Effects vs. Processors

Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 9:12 am

I just read a *great* article in the February 2002 issue of Sound On Sound magazine regarding plug-ins that raised lots of questions in my mind about how I am currently using them. (I love articles that generate more questions than they answer!!!)

Sound on Sound is a great magazine (U.K. based). Check them out at:

http://www.sospubs.co.uk/

This article discusses the difference between effects and processors, and where they should be used (channel inserts vs. Aux buses). Also they go into a great discussion about plug-in order, and more importantly...*why* they should be ordered in the way they recommend, but that will be saved for another thread...

Effects vs. processors:

Insert points can accept *either* effects or processors, while send/return loops (aux busses) should only be used with effects.

What is the difference you ask? OK...here goes.

Effects are generally delay-based (reverb, delay, echo, pitch-shifting) or modulation-based (phasing, flanging, chorus, vibrato). Effects almost always have a "mix" control to balance the dry signal with the wet signal. The article contends that when using an effect through the send/return loop, the direct channel path for the dry sound is through the mixer channel, so the effect should be set with the mix control set at 100% wet (effect only) so that only the effected sound is added when the channel (post-fade) send control is adjusted. If the effect is used in a channel (group or master) insert however, the wet/dry balance is set up using the mix control on the plug-in itself.

Now for Processors:

Processors have no mix control, because **no dry signal is used**...the output is entirely processed. Some common processors are EQ, gates, compressors, panners, and resonant filters. If there is no delay element and no mix control, you can be pretty sure it is a processor *not* an effect. Because it is not desirable to add the processed sound to the dry sound, processors are only used in insert points. If the dry sound were to be added, it would at best reduce the intensity of the processor, and could introduce some really unpleasant artifects.

Now none of these rules are absolutely "set in stone". After all, rules are made to be broken! But in general, according to the article, these rules are considered the "standard" that we should be following.

To summarize:

Aux Sends: reverbs, delays, echos, pitch shifters

Inserts: EQ, compressors, gates, filters, distortion (or any effect)

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2002 4:47 pm

What then, may I ask, is an "effects processor"? Smile

Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2002 11:34 pm

So what was your question? Smile

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2002 6:01 am

Quote:

Originally posted by Ang1970:
So what was your question? Smile

Hehe...I guess I was hoping for a discussion thread rather than posting a specific question. I obviously didn't generate much interest!

I guess I am looking for people that have suggestions as to how to break the rules...or those that have a different set of rules...or whatever...

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2002 10:53 pm

:Ang takes a virtual baseball bat to the head of whoever suggested there should be any "rules".: Very Happy

This topic sponsored by: