compressor limiter

[mark2590]

hey, i just got a new compressor/limiter which has 4 channels today, could someone explain what the ratio does? I know how a compressor works, i just dont know exactly what adjusting the ratio knob does. Also, What is the Limiter?

 

[TelePaul]

uhmm hey im reallly sleepy so this description mightnt be too helpful. ratio as far as i recall controls the extent of the compression, i.e how much compression there is. A limiter puts a peak on the sound and stops it exceeding that...its easy to explain with a drawing of a wavform...think of compressors as squishing the sound and sustaining it, while a limiter operates on one end only, capping it. As i said, rough explanation, id wait for a far more detailed approach. good luck mate.

 

[Farview]

Didn't the compressor come with an owners manual? Normally, all this is explained to some degree in the owners manual.

I think SouthsideGlen has a tutorial on compressors somewhere.

The ratio is the ratio of input signal to output signal. With a ratio of 4/1, the input would have to raise 4db for the output to raise 1db.

A limiter is like a compressor, but it has a really high ratio and normally faster attack and release.

 

[XLR]

...I know how a compressor works, i just dont know exactly what adjusting the ratio knob does...

Ummm... kind of a contradiction there.

Mix Magazine Article

Tweakhead on Compressors

The theory is important to understand but the main thing is getting used to the sound of various settings on various sources.

Tim

 

[Massive Master]

Ummm... kind of a contradiction there.

I know how an EQ works, but I don't quite get the "frequency" thing...

 

[NYMorningstar]

No wonder he's changed his name 2589 times

 

[andyhix]

Do a search here for "compression uncompressed" and download the article. It's a must-read for a new comp owner.

 

[XLR]

It's unusual for a newbie to spell compressor or limiter correctly, so here's some positive rep for you to get you out of the red, heh-heh.

Tim

 

[RAK]

The ratio knob refers to the ratio of the output to the input. So a 4:1 setting reduces the output 4 times as much as the input, above the threshold. Another way to say it: an increase of 4 dB above the threhold yields a 1 dB output increase.

A limiter is just an extreme form of compression. Usually a ratio of 10:1 is considered limiting. Functionally, anything above the threshold is reduced so much it gets "cut off."

 

[BitchyKitty]

...what they said......3 to 1 (for example) is the ratio of compression applied to the signal over the threshold (also usually set by you). Attack and release is how quickly the compression kicks in and lets go.