What 1 processor could you not live without?

blinx · Post by **blinx** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:22 pm

Re: What 1 processor could you not live without?

Answer: My computers CPU :p

Trichome · Post by **Trichome** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:57 pm

Eq defo.

However, without my precious Shaack transient shaper, i would probably kill myself.

jrisreal · Post by **jrisreal** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:00 pm

How did the world turn before eq was invented?

syrup · Post by **syrup** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 6:41 am

jrisreal wrote:How did the world turn before eq was invented?

Opposite direction.

Oh yeah, i picked EQ

Mad_EP · Post by **Mad_EP** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 7:42 am

Either delay or reverb... i picked Reverb in the end.

I use compression a lot, but when I started out, I didn't use any... I just rode the faders. It would be cumbersome, but I could do without it if I had to.

And believe it or not, I really don't use EQ that much.

hutyluty · Post by **hutyluty** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:58 pm

reverb

leeany · Post by **leeany** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:07 pm

really couldn't make tunes without reverb. had to pick that

+3 · Post by +3 » Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:37 pm

1point5 · Post by **1point5** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:41 pm

really couldn't produce anything decent without reverb or EQ... but I put EQ, i guess you can get away with less reverb plugins by recording your audio in a nice big room. EQ is a must, I don't do a lot of boosting and creative EQing but I can't get a good mix without highpassing nearly everything

Today · Post by **Today** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:12 pm

EQ (or filters) was the first and most influential processor created to date
there is nothing else that can so dramatically change and shape a sound
We recorded natural reverb for years

even for non-acoustic instruments
amp your synths, drums, whatever through your monitors, mic up the hallway, and hit record
then EQ the wet signal and mix in the dry

legend4ry · Post by **legend4ry** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:41 pm

Mad EP wrote:Either delay or reverb... i picked Reverb in the end.

I use compression a lot, but when I started out, I didn't use any... I just rode the faders. It would be cumbersome, but I could do without it if I had to.

And believe it or not, I really don't use EQ that much.

Pretty much this but delay for me.

I think I only use about 2 EQs on a track, if that!

VirtualMark · Post by **VirtualMark** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:10 pm

legend4ry wrote:I think I only use about 2 EQs on a track, if that!

How come? I use the eq loads, can't see how you get away with only using a couple? Or do you just have a really nice sample collection?

legend4ry · Post by **legend4ry** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:18 pm

Don't see the point in not having a high quality sample collection? Even if a sample isn't perfect like has hiss or something, ADSR will do the job to 'clean up' a lot of drums (from my experience of working with breaks) and it sounds great on pianos, strings, guitars and pads.

People call it "character" I guess.. I think a lot of music sounds over engineered anyways; I mainly use my processes as creative means opposed to technical - thats just my work flow.

In terms of clashing frequencies; I don't see how people struggle with sub/kick relationship - just pitch up your kick a few notes if the sub on it is to low its interfering. I mean its not 'needed' but thats just one example of how you could still do a sufficent mix down without a EQ; just make sure what you're playing isn't clashing which should be in the back of your mind when making music anyways - most problems with mix downs in electronic music can be solved by changing around a few notes/taking things unless its something you 'don't' want in the sound - like 400hz-1khz in a pad. but then thats a creative decision more than a technical one, no?

e-motion · Post by **e-motion** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:24 pm

legend4ry wrote:Don't see the point in not having a high quality sample collection? Even if a sample isn't perfect like has hiss or something, ADSR will do the job to 'clean up' a lot of drums (from my experience of working with breaks) and it sounds great on pianos, strings, guitars and pads.

People call it "character" I guess.. I think a lot of music sounds over engineered anyways; I mainly use my processes as creative means opposed to technical - thats just my work flow.

