I typically use this chain:
compressor>EQ>reverb/effects(in an aux)

sometimes I put an EQ first but rarely

Compressor first is the most common, but try different orders, it will change the sound around a bit, and maybe a less common order will get the sound you want.

It's also not uncommon to put an EQ on a reverb (after it). A lot these days have an EQ built in.

compression after your reverb could sustain your reverb tail, just like using compression on an electric guitar can extend the sustain. The chain is dictated by what you are trying to accomplish. I think it was Phil Collins who popularized the gate after the reverb effect. Big reverb, no tail. Really think about what each peice of gear does and what it will do to what came before it in the chain. It will all come clear to you. Don't just use compression in the vocal chain because most do. What does it do? If you know that, you'll know where it goes.

Formatting was impossible in here so had to attach an image :-0

shouldnt compression come last or close to last? I do eq, dynamics, reverb, compression.

I think the most ordinary format would be Compression - eq - Reverb

But i was thinking, maybe compression after EQ - why would you want to compress a sound before EQing it? Just a thought, don't know if it holds water.

But i agree that it all depends on what you want... :)

Typically you will want to EQ after the compressor, so that the compressor isn't counteracting your EQ boosts or whatever. Mastering dudes also do EQ before compression a lot of times so that the full mix is fairly even before hitting the compressor, which keeps overabundant freqs from making the compressor "pump."

I think it really depends on whether you're correcting something (hiss, rumble, overtones, sibilance, etc.) or enhancing something with a shaping or program EQ.

Corrective EQ before dynamics of any kind (that's my rule of thumb, anyway).

Now if there's an inserted compressor and the aux to the verb is pre or post that insert is another story...

And if you're compressing the verb return (I almost always have some sort of dynamics control on my verbs) it's yet another...

Interesting.
So how would you say you prefer your reverb sends (pre-fader/comp?), and returns (gated/expanded or compressed) on stuff like vox or drums?

I haven't really messed with it (that I can recall), but you got me thinking that it might be really cool on vox or something to send the signal to a reverb prefader/compressor insert and then compress the reverb (which is fed by the uncompressed original signal) return. Hmmmm.....I think that should increase the wet reverb amount on the loud dynamic parts without actually affecting the overall volume. Make it sound loud without a spike in volume. This may be old hat to some, but I never really considered the benefits of this too much.
Just thinking out loud......don't mind me 8-) :lol: