even out the recorded signal — and then add more compression to taste during mixing.

What should you do before compression?

So thats the first thing you need to do before compression: Again, Use clip gain to achieve dynamic balance. Next is something most of you are probably familiar with, and that is equalization. One thing that perhaps you aren't so familiar with is that all equalization before compression should be subtractive.

Should I EQ or Compress First? | Mixing Tips and Tricks

When should I compress vocals?

Compression reduces the dynamic range of a signal. Vocal recordings are naturally dynamic, which means they have a wide range of loud and soft parts. Compression reduces the distance between the loudest and softest part of the vocal, making it more consistent in volume throughout.

Should I EQ before or after AMP?

Before the amp is more like EQ'ing the guitar sound whereas after the amp will be shaping the overall sound. The difference is that an amp will respond differently according to what's hitting the input. Before the amp will change the overall sound to a degree, but it's more about changing the feel and response.

What order should plugins be in?

Sequence ultimately does matter because each plugin will affect how the next one down the line behaves. Place a distortion before a chorus and you're going to get a lush distortion. Place it after the chorus and you're going to get an entirely different effect. This is the same for delays, reverbs, EQ and compressors.

Where should compressor go in effects chain?

And the one that's closest to our hearts: where do you place the compressor in your signal chain? The Official Textbook of Pedal Placement™ states that, apart from vintage fuzz and wah, compression should always be first in the chain.

Should reverb come before or after compression?

Over time, producers have discovered that you get a better sound if you put reverb towards the end of the signal chain, after EQ and compression.

Should I use EQ while recording?

By all means, don't high pass stuff if you can't hear what's happening down there. But recording with EQ can help you with your gain structuring. If for example, you know you're gonna cut somewhere, you can cut and gain it back up. If you do it in the mix, you're gonna lose some level.

How do you properly use compression?

What is the best vocal chain?

What is upwards compression?

Upward compression is a type of dynamic range compression that boosts the amplitude of an audio signal below a certain threshold while maintaining the amplitude above the threshold. Upward compression is available in digital plugins and via parallel compression with hardware or software.

What do you put on a master chain?

What is EQ compression?

Equalization is how to manage each frequency. Compression is how to manage the volume of all frequencies. In most cases, do equalization first then compress.

Does compression make vocals louder?

Compression makes the volume of a vocal more consistent overall. In fact it was originally called “Automatic Level Control.” So if you're singing or rapping some words louder than others, compression makes for a less drastic volume difference between the loud and quiet parts.

Should vocals always be compressed?

For modern genres, they often need to be up front at all times. If not, your mix will suffer. One of the most effective tools at your disposal for crafting consistent vocals is compression. When combined with automation, compression can make your vocals sound loud, punchy, and modern.