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EQ before compression?

Rockin Mike

Rockin Mike

May 27, 2011
2,772
424
#1
Trying to clean up my band's recording of a live gig.
Recording was made on a Zoom Q3HD.
Processing the wav file in audacity.

Is it better to apply EQ before compression or vice versa?

I think it might be better to do EQ first because the EQ could affect the signal level and dynamics, and those should be finalized before using compression to even them out.

What say ye?
 
#2
Or not, I'm messing with it now and finding that compressing after EQ seems to undo some of the cuts I made. For example I scooped it at around 400-600 Hz to get rid of some mud, then the compressor came behind and un-scooped it.

I think. Ears can deceive.
 
#4
The which came first EQ/Compression debate...............love it!
There's no right or wrong answer. Eq can can undo some of the compression, and the compression can undo some of the eq'ing. Endless debate.

The only correct answer is let your ears do the thinking
 
#7
If you're trying to breathe life into a stereo recording, you'll probably need to do both. Or you could also use a multi band compressor, which is kind of the best of both worlds.

And don't be afraid to mix in some dry signal too, or apply effects to just the left or right channel, it gives it a bit more dimension.
 
#9
EQ cuts before the compressor reduces the compressor's sensitivity to those frequencies. So for instance if the strong bass from a live recording is making the compressor "pump" the signal and making the mids and highs inconsistent, then taking some bass out before the compressor will prevent that.

A good plan is "corrective" eq->compressor->"flavor" eq.

Where corrective means taking out obvious defects like 60Hz hum, boxy frequency spikes due to the room or an over-piercing guitar or cymbal (generally narrow cuts), and flavor is the broad tonal adjustments (could be cuts or boosts, generally broad freq ranges).
 
#11
I use to do a lot of videos of my cover band using the Zoom and I always compressed first than eq'd to ear than I raised the volume the level again in the cheap sofware I had. Live recordings were always muddy, guitar and snare heavy. Wit a little work they were useable
demos for getting gigs.
 
#12
I prefer EQ before compression, personally. Like Chromer said, it changes which frequencies the compressor acts on.

If I have the option I always use high and low pass filters in the compressor's side chain. This is because I always use make-up gain, and the make-up gain would affect the extreme highs and lows without the filters in place.
 
#13
Chromer said:
A good plan is "corrective" eq->compressor->"flavor" eq.
Click to expand...


This.

You can also treat it as a corrective compression stage to get the amount of dynamic range you want, and follow the flavor EQ with a "character" compression. This stage is less about managing dynamics, and more about overdrive characteristics, or getting behaviors of well known comps (LA2A, 1176, or even the feel of preamps like the 1073, etc.).
 
#14
Rockin Mike said:
Or not, I'm messing with it now and finding that compressing after EQ seems to undo some of the cuts I made. For example I scooped it at around 400-600 Hz to get rid of some mud, then the compressor came behind and un-scooped it.

I think. Ears can deceive.
Click to expand...

Ears don't deceive, they perceive, but the brain is the loose cannon in this. As you know, a compressor raises the level of quieter signals and can decrease the level of louder signals and it doesn't care which frequencies, as long as it doesn't work in a specific range that's only part of the audible spectrum. You dropped the levels, making that region fair game for the compressor. If you had boosted some frequencies, it probably would have dropped their level.
 
#15
ddnidd1 said:
If you want a TON of information on EQ and Compression, as well as ALL aspects of Recording, check out Gearslutz.com.

Its a forum with members ranging from the bedroom recordist to the top pros in the industry.
Click to expand...
Though to be truthful, A bunch of the 'top pros' and most of the guys who were there at the beginning of Gearslutz have long since bailed on that forum. When it started, it was a place for professionals to hang out, but the signal to noise ratio got silly.
Some 17 year old arguing with Mike Shipley about how to 'mix' on Gearslutz would be like that same 17 year old on Talkbass trying to tell Lee Sklar or David Hood about how to play bass in the studio. Oh, wait...
 
#16
As already mentioned, multi-band compression, and side chain if you have separate tracks. Only compress the frequencies at their own frequency levels, and it's a can sound pretty nice when you compress down some background sound so the sound you want to focus on is brought out. It can be nice and subtle, not that hard ducking type effect.
 

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