I'm in a debate with a friend of mine, and we're looking for some input.
We started talking about compressors on individual channels, as well as EQs, and then moved on to system wide compressors and system wide EQs.
Long story short...
I said a compressor should be the first thing applied to an audio signal, because on an analogue system the insert port comes before the lo-cut, built in eq, etc. This is supported by the block diagrams of my console (mackie 24*8)
He says no, an EQ should come before a compressor, it's just not feasible to do that on ever channel in the analogue world. The block diagram of his PM5D supports this, as the EQ is applied before the compressor. He argues since the console is digital, they can do the processing correctly.
I extended my logic to the mains, as did he. He would say the compressor should be the last thing the signal hits before the amps, while I would say the compressor should be the first thing the signal hits out of the board.
I'm guessing we're both partially wrong. Anyone wanna set this straight?
We started talking about compressors on individual channels, as well as EQs, and then moved on to system wide compressors and system wide EQs.
Long story short...
I said a compressor should be the first thing applied to an audio signal, because on an analogue system the insert port comes before the lo-cut, built in eq, etc. This is supported by the block diagrams of my console (mackie 24*8)
He says no, an EQ should come before a compressor, it's just not feasible to do that on ever channel in the analogue world. The block diagram of his PM5D supports this, as the EQ is applied before the compressor. He argues since the console is digital, they can do the processing correctly.
I extended my logic to the mains, as did he. He would say the compressor should be the last thing the signal hits before the amps, while I would say the compressor should be the first thing the signal hits out of the board.
I'm guessing we're both partially wrong. Anyone wanna set this straight?