Soundboard Basics 11 - inserting an EQ and a Compressor into a channel

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How to insert an Equalizer and a Compressor into a channel of a mixer

[@urbannpa]

An 11 year old video...and I still needed it. in 2082 someone will still need it!

[@ericcruz2009]

Arriving 15 years later....BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

Thanks, I hope this helps everyone understand that there is more versatility built into mixers than is commonly used.

[@themanmike1]

I just watched your entire series and they were a huge help for me. I am new at this engineer stuff and feel more confident using my Eurodesk MX-8000. I'll watch them more than once so it all sinks in. Thanks a lot

[@twesterkamm]

So glad i came across your vid's! i'm a bassist who by lack of options has very recently been nominated soundman of my band. still somewhat illiterate to whole concept! last weekends gig,i put everything together the best i knew how and thought it sounded terrible! I watched your vid's & took notes. you layed things out for me without losing me with tech! you are a Godsend to my cause! thank you so much!!! feel like i can handle it now &will continue to study your vid's. cant wait till next gig

[@imapussee]

Thanks for the side insert tutorial. Neither my mixer or compressor manuals really showed how to do it exactly. After weeks of digging around...I stumbled upon your channel. Awesome!

[@1SHATTERband]

Dude I just spent the whole night watching all of your videos. Awesome stuff, no one is more in depth on KZbin and you really can teach someone to be a decent soundman in just one day from these vids. For a guy like me that knew most of what you said already, still learned more than I ever thought I would. Very good stuff, especially in the aux, group, eq, and compressor stuff. Very helpful.

[@L-I-V-I-N]

I’ve watched this video more than a few times over the years.. thanks so much 👊

[@paddyoski]

Sad that I have struggled with my PA for years and never bothered to check youtube for tutorials. Thank you.

[@philtyrich1]

Thank you for this whole series I'm in the process of setting my home studio and these videos are helping out big time .

[@kwabenaasuming994]

Man u just helped me eliminate a great deal of ignorance with this one lesson. that was really helpful thanx!

[@mrcooldude964]

I run sound at my church and had some questions. i watched your videos and they answered those questions. very cool videos

[@Guitarsands]

I'd buy a DVD on doing a full setup of a medium/large sized show (with only 1 soundguy - working on a larger crew setup can be a second disc) in full technical detail -setup, soundcheck, ringout & performance. Would be good insight if you detailed all the connections and components of a full show -monitors, amps and DI boxes and even lights would be awesome-after these vids explain the basic usage of individual components and cables! Your "off on a tangent" comments are very helpful too.

[@rofascolas]

Wow this is the first time i see how this is being set up... This let me with lots of questions.

[@greggarcia4797]

Super I learned it now! I just keep on watching for how you do sounds great!Perfect demo!

[@pvampman]

Perfect!...that's exactly how its done...also, it's the same if you have a preamp recording studio channel strip with inserts...same process.

[@elpilito1990]

really really good job my man. that was my biggest question in how to EQ a single channel and now I know THANK!!!!! BRO!!!!!!

[@BurakHarsitlioglu]

Simply,Clearly and definitely explained.Thank you so much for this great info.

[@Guitarsands]

Hey Jeff I just watched all your vids this afternoon & it was a big help in understanding how to insert & use compression/Eq per track and at the master mix. I already have a good grip on mixing & multitracking - I use a Mackie CFX20 w/ Edirol Fa-101 and record via Cooledit. Havent used much live equipment - rackmount or monitors & amps, so this clarifies lots & looking forward to a series on Feedback control/ Ringout a room for a gig.

[@GabrielBarreragodisgood]

Thank you my friend you have no idea how long I've been looking for this answer. God bless you

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

Yes, I do that often, I add a compressor to 1 and 2 subgroups and run only vocals through there. I use this more to control peaks. I have no compression under normal or low volumes.

[@lukeedgardo6492]

Jeff, God bless you man.. Man I love what you have done with this 11 modules on sound.. great job man.. short but very complete info there..

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

Yes I do, but more as a protection for the power amplifiers. Compressors do a weird thing to the sound as they squish it. If you have compressors on the main mix you dont want them actually doing anything at normal volume levels. Have them set up to aggressively limit sudden peaks that would normally hit the amps and speakers.

[@sdjohnston67]

These are great! Thanks for doing these. You have a gift for teaching this stuff.

[@babakashtari6470]

Hi just a novice here, it’s nice to see someone actually showing you the cabling side of it too, now what if you wanted the graphic equaliser on more than one channel, I don’t mean the whole thing, just say 4 channels. Is there an easy way?

