Effects

Effects are used to manipulate the sound captured from the source, enhancing its aesthetic and subjective qualities.

Types of Effects

There are many types of effects but some of the most commonly used in music production are reverb, delay, equalization (EQ) and dynamics processing.

Reverb

Reverb is a natural effect that happens as sound waves bounce off various surfaces before reaching the listener’s ear.
When used creatively, it can give the impression of different acoustic spaces - from small rooms to large halls.

Delay

Delay is an audio effect that records an input signal and then plays it back after a certain period of time.
This creates an echo-like effect. It can be manipulated in terms of time, feedback, and other parameters to create a myriad of soundscapes.

Equalisation (EQ)

The equalisation (EQ) process controls the balance of frequency content within an audio signal.
It can be used as a corrective tool to cut unwanted frequencies or boost frequencies that need to be emphasised.

Dynamics Processing

Dynamics processing involves managing the dynamic range of a recording or mix. This includes compression, limiting, gating, and expansion.
Compression is used to reduce the dynamic range of an audio signal, making quiet sounds louder and loud sounds quieter.
Limiting is a type of compression that prevents the signal from passing a certain threshold, preventing distortion and clipping.
Gating affects the dynamic range by setting a threshold level below which the signal is reduced or cut off entirely, often used with drums and vocals to remove background noise.
Expansion increases the dynamic range of an audio signal, making quiet sounds quieter and loud sounds louder, often used to reduce low-level noise.

Auxiliary Sends and Returns

FX like reverb and delay are often used through auxillary sends and returns. The advantage of this technique is that the same effect can be applied to multiple channels, saving on processing power and providing cohesion in a mix.

Automation

Automation in the mix process can control the movement of parameters such as volume, pan, EQ and effects sends over time, giving life and movement to a mix.

Experimentation is key in understanding how each of these effects work and can be creatively applied and controlled. Combining these tools and techniques can create a mix that is balanced, clear, and evocative.