In terms of clashing frequencies; I don't see how people struggle with sub/kick relationship - just pitch up your kick a few notes if the sub on it is to low its interfering. I mean its not 'needed' but thats just one example of how you could still do a sufficent mix down without a EQ; just make sure what you're playing isn't clashing which should be in the back of your mind when making music anyways - most problems with mix downs in electronic music can be solved by changing around a few notes/taking things unless its something you 'don't' want in the sound - like 400hz-1khz in a pad. but then thats a creative decision more than a technical one, no?

although I agree with you when you say people overuse EQ, I think even if you have high quality samples, that sound excellent on their own, they may not sound good in a mix. Usually, if you solo a professional mix track, it will sound bad although it sounds excellent in a mix.

as for pitching, I think pitching ruins up the sound more than EQ. but yeah I don't high pass the kick either.

nitz · Post by **nitz** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:33 pm

I rather have a EQ to shape a mix so a least it sounds clean. Everything else you can live without...

VirtualMark · Post by **VirtualMark** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:52 pm

legend4ry wrote:Don't see the point in not having a high quality sample collection? Even if a sample isn't perfect like has hiss or something, ADSR will do the job to 'clean up' a lot of drums (from my experience of working with breaks) and it sounds great on pianos, strings, guitars and pads.

People call it "character" I guess.. I think a lot of music sounds over engineered anyways; I mainly use my processes as creative means opposed to technical - thats just my work flow.

In terms of clashing frequencies; I don't see how people struggle with sub/kick relationship - just pitch up your kick a few notes if the sub on it is to low its interfering. I mean its not 'needed' but thats just one example of how you could still do a sufficent mix down without a EQ; just make sure what you're playing isn't clashing which should be in the back of your mind when making music anyways - most problems with mix downs in electronic music can be solved by changing around a few notes/taking things unless its something you 'don't' want in the sound - like 400hz-1khz in a pad. but then thats a creative decision more than a technical one, no?

I suppose its a creative decision to a point. I.e a cymbal doesn't have much use at 100hz, can't personally think of a reason to have sub in it, and the main purpose of high passing would be more to prevent mixdown problems. And anything below 20hz is useless in any sound, as we can't hear it and most systems can't play it. My point being that loads of samples have rumble in them from the mic when they were recorded.

But your tunes sound really nice, i'm surprised you don't use eq more. I know what you mean about over engineering, i've made the mistake while learning, and quite often ruined a sound when i've eq'd it too high.

Shum · Post by **Shum** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 9:57 pm

Delay Delay Delay Delay

I am very surprised by the results so far. EQ is off da railz!

legend4ry · Post by **legend4ry** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 10:07 pm

But if you gain structure and use adsr - make sure you take out rumble by fading it out, those troubling frequencies will no doubt be so inaudible/so quiet in db (for those you can't actually hear) they won't give you problems later in the mixing stage just the same as if you EQ. I find most of the huge troubling rumors what people talk about "CUT 20HZ" and stuff are just old wifes tales equivalent, it sometimes is the case but they're not set-in-stone rules.

Its all case by case innit and myself personally.. a EQ isn't my go-to tool - if a sound is REALLY that bad and needs huge cuts and boosts then you shouldn't 'really' use it anyways and if you're only cutting a few db's of a broad range, (like 200-500hz -3db) then you're just trying to get head room/create space for something else. When I get to that point in my music I ask questions like "do I really NEED to do this, is what I am doing this for actually beneficial to the track" and such and such.

I'm ranting on.. Let me bring my point to a conclusion.

EQing is important for creating music but I wouldn't call it the life and soul of what I do - a good gain structure and ADSR goes a hell of a long way though, as does thinking how you structure your music; you can drop out sounds to let in other sounds and bring a new dimension in there opposed to EQing and cramming. I think both is key to great music though.

bassinine · Post by **bassinine** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:55 am

Distortion, eq, and compression is everything. E.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g.

Altron · Post by **Altron** » Fri Mar 16, 2012 3:07 am

Had to go with EQ. I use it for everything pretty much on practically every track. I also use EQ's as a filter in lots of situations. Without doing filter sweeps and whatnot on an EQ, I would be automating the volume of my tracks WAY too much.