What should come first in effect chain, an Equalizer or a Compressor?

Whenever we talk about Music Production, this question always comes in every beginner's mind that what should come first in our effect chain, an Equalizer or a Compressor. As we know that these audio effects are very useful in the Music World. So first of all we have to understand what actually these two processes are?

Introduction to Equalizer:

An Equalizer is a software or a hardware which uses its inbuilt filters to manipulate the loudness of a sound within the specific frequency range. The filters are Low Cut, High Cut, Low Shelf, High Shelf, Bell Curve & Notch Filter. You can cut or boost the frequencies using these filters to achieve your desired tone. Moreover you can also equalize the sound in LR (Left & Right) and MS (Mid & Side) mode. We have different kinds of Equalizers to be used in music production but there are two models of Equalizers which are the most common in today's world i.e Parametric and Graphical Equalizers.

Introduction to Compressor:

A Compressor is basically an audio effect or an audio process which is generally used to turn down the peaks of the audio sound using ratio, attack, release and more importantly threshold level. This process gives your audio an even look by automatically turning down the peaks which blows above the threshold level so that the audio can sit well in your mix. Additionally you can create some pumping effect to your audio using a Compressor, more technically this pumping effect is known as Side chaining which every compressor offers. The most commonly used compressor types are FET Compressor & VCA Compressor.

Well in this topic, we aren't going to cover all aspects of Equalizers & Compressors. For deep knowledge & understanding, you should go for Sound Engineering Courses. Now we are taking into account and presuming that you fully understand these two above mentioned effects or processes so that we can proceed further and coming to the point as the topic describes.

Coming to the Point:

Whenever you produce music, you need an equalizer to adjust the tone of the sound. Somewhere you just use a low cut filter to reduce the low end and somewhere you just boost or cut some of the frequencies using the bell curve to make the sound more clear and attractive. So isn't it good to use an Equalizer first in your effect chain to create the desired sound and after that you should use a compressor to reduce the peaks of the audio if required.

Confused? Let's examine both the cases that what should come first in the effect chain, an Equalizer or a Compressor. For in-depth study, you should go for Mixing & Mastering Courses to boost your skills & career.

1# Compressor before Equalizer:

If you put Compressor first in your effect chain, it would reduce the peaks of the audio as per the threshold point given by you. This gives the audio a subtle and even look to maintain the decent low and high levels of the audio. Afterwards you use an Equalizer to cut some of the low end and may boost at some frequencies to make the desired tone of the sound. In this case, the compressor is applied on the non modified version of the sound and then you are shaping up your sound using the Equalizer. You will end up with a sound which is less in clarity but fat in shape.

2# Equalizer before Compressor:

In this case, you put an Equalizer first in your effect chain to modify the sound into the desired one and putting a Compressor after will work more precisely and efficiently in reducing the peaks because you have already cut those frequencies which was not required in that sound. Now the Compressor would work with no burden of low end and reduce the peaks with an ease thus giving you a very clear, transparent and crisp tone.

Conclusion:

May be there are some Producers or Engineers who use compression before Equalization in some cases to achieve the fatness of sound by compromising the clarity. This is because of their need at sometime but not all the time. So in my opinion, you should always use an Equalizer before a Compressor in your effect chain to achieve a tone which is rich in clarity and transparency.

So experiment yourself and check what's the best you would get. If you are a beginner, then Electronic Music Production Courses will surely help you to achieve a better professionalism in the field of Digital Music.