could use some help with a few terms and applications

[banjo71]

I have a few unrelated terms or applications I need advice on. I play around with these, but would like to know a more technical definition of them.

1. Bias - what is it? I see "bias" in saturation applications.

2. Vox - I've seen that in my Compression folder. Again, what is it?

3. Gentle Limiting - I've used this on vocal tracks before, but not sure what the proper way to use it - before or after compression? I've been using it before compression.

4. Brickwall limiter - a mastering function? Where does it come in the chain?

 

[Steenamaroo]

3. Gentle Limiting - I've used this on vocal tracks before, but not sure what the proper way to use it - before or after compression? I've been using it before compression.

4. Brickwall limiter - a mastering function? Where does it come in the chain?

Limiters are compressors with infinite ratios.
That means they don't reduce audio by a certain ratio; They just cut it dead at the threshold.

I guess gentle limiting just means that the threshold is set in such a way that there isn't a huge amount of reduction happening.

Usually limiting would be at the end of the chain, but I suppose you could use it to limit certain peaks before compressing.

I'm sure there are other similar plugs, but if you can get a video tutorial of the digidesign compressor, the graphic display really makes it obvious what's happening.
It's a good tool for understanding what a compressor does.

Hope that helps.

Edit: Here's one.



Bias is one for google I think.
I have a vague and basic understanding of what it means, but I don't think it'd be helpful to publish that!

 

[Jonesey9]

Vox = Vocals

 

[Massive Master]

"Bias" could mean a few different things depending on the particulars, but I would imagine it's the "tilt" of the EQ curve on the saturation effect.

 

[Wessberg]

Limiters are compressors with infinite ratios.
That means they don't reduce audio by a certain ratio; They just cut it dead at the threshold.

I guess gentle limiting just means that the threshold is set in such a way that there isn't a huge amount of reduction happening.

Limiters are not necessarily set to an infinite ratio. Whenever it's above 10:1 it's considered limiting. At 20:1 we're practically talking brickwall limiting. Theoretically, it's only brickwalling if the ratio is set to infinite though.

It's not the threshold that determines the amount of reduction. That would be the ratio. When we think of a limiter we think: "to here, but no further", but gentle limiting I guess means: "to here and sort of no further". In other words, with a lower ratio; definetly not brickwalling.

 

[Toastedgoat]

I'd say research some articles on compression and limiting. Sound on Sound has some decent explanations, several different articles, one even gives some generic settings
Compression & Limiting

 

[Chili]

"Bias" could mean a few different things depending on the particulars, but I would imagine it's the "tilt" of the EQ curve on the saturation effect.

Wow, I would not have thought that. From what I know, bias is the offset of the median of a wave from electrical zero. Like a DC offset is a bias. But yeah, come to think of it, it really could mean different things in different situations.

Gentle limiting probably has something to do with the "knee" of the compressor. This is a term used to describe how quickly (or slowly) a compressor reacts to a signal at the threshold level. If you were to draw out the function of a compressor on a chart it would have two parts; one before the compressor kicks in and one after. The transition zone would be called a "knee" A wide or bigger knee would be more "gentle" wile a sharper or smaller knee would be considered "hard".

Not that the OP is ever going to come back to this thread to read this, but others might be interested.