Effects Chain

Now this is something I see abused by beginners constantly. First off lets determine what an effect chain is. An effect chain is a series of tools producers/engineers use to alter a sound. Today we again are going to be using FL Studio...

And the effects slot for FL Studio is seen in the mixer view....

Located in the right hand side....

Now I have seen beginners pile on effect after effect to try to get a sound they are looking for. From Chorus, phasers, reverbs, delays, etc. In the instance of effects, keep this in mind, K.I.S.S. For those who aren't familiar with this theory, Keep It Simple Stupid.

The reason I started the blog with the compressor and the Equalizer, is because these are going to be the only real tools you are going to predominantly use. Now don't get me wrong and I know of few of you experienced producers/engineers are yelling at me right now. "What if I wanted to get this sound, or that sound?" Well you are right, if you are planning on getting a peculiar sound, then by all means, phase and chorus and filter the hell out of it. You'll get that sound no doubt, but for us that are looking for a good clean sound. Focus on the KISS principal.

First off let your audio decide your effects, is the audio's db levels jumping around erratically from loud to soft? Well we know by now that we should use a compressor, lets get one up there....

Here you can see we have pulled up the Fruity Compressor to adjust the audio, now notice just to the right of the compressor. You see the green light? This allows us to cut the compressor on and off. Be sure regardless of the effect you are going to add, to turn it on and off after getting it where you like it. To check to see if the effect is doing the audio better or worse.

Now that we have the audio at a consistent level, we need to make it set in with the rest of the sounds and take away the troubling frequencies. So what do we use? You guessed it, the EQ....

Here you can see we have added the Fruity Parametric EQ 2. Which we will then tend to the sound of the audio more. Now once again, be sure to turn the effect on and off to determine whether or not the effect is bettering or worsening the audio as a whole.

Now notice beside the green light we have the knob. This is the amount of the effect that is going to be applied to the audio file. As you can adjust it to be complete as it is shown here on both effects or turn it to the left, as to where it is lessened of an effect.

Simple right? This is pretty much all you need to put on any instrument/vocal to clean it up and make it set in with every other instrument. Just follow the steps for eq's and Compressors that I gave in the last two blogs, and you'll be fine. If you are using a different DAW other than FL Studio, where the effects have to be applied such as Audacity, or others. Be sure to follow the same guidelines for each audio you add.

Again guys thanks for reading and I hope you learned something. Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment for me on how I can better We Are Beat Makerz. Share me on facebook guys, and tell a friend or two.

Be sure to check out my new beats page and enjoy jammin to some of my hit makerz.

G-Rage Productions Inc. Beat leases only $20

Next Post...Reverbs!!!!