> On Jan 31, 2007, at 11:14 AM, Eric Oehler wrote: > > I've been working this around in my head, and I can't really come up > > with a solid answer... > > > > If I have 3 audio tracks with identical compression, EQ and misc > > effects insert settings mixed together...is the output of that the > > same as mixing those tracks together first on a bus or an aux, and > > then adding those effects as inserts on the bus/aux instead? Some > > effects seem more straightforward than others for this sort of thing. > > > > Okay, obviously there are a few effects like a gate (or a > > pitchcorrector) that won't work right at all...but something like > > compression has always baffled me Is compressing a few mixed raw > > tracks the same as compressing the tracks then mixing them together? > > I would assume not, because dynamics effects often feel like spooky > > black magic, but I've been surprised by this sort of thing before. Yeah, as Evan was saying, for compression, the solid answer is 'no, this isn't the same when applied to more than one track at once.' On the other hand I believe for EQ, the answer is 'yes, this is the same'. If you put the exact same parametric EQ on five individual instruments then mixed them at a bus, you will get the same final result as if you put no EQ on the individual instruments but put that particular parametric EQ setting on the bus only.