What 1 processor could you not live without?

lowpass · Post by **lowpass** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:18 pm

Just curious to see if anyone picks anything other than the main EQ/Compression.

I couldn't go without EQ myself but I know people that would rather have reverb or other FX.

What's your no. 1?

ehbes · Post by **ehbes** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:19 pm

eq hands down

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:21 pm

tough one
reverb and eq but in which order????

gotta be eq

Ongelegen · Post by **Ongelegen** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:23 pm

Reverb, close 2nd EQ.

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:25 pm

You could create reverb but could you sort out massive muddiness from reverb without eq?

legend4ry · Post by **legend4ry** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:26 pm

I couldn't live without a dub delay

Ongelegen · Post by **Ongelegen** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:27 pm

Electric_Head wrote:You could create reverb but could you sort out massive muddiness from reverb without eq?

True, guess I'd be making muddy music then

Electric_Head · Post by **Electric_Head** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:44 pm

ehbes · Post by **ehbes** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:46 pm

what if my distortion unit has an eq in it?

Samuel_L_Damnson · Post by **Samuel_L_Damnson** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:51 pm

In EDM EQ every time

jrisreal · Post by **jrisreal** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:55 pm

I'd survive with none of them...but EQ is definitely the most essential.

e-motion · Post by **e-motion** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:03 pm

EQ!

And if you want me to be more specific... the highpass filter! I tend to write my tracks with minimal processing and leave the heavy processing/mixing/deep sound design for last (to reduce CPU usage and increase the workflow), but even in the writting phase I'll have an highpass on almost every channel to let the track be at least listenable.

Today · Post by **Today** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:11 pm

EQ without a doubt.

Reverb can be recorded naturally, without much difficulty
Delay can be simulated by duping tracks and offsetting them by the delay time, volume automation, plus dampening by applying EQ
Comp/Limiters are a tricky one, but all we'd have to do in this hypothetical situation is raise the standard for playback system volume, mix more carefully, and do without compression. The end of any standard playback system would provide some degree of limiting anyway
It would suck to give up dedicated distortion processors, but one could always drive a signal as hard as they could through a tube or onto some tape, reduce the output gain, repeat, etc. until distortion was achieved.. then round out the sound with EQ
Transient designers are pretty much a bonus tool, really great, but completely unnecessary

therapist · Post by **therapist** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:15 pm

Big ups da ringshifter massive, each and every.

e-motion · Post by **e-motion** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:38 pm

Totally agree with ^ Today

Today wrote: [...]
Comp/Limiters are a tricky one, but all we'd have to do in this hypothetical situation is raise the standard for playback system volume, mix more carefully, and do without compression. The end of any standard playback system would provide some degree of limiting anyway
[...]
Transient designers are pretty much a bonus tool, really great, but completely unnecessary

Replacement for compressors and limiters: fader riding like a boss.

And I don't even use Transient Designers. I'm get better results using compressors for the same purpose.

VirtualMark · Post by **VirtualMark** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 6:44 pm

Is there a point to this thread? I wouldn't want to live without any of them, they each have a purpose.

You've included similar effects, such as a compressor, limiter and transient shaper which are all variations of the same thing. Yet missed out effects such as chorus, ringmod, phaser, stereo enhancer etc.

Samuel_L_Damnson · Post by **Samuel_L_Damnson** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 7:00 pm

wormcode · Post by **wormcode** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:11 pm

VirtualMark wrote: You've included similar effects, such as a compressor, limiter and transient shaper which are all variations of the same thing. Yet missed out effects such as chorus, ringmod, phaser, stereo enhancer etc.

Tbh reverb/delay/chorus/phaser are the same thing with different execution/settings. They are all time-based effects. So it would be easier to split them into dynamics/time-based/signal processing etc category on a poll, but I know what he meant, so I chose delay because no matter what music I work on I use some form of delay. Plus I just love using it more than any other.

lowpass · Post by **lowpass** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:18 pm

VirtualMark wrote:Is there a point to this thread? I wouldn't want to live without any of them, they each have a purpose.

You've included similar effects, such as a compressor, limiter and transient shaper which are all variations of the same thing. Yet missed out effects such as chorus, ringmod, phaser, stereo enhancer etc.

Luckily we live in a world where we don't have to choose.

But imagine for just a moment if we did...

dj nation · Post by **dj nation** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:08 pm

it was too close too call between reverb n delay, but i went for reverb in the end.