The Effects Rack

Every processor, what it does, and when to reach for it.

A working knowledge of every effect type in the Studio, with the controls explained rather than listed.

Tone shaping

Changing the colour.

1. EQ types: bell, shelf, pass and notch
2. Frequency, gain and Q
3. Filters as creative tools
4. Saturation, drive and harmonic colour
5. Tone check

Dynamics

Controlling level over time.

1. The compressor: threshold, ratio, attack, release and knee
2. Limiters, and what they are for
3. Gates and expanders
4. Sidechain and ducking
5. Multiband dynamics
6. Compress three sources differently

Time and modulation

Space and movement.

1. Reverb types and their uses
2. Pre-delay, decay, damping and size
3. Delay: rhythmic, slapback and ping-pong
4. Chorus, flanger and phaser
5. Tremolo, vibrato and auto-pan
6. Pitch effects and harmonisers
7. Build a shared space for four tracks
8. Effects final