Is limiting always needed?

[countrylac]

Is it always necessary to use limiting in mastering? I know this maybe a dumb question but just asking.

[AGCurry]

No.

Need this for 10 characters.

[kylen]

It would seem that if you're not going to use the full digital scale up to 0dbfs then you may not need a peak limiter. I have some Chesky CD's that PEAK at -12db or so, really low, they may have put a limiter on at -0.3dbfs or something as a standard practice that never kicked in I suppose.

I use a peak mastering limiter at -0.2dbfs and push into it so at least I hit that ceiling ranging anywhere from .1db to maybe 3db of gain reduction depending on the loudness I need. I don't run a pro shop so one of those folks can tell ya what they do for their daily commercial stuff.