Definition: Levelling Amplifiers and Limiters

[Phyl]

I'm having some trouble understanding what various manufacturers are trying to say when they advertize a compressor as a Levelling Amplifier or Limiter.

What does a levelling amplifier do, what does a limiter do? Are they the same thing? Can all compressors perform these functions? Some better than others?

Thanks in advance.

[TexRoadkill]

They are pretty much the same thing.

Compressors - Most flexible but may not have a high enough compression ratio for true limiting.

Limiters- Have a high compression ratio. A brick wall limiter is one that will absolutely not let anything go beyond the threshold. Most limiters also have threshold, release and attack settings and maybe an adjustable knee (the response curve of the gain reduction).

Leveling Amplifier- A limiter that usually has very few controls. Often just one knob for the amount of gain before the limiter.

[fretmeister]

Good question. What are the traditional uses for these different types of compressor\limiter?