Limiter or maximizer

[gonso]

Can anyone explain me what is the difference between limiter and maximizer?
I am using Cubase. There are two plug-ins: one for limiter and one for maximizer. As I can see with limiter you can turn up the input so it is maximizing too, isn't it?

 

[RAMI]

I thought "Maximizer" was just a name some companies gave to their limiters to make them sound cool. Waves has "Multi-Maximizer". "Ultr-Maximizer", etc....But I might be wrong.

Maybe the only difference is that a Maximizer has automatic gain make up. So, the more you limit, the louder it gets automatically.

I'm just guessing.

 

[Massive Master]

"Maximizer" is some goofy word that means whatever the software developer meant it to mean.

 

[sjjohnston]

The original (or at least first famous) Maximizer was the BBE unit, which was the bee's-knees c. 1990 and was not, in any way, shape or form, a limiter.

So:

"Maximizer" is some goofy word that means whatever the software developer meant it to mean.

 

[cobaltaudio]

Generally speaking, a limiter is a compressor applied to a channel which has a high threshold and high ratio. They are designed to compress peaks which already high level to stop them hitting 0 and clipping, as such they don't usually require much if any make-up gain.
Maximizers tend to do the job of reducing the dynamic range more significantly. They have been used to literally maximize how loud the track/channel can possibly be without clipping, much to the majority of the professional industry's dismay. They also tend to have a 'look forward' option to assess the audio just before it actually needs to be processed, that way it can make the compression less noticeable.

Hope this is helpful

 

[Baam12]

great answers helped me alot!

 

[SafeandSound]

They are essentially the same thing except limiter is the correct terminology for the process at hand.

I think some "maximizers" were multi band back in the day.

 

[PedSectioned]

Limiter = compressor with infinite ratio. I thought maximizer was just a program with an extra multi-band on it or just a marketing term for limiter?

 

[PDP]

I thought maximizers add harmonic content like an enhancer or an aurel exciter, I dont think they work as a limiter.

 

[RAMI]

I thought maximizers add harmonic content like an enhancer or an aurel exciter, I dont think they work as a limiter.

You're right in the sense of BBE's "Sonic maximizer". But Waves' "Ultra-Maximizer" and "Multi-Maximer" are limiters.

As a few people have mentioned, "Maximizer" isn't a definite term. It's just a word companies use to make their limiters and whatever else sound like something you need to buy.

 

[JB's Studio]

The sonic maximizer can be used to help rid your tracks of those pesky midrange frequencies.