A reasonable order for FX chains?

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M_Glenn_M
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2012/04/30 10:27:22 (permalink)

A reasonable order for FX chains?

I know that there will be creative alternatives once I know what I am doing but, for the newbie, is there an accepted or reasonable order for (Audio) FX in general? 
I am drowning in options and I'm looking for a simple life raft of consistency to build experience on.  
I have X1 Expanded, and some nice goodies that I now realize I know very little about but am eager to learn.
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Again, this is simply Audio. I know nothing of MIDI..yet 
EG 
1.Usually EQ first, with HPF and LPF for the sound quality and for carving out a frequency position in the mix 
2.Limiter to control wild peaks 
3.Compression to level out the dynamic and volumes 
4.Gates to control noise 
5. modulators if wanted (flange, phaser chorus wah) 
6.reverb or delay last? 
Other common, general FX I have not considered? 
Am I trying to over-simplify a process that is too complex to be orderly? 






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    vanblah
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    Re:A reasonable order for FX chains? 2012/04/30 12:18:52 (permalink)
    When it comes to order of operations for audio the number of possibilities is pretty vast.

    I generally start with a gate (if needed).  Then compression/limiting.  EQ after that.

    However, there's no reason to go in that order.  But I usually do put a gate before compression just because I'd rather get rid of the noise first and then start messing with dynamics, otherwise you might end up raising the noise and then having to bring up the threshold on the gate.

    Remember that each effect can color the previous; so if you EQ before compression then the compressor may change the color of your EQ and you may need to go back and tweak EQ -- or not.  You may have multiple compressors -- one before the EQ and one after the EQ.  EQ itself can cause dynamic changes that need to be "tamed" especially if you are boosting frequencies.

    As far as "special" effects (modulators and some reverbs) I usually save those for last.  When it comes to spatial effects (reverb mainly) I ask myself do I want the reverb to be modulated or do I want the sound to be modulated and then reverberate.  It just depends on the application.

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