Limiter advice

[tigerflystudio]

Hi folks, I've found in the Mastering Section of my DAW (Magix Music Studio Deluxe 12) that there is a 'Limiter', but there is just a 'dial' that applies it. There are no application values. Can someone advise me on how to use a Limiter please, as it seems the more I apply, the louder the music gets. But I'm sure there must be a good reason for not just setting it to max?

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

it seems the more I apply, the louder the music gets. But I'm sure there must be a good reason for not just setting it to max?

Other than the curiosity that you just answered your own question just before you asked it, what do your ears tell you? Does the "max" setting really sound good to you?

A limiter is nothing but a compressor with very fast attack and a very high compression ratio. The problem with that tool you're looking at is that it appears to combine input gain and output (makeup) gain into a single dial, while giving you no control over anything else. As such, it would seem to have very little real beneficial use.

If you really *need* a limiter - and you should have a need to use one before you use it, not just use it because it's there - I'd check out the 3rd party plugs over at www.kvraudio.com.

G.

 

[tigerflystudio]

Thanks G. I've never visited that website, so thanks for the heads-up. I'll have a snoop around on there. Seems like a little gem for free VSTs etc.

Yes, the Limiter in my DAW is just 1 dial and when you crank it, surprisingly, it doesn't sound half bad. When it's 'maxed' there is obviously some degradation in audio quality (a muffling / distorted effect), but used moderately, it's pretty useful for boosting the overall volume of the song without running above 0dB.

I've been practicing and experimenting with my mixing a lot recently, using just 1 of my songs, and it seems that I'm reaping so much from my software AND I'm learning about my actual musical performances, too. I listened back to some guitar tracks that I laid down using a humbucker guitar (fat Tele), then re-did the same tracks with a strat (single coils) and the difference in note-attack between the two 'takes' really does have knock-on effects for the nature of the compression I use, i.e. the attack and release of the compressor I set slower for the strat, because the 'chimey' character of the strat sound (in the middle/neck position) is all about note attack and short sustain, therefore having a quick compressor attack time robs flavour of the sound a little. The humbucker guitar produces a fairly even long sustain note so I have been setting the compressor to higher attach and longer release times. Does this make any sense, and does it sound about right? Anyone lese found this?

 

[SouthSIDE Glen]

I listened back to some guitar tracks that I laid down using a humbucker guitar (fat Tele), then re-did the same tracks with a strat (single coils) and the difference in note-attack between the two 'takes' really does have knock-on effects for the nature of the compression I use, i.e. the attack and release of the compressor I set slower for the strat, because the 'chimey' character of the strat sound (in the middle/neck position) is all about note attack and short sustain, therefore having a quick compressor attack time robs flavour of the sound a little. The humbucker guitar produces a fairly even long sustain note so I have been setting the compressor to higher attach and longer release times. Does this make any sense, and does it sound about right? Anyone lese found this?

There are some variables depending upon exactly what make/model of "strat' and "tele" you're comparing, as well as type of strings used, etc., but yeah, in general I find the strat class to be more "attack-y" and ringing (in sound, not envelope) than the tele class. While the humbucker vs. non humbucker pickups matter here as well, I've worked with strats custom-fitted with hunmbuckers, and there's still a signature strat flavor to the sound that's still pretty distinctive from a tele with the same pickup. And that's not even to mention the differences that can be brought about by different players and playing styles.

Yeah, the characteristics of any given guitar and player can easily change if/how one sets and uses their compressors, EQs and even reverbs. This is exactly why answers as to "how should I EQ my guitar" or "what kind of compression should I put on my guitar" are fairly meaningless because it depends entirely upon the source.

G.