Instruments with or without built-in effects? – Page 4 – Instruments Forum

Regarding the OP’s question, I think some synths would be lost without the included FX, and others take to external FX better.

For example, while the internal u-he FX on synths like Zebra, Hive, etc are pretty good, I have no problem shutting them off (on a patch by patch basis) and replacing them with external FX. I just don’t see those internal FX as integral to the sound and character of those synths (again, patch by patch). On the other hand, I just picked up Generate, and I think the internal FX (particularly the Chorus) are so complementary to the tonal qualities of that synth that I think “this synth would not be the same without that chorus” (and being targets of modulators probably helps with that).

As for the EQ discussion, I do think in an ideal situation that a minimum of EQ and processing other is best, and in the case of synths, good sound design should generally prevent most issues and eliminate a need for EQ. But that’s just an ideal. On a practical level, it’s often the case that even well-chosen sounds can benefit from EQ (esp. dynamic EQ) to alleviate clashes at certain points in a track. Really, these are just tools — use them when they actually solve a problem, don’t bother with them when they don’t.