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@TheMoosh7895 Yes, but you are going to only compress the aux send channel. not the whole board.

[@DougWDuncan]

Thanks so much for all the information in your sound series!

[@ahmadjawaid9138]

Thank you for a clear explanation 🙏🏼👌🏼

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@OfficialNandyJ Gotcha.... Most mixers have insert jacks on them but not all. if you are trying to insert the 1/4" TRS (tip ring sleeve) into the channel it needs to say "insert". If it doesn't you will have to route the compressor in other ways. Otherwise each channel, subgroups, and mains usually have insert jacks. You just need to find out if your mixer has that. Some mixers have divided insert jacks. One is out and one is in.Rather than both being in the same hole. Insert sexual pun here

[@drumdu]

Thanks!!! all the best from Brazil!!

[@N0JoC0]

Depending on the quality of the EQ, the output gain should not be altered too much when the "gain" knob is set to -0- on the EQ. Lower quality EQ's tend to be very noisy and their controls on the front (i.e. gain knob) may not accurately reflect a -0- db reading.

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@59plexi you can daisy chain the eq before the compressor.

[@dudelololoop]

man you are so good at this. This videos helped me aaalllooottteee alote thanks man i like your videos. GOD BLESS YOU.

[@Unplugged704]

Great example! Question - so you EQ first then compress? Any benefit to compress then EQ?

[@ductran8128]

Thank you so much for the video. One question: to reduce the feedback from Microphone, should I connect the Mixer (INSERT) to Compressor or EQ or both? thank you so much,

[@iwannarockon2010]

great videos man...lots of good info...now i just got to put it to use...rock on!!!

[@AndresZuluagaDrummer]

Hey brother. Great job and thanks a lot for taking your time in explaining all this. God bless

[@PizzaT]

i agree with motojeff. and gear is usually stacked close. Beer would be awful too.

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@srewobwj Yes, but sometimes you need the ability to have more precise EQing. So you can insert a 31 band eq and set the mixer EQ flat. I do that, I use the inserts for the house compressors and EQs. Its much simpler that way. And if by chance, a compressor or EQ acts up you can just pull the insert.

[@changievangie]

I have a equalizer and a compressor that I want to hook it up the same way. My question is that I want it to work across the board. I do have a main insert on my mixer. Can this be done the same way using the main insert instead of a single channel insert? Also dose it matter which processor goes first or do I have to do it in order as shown?

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@sk11nglaxdgp Yes, these little 4 channels are nice and work well. remember , as you add equipment you add noise and reduce signal. dont over compress your mix. If its set up right there is no compression at normal levels

[@blootoober]

thank you for doing these... that was just what i needed. perfect. now let's take a look at that website......... :)

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

I dont usually insert fx into a channel, i prefer to take a signal out and send the fx back into a channel that isnt used. you get eq and more control over the fx

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@FreezEntertainment Not true. some (but very few mixers) have separate send and return inputs that are balanced. But 99% of then are unbalanced. What I mean by balanced is the cable is a TRS which is also referred by some as a balanced cable (even though its not)

[@CQJR007]

Is it the same wiring when using a send/return ?? I'm using a Behringer 1202FX and it only has an FX Send and then you use one of the chanels as a Return. Thanks.

[@AlainRaes67]

better use the external key in on the compressor to route the eq in instead of just serial like you do , now you don't have any control in the dynamic eq content , if you use ext key in you can alter the frequency range dynamically based on the compressor ratio /threshold settings and the program material

[@ponzischemeshow]

Great video Jeff. I watch this series of vids quite often. I was wondering if you could explain sidechain outputs? Thanks for doing these videos. When are you going to do some new ones.

[@tumbleweedfarm]

Thanks for clearing that up! Good info!

[@bernardogonzalez5311]

Thank you for the vid Jeff this is very helpful. I just got two Behringer MDX4600 compressors (think that's what you used on this video). Have been struggling a bit with operating it since it doesn't have the traditional Attack and Release. Have any videos giving tips on how to operate your compressor?

[@poetofga]

Good enough to share on Facebook. Thank You

[@tavarescook09]

Your Video has really help me. Thank you.

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@sk11nglaxdgp With that compressor, yes you are right. One channel per channel. The soundcraft has eq's built in, I really dont like over eq'ing channels. If you have something difficult you can insert an eq into that channel, but to buy a ton of eq's to run sound would mean you need to get a different mixer or give up and start over.

