EQ BEFORE or AFTER compression?

[RowdyGleason]

This seems to be a varied topic. I want to be thoroughly convinced in each argument!
Discuss.

[mvollrath]

There is no argument. You just use whichever technique gets you the results you want.

When I'm dealing with a poorly recorded track that needs some repair EQ, that comes before compression. That way you keep, for example, a bunch of muddy or resonant bass junk from rubbing up against the threshold the whole time. Then I might compress and EQ again afterward. Typically, though, I will EQ after compression.

Consider that the frequency that hits the compressor the hardest will tend to dominate the rest of the spectrum. The question is, what part of the sound do you want to hit the compressor the most, and what do you need to do to make that happen?

Don't think about it too much, just make it sound good!

[farview]

Yup, it all depends on the effect you are trying to achieve. Do you want to compress an EQ'd signal or EQ a compressed signal?

[jgimbel]

Yup, it all depends on the effect you are trying to achieve. Do you want to compress an EQ'd signal or EQ a compressed signal?

+1. What are you trying to address in a track? Whichever strikes you as something it needs first would be the one to do first. That said, I find myself compressing first much more often, as compression in many many cases affects the EQ of a signal. If you turn up the low end in a track, then compress it, that low end is going to be affecting the compressor. If you compress, then turn up the low end, you know exactly what your result is once you EQ.

[Snarl 12/8]

It might be a good idea to high-pass (if you're going to) before the compressor so the compressor's not reacting to a whole bunch of rumble/lo frequency junk.

[Dakota]

There is no argument. You just use whichever technique gets you the results you want.

When I'm dealing with a poorly recorded track that needs some repair EQ, that comes before compression. That way you keep, for example, a bunch of muddy or resonant bass junk from rubbing up against the threshold the whole time. Then I might compress and EQ again afterward. Typically, though, I will EQ after compression.

Consider that the frequency that hits the compressor the hardest will tend to dominate the rest of the spectrum. The question is, what part of the sound do you want to hit the compressor the most, and what do you need to do to make that happen?

Don't think about it too much, just make it sound good!

Wise words. Agreed.

It's also very case-by-case for me, but if one wants to start with a few generalizations: yep, "repair" EQ usually before the comp - taming down bad resonance areas with narrow Q cuts. General wide sweetening and shaping after the comp. Bass boost (if needed) usually after comp, not before.

Hmm - one near universal I can think of: if hi-passing is needed anyway to get rid of rumble and low muck, I almost always do that pre-compressor. That kind of muck is one of the likeliest things to make a compressor behave in an ugly and chaotic fashion.

[Waltz Mastering]

Corrective eq before, Sometimes touch up eq after.

[RowdyGleason]

Thanks, guys, these are the responses I was looking for. I was having a discussion about it today with some friends, and the "repair EQ first, then compression, then other EQ" seemed to dominate the generalized order, but I wanted to hear it from a wider audience. Obviously, everyone has had their own experiences and uses for it, which is why I asked, and I want to see all sides to when is best.

[ashcat_lt]

The idea of "repair, compress, sweeten" is a good one, wonder if we can find a more succinct way to put it?

I sometimes use a technique that is common in overdrive circuits that I call "pre-emphasis/de-emphasis". This is especially useful when adding "color" type compression.

I might, for example, push the low mids going into the comp just to get it squishing and crunching the way I want, and then pull those same frequencies out afterwards, to get back to a more usable tonal balance.

[nordberg]

oh, you mean the old RCS technique!? (some new thread will be called what's the RCS technique and how can i do it for under $500?)

[Acoustikitty]

I might, for example, push the low mids going into the comp just to get it squishing and crunching the way I want, and then pull those same frequencies out afterwards, to get back to a more usable tonal balance.

This leads into the idea of actually sidechaining the compressor so that it's reacting to another track entirely, say, a clone of the original that's been EQ'd to an extreme. Or you could add compression to the room mic on drums that's being triggered by the kick track, and really get that pumping cymbals thing. This would be a extreme example of putting EQ first to make the compressor react in a certain way. Not sure about putting two EQ's on so much stuff though - sounds like a lot of processing and might degrade the mix if you're doing it a lot.

[Babaluma]

i have my eqs and comps patched to the patchbay, so it's easy and fast to switch the order.

[Marc Alan Goodman]

I've never worried about "too much processing". There's no rules. if it sounds good, it sounds good, if it doesn't it doesn't.

I think it's been pretty well covered, but just to clear it up using an eq before the compressor is useful for way more than just repair. You can totally change how the compressor reacts to the signal, make it act like a totally different beast. Especially with older compressors that are very frequency dependent.

Play with it! I find I EQ vocals before compressing them all the time in the mix. Bass sometimes too.

[Brian]

You shouldn't "worry" about it, but, side-chaining is an accepted standard for a long time to achieve the very results he was describing he wanted and without ever eq-ing the signal used to mix.
HOWEVER, you can do some weird stuff to tracks doing just what he did on purpose and sometimes it kicks ass. You can get good at it too. I used to do it a lot too.
Might do it again. I did it to compensate for inferior equipment, that's right.
The first three posts sum up why you would compress and eq when in what case.

[ashcat_lt]

When we're looking for color "extra processing" can sometimes be a good thing. In fact, it's sometimes a good idea to get a little bit from here and a little from there, rather than try to get a whole bunch from one device.

Honestly though, I just never really thought about using side-chaining for this. Leads to an interesting point re:

i have my eqs and comps patched to the patchbay, so it's easy and fast to switch the order.

namely, do you have your side-chains run to the patchbay?