[@DannyOMoore]

thank you very much, clearest I've heard/seen this explained. Cognitively clear cheer :)

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@MrOsbie . post gain, usually post eq as well.

[@st0nedeft]

Thanks for the video Jeff. Question.. if I will be using 10 channels on my console, should I get 10 compressors?

[@mukisajohnmary]

the video is very nice. but i understand that set-up is meant for that specific channel. What if i want to set up the equalizer and compressor for the general sound from the mixer. Can u pliz do another video showing this setup

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@bupkiss24 unplug components from the source to the mixer to find it. when it goes away , you know

[@glenmann62]

can a compressor be inserted to the aux 1and 2 and be used this way to control compression on various channels of a mixer? I have a mackie sr24-4 buss board , going thru the main inserts only alows compression on entire mix. Thanks glenn

[@centralindianaelevatorsesc6925]

Now I see how you connected that compressor and EQ up to the channel. Can you plug that in to a Main FX input or output on my board to control all the channels on my board

[@trancemietje]

Great videos man :) Thanks allot , Im am studing for soundengineer and i must say your help is appreciated allot. NIce going :) Like your style ! Do more please :) On outboard and maybe some monitormix tuts ? Thanks man

[@gizmostudioshd]

"balanced cable, but im going to use a white one so you can see" The colour of cable does not determin weather or not the cable is balanced.

[@MrNanawanzy]

great lessons, have been added

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

Soundcraft live 24, 4, 2... I just sold it, I still have 2 other soundcrafts though. Awesome mixers

[@Phillyonsvocalist]

hi great video. just wondering because im a solo musician i only have a small mixer and cant afford to loose a channel for eq and compressor, can i connect them through an auxiliary or something? been searching youtube for a video to explain how to do this but cant find one!

[@thanghong8318]

Hi, I want to use compressor and equalizer for my microphones channel. My question is can I connect 2 microphones to 2 channels of the equalizer and compressor? Just need the same cables for the other microphone am I right? Thanks

[@clintwilesmusicinc.6652]

After completing this install is it possible to add another device in the same way ? Digitech effects trs 24?

[@BadBoyTigga]

I am a sound technician at a church been doing it for 7 years now not really satisfied with the quality sound. and wanted to know if running from the boar to eq to compressor to amp is just the same as that if not how does it make a difference

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

Nice mixer you got there

[@RacelifeCo]

Now where would I insert a feedback destroyer pro inline with all of those?

[@jemmiemalgwimusa4560]

Good and simple

[@abdalmuhsseinalhussein886]

Hello This method is where it is installed with a broken device, and also if I have 4 devices and wanted to connect directly to the mexer what is the way Greetings to you

[@mixc8]

Would this be the same process if I was using XLR cables?

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

Glad to help

[@HasithaRama]

Nice. I have q? So that just a one Chanel comprashure. How do you compras the whole mixer? Or is it possible?

[@mysterysk8team]

awesome vids! they help sooo much!

[@PeterT435]

Ok. I see this has been done for only a channel. How would you connect eq and compressor to the board and adjust them for the entire mix? Thank you.

[@DannyOMoore]

use the "SC", you can do that simultaneously on the same device. Use the demonstrated (on this video ^^^) set up for specific channels that have specific needs (vocalist perhaps or double bass or horn section... whatever) so you can refine the compression for that use then use the SC (SIDE CHAIN) to add in other channels you might want a little general compression *added to... in a similar way as you put an effects unit in the AUX SEND, you can use the aux to send a general mix signal from any channel using aux channel send/s 1/2/3/4 to the comp SC & return to alt return or selected a/the channel by turning up it's AUX return knob or channel slider respectively. Or send to the EQ & then on to the COMP SC from an ALT send & then return the eq'd/comp'd sound to an alt return or free channel. *Just remember like all audio you can overload a device negating much of it's use &/or quality. Too many sounds going through a single compressor can end up sounding like ... mud. That's why people who can afford it mainly use one compressor for one thing... a compressor for each input & then stereo compression for final FOH mix or mastering. But that is not a rule of consequence just a rule of thumb. I suppose an illustration might help; compression might be compared to putting a whole in a bucket & the water might be the sound... it all gets poured into the bucket & pushed out through a hole... can you see how too much sound through a single compressor might cause a problem? Now imagine the hole is a compressor... one hole small amount of water... add holes (compressors); more water / bigger compressed sound. NB if you just make the whole bigger you simply lose your compression. OR; this is for FOH or mastering. Have your main outs (L&R) go to your eq's channels L&R then out of the EQ to your compressors channels L&R or 1&2 then out of the compressor to your crossover/power amps &/or recorder. Check your signal strength +/- button. If it sounds wrong; there's something wrong. If there's something wrong ask a pro & pay attention... but don't listen to me I'm old & used to play drums.

[@harrisonmckinney2871]

Thanks Jim

[@mustapharaimilawal8053]

Hello Sound and light tech. thanks for you video, how can i connect the 32 band eq to affect the entire mix not just one channel?

[@prestonlambeth9368]

Use the aux send of the mixer post fader

[@ddrum1978]

Can you please help! Im a drummer, Im using a Yamaha MG166CX, And im running out of channels, Can I buy a smaller yamaha mixer like the one I have and link the to together. But I don't know how to do that. Is that when the Aux send and return come into play. Or do I need to buy the Yamaha MG206C with more channels but it doesn't have built in reverb.I was going to buy the PreSonus ACP-88 8-Channel Compressor/Gate. If I do that do I need to buy a 8 channel Reverb processor for each drum mic. TY

[@wannabehendrix]

Great post! Very helpful! thank you!!!

[@Vagner_Christian]

Jeff, how can I fix when the microphone sound is too dark, if you will. I use the soundboard with EQ, similar with the one you show in the video soundboard basics 2 EQ's, I have tried to give more high frequency then I have feedback ? Do I need a EQ just for the microphone? Please give me some directions thanks :D

[@BirdOfParadise777]

You said you don't like a "comb filter", what is that and what does it do that is soooo bad? Thanks:) Is the order always... board, EQ, Compressor then board? Why? What happens if the Compressor is before the EQ? Thanks:)

[@jaysona2507]

Hello sir i have a question... So is't possible to hook individual stage monitor on the output of equalizer? Assuming that i dont have lots auxes .. Thanks 😊

[@sharpradioman]

Great Lesson. Thank You.

[@sunnylee7005]

can you do a video show how to connect crossover with mixer and equalizer and compressor with amplifier please

[@scottchem1]

I just purchased a Berhinger 1502 2 channel EQ. My question is , how can I use one channel to EQ my entire mix, but use the other channel to use on my drum mix?

[@davefourtracksmusic7685]

what about the other channel ? its not working my mixer compress and EQ are all stereo means left n right channel need to be hook up

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

I have thrown your idea out there and dont get much feedback on making a DVD,

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

They are home made, just doing some basic stuff to share knowledge. I actually need a better camera to make better videos

[@osm3u]

So if I use a compressor it will eliminate one song being louder than another? Will they all balance out at the same level?

[@DannyOMoore]

depends on how hard you drive your compressor. If you totally crush the signal you will have zero dynamic & yes; no big loud monsters jumping out of your speakers.

[@vhenteuno211]

THANKS SIR FOR THE VIDEO TUTORIAL...

[@swcat50]

Your videos are very helpful! Do you live in Denver? (303)

[@Nguyen12121]

I use the Zed 10fx. It doesn't have the Channel insert. Where do i plug in the Insert cable for the compressor and the eq? The Main Mix Insert?

[@jsngb12]

Kent Nguyen How did you fix this issue? did it work by connecting it to the Main Mix Insert? Thx

[@Nguyen12121]

Jason Garcia i ended up switching to zed 14 with external mpx1. Everything sounds pretty good now. If i had stuck with the 10fx, i would plug the eq to the main mixer output just to filter out the feedback. Ditch the compressor all together.

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@symphonyoffear Your welcome

[@owobloTGNGRUSA]

hi i would like to what kind of cables i need and how can i connect a Behringer eurodesk sx2442fx with behringer utragraph pro Fbq 1502 15 band and behringer power pro 8 headphone amp and composer MDX 2100 dynamic processor ? thank you

[@matressi6843]

hey, great vid, could i do the same thing but instead going in an insert of a mixer, a line out of a channel of an audio interface?

[@gregoir]

great lesson! and also haha 1'st vid. I've seen with an actual real song ...not a rapp stuppid beat! what type of e.q.('s) and cable do you recomend?

[@garvolt]

Nice one thanks

[@drums364]

Graphic EQ is good for preventing feed back on monitors, right?

[@SoundandLightTechnicians]

@PattyWhomperOFFICIAL why? it didn't hurt a thing. and its not liquid. The coffee is worse .