R
Roma
New member
Can I make limiting by using a compressor with 20:1 ratio??
And will this be as good as a plugin design for limiting??
-Roma
And will this be as good as a plugin design for limiting??
-Roma
F
fenix
New member
limiting and compressing is not the same thing. You will get a limiting effect when compressing that hard, but you are really not limiting.
I hate it when companies label their compressors compressor/limiter. It pisses me off...cuz i'm looking for the limiter knobs.
I hate it when companies label their compressors compressor/limiter. It pisses me off...cuz i'm looking for the limiter knobs.
M
mixsit
Well-known member
<I hate it when companies label their compressors compressor/limiter.>
Why, because it's not brickwall?
Wayne
Why, because it's not brickwall?
Wayne
D
DarthFaders
New member
From what I know, a limiter is a compressor with the attack a 0. But, as I stated, that's just from what I know.
ausrock
Well-known member
On a compressor, the "Threshold" sets the level at which compression starts.
A Limiter on the other hand, is usually defined as a processor that LIMITS the level of the signal to the setting of the threshold.
Example........if you have the threshold set at 0dB, and the "Ratio" set to maximum (infinity:1), the compressor becomes a limiter at 0dB. This means that the signal will be limited to an output of 0dB regardless of the level of the input signal.
Information courtesy of PreSonus.
A Limiter on the other hand, is usually defined as a processor that LIMITS the level of the signal to the setting of the threshold.
Example........if you have the threshold set at 0dB, and the "Ratio" set to maximum (infinity:1), the compressor becomes a limiter at 0dB. This means that the signal will be limited to an output of 0dB regardless of the level of the input signal.
Information courtesy of PreSonus.
D
Dave Brown
New member
A compressor with infinite ratio and zero attack time is indeed a basic limiter. Everything below the threshold is untouched, everything above is brutally chopped off.
Problem is, this generally doesn't sound very good. Setting a zero attack times in a conventional compressor plugin will usually produce nasty distortion. (That's why most only go down to an attack time of 0.1ms. Of course, then it can't be called a limiter, because fast spikes will sneak through.)
A dedicated lookahead limiter plugin (or a compressor with lookahead feature) will always sound much better than a normal compressor plugin. Lookahead limiters anticipate where the peaks will occur, and gently bring down the gain to compensate. This way you get true brickwall limiting without distortion.
Dave
www.db-audioware.com
Problem is, this generally doesn't sound very good. Setting a zero attack times in a conventional compressor plugin will usually produce nasty distortion. (That's why most only go down to an attack time of 0.1ms. Of course, then it can't be called a limiter, because fast spikes will sneak through.)
A dedicated lookahead limiter plugin (or a compressor with lookahead feature) will always sound much better than a normal compressor plugin. Lookahead limiters anticipate where the peaks will occur, and gently bring down the gain to compensate. This way you get true brickwall limiting without distortion.
Dave
www.db-audioware.com
F
fenix
New member
mixsit said:
no, because it's not a limiter. You're just compressing so much with one of those "compressor/limiter"s that it prevent the signal from being any hotter.
cordura21
New member
DIY Lookahead Compressor or Limiter
If you have a compressor or limiter that accepts a sidechain input, then make a copy of your track to another, shift it to the left, and use it as the driver of the sidechain.
Cheers, Andrés
If you have a compressor or limiter that accepts a sidechain input, then make a copy of your track to another, shift it to the left, and use it as the driver of the sidechain.
Cheers, Andrés
K
knownuttin
New member
Wow, welcome Dave Brown to our humble hovel! For those who don't know, Dave created the super cool db Audio suite of mastering plug-ins. Very reasonably priced too I might add. And no I don't work for him, but if you need any help Dave...
Hope you'll drop by often. We keep things pretty active around here, for better and worse.
-kent
Hope you'll drop by often. We keep things pretty active around here, for better and worse.
-kent
D
Dave Brown
New member
Thanks Kent - I hope I can contribute some useful posts. I'll certainly hang about long enough to get rid of my "Newbie" label 
Dave
www.db-audioware.com
Dave
www.db-audioware.com
dachay2tnr
One Hit Wonder
I'll second the welcome, Dave. It's of immense help to us homerec'ers to be able to converse with the people who create the tools we use. (BTW, you'll need 50 posts to lose the newbie label - at which point you move up to....... tada...... Junior Member.)
This guy designs software compressors and limiters, so pay attention, boys.
This guy designs software compressors and limiters, so pay attention, boys.
C
charger
New member
Oh Man, what a surprise to see you here Dave Brown!
I downloaded your plugins a long while back, and fell in love with... I think it was a mastering limiter. After like 15 days my demo timed out, and I just never got around to doing the purchase thing. Now every time I look at my list of plugins, I see the db plugin tauntimg me, and I'm sad. I can still choose it, but no more worky.
Welcome!
I downloaded your plugins a long while back, and fell in love with... I think it was a mastering limiter. After like 15 days my demo timed out, and I just never got around to doing the purchase thing. Now every time I look at my list of plugins, I see the db plugin tauntimg me, and I'm sad. I can still choose it, but no more worky.
Welcome!
J
JuSumPilgrim
New member
Cool Edit Pro has a great limiter.
cordura21
New member
A Better Idea for a Lookahead Compressor or Limiter
You have you track. Make a new aux track.
Select you lookahead time in this example 10 ms.
Shift the track 10 ms earlier.
Set a delay line in you aux track of 10 ms.
mute you original track.
Put you dynamics processor in the aux track, and make sure the sidechain input is you original track.
Cheers, Andrés
You have you track. Make a new aux track.
Select you lookahead time in this example 10 ms.
Shift the track 10 ms earlier.
Set a delay line in you aux track of 10 ms.
mute you original track.
Put you dynamics processor in the aux track, and make sure the sidechain input is you original track.
Cheers, Andrés
G
gordone
Well-known member
Just another fan chiming in. When I got your Mastering Limiter, I was floored. Not that I do any "real" mastering, but for my demos, it does really well. Thanks!
Dave Brown said:Thanks Kent - I hope I can contribute some useful posts. I'll certainly hang about long enough to get rid of my "Newbie" label
Dave
www.db-audioware.com
S
Scott Tansley
New member
JuSumPilgrim said <Cool Edit Pro has a great limiter.>
Sure does.
Sure does.
heylow
New member
I hate to help derail a thread but I GOTTA give props and recognition to Dave Brown!!
Welcome, Dave! I hope you stick around and help our sorry asses out from time to time.
For the record, Dave's plug ins are top notch and indie cheap! I've been using them for years....starting with the free ones and bought the pay ones when they came out. Great stuff all around....DO check his site out.
heylow
Welcome, Dave! I hope you stick around and help our sorry asses out from time to time.
For the record, Dave's plug ins are top notch and indie cheap! I've been using them for years....starting with the free ones and bought the pay ones when they came out. Great stuff all around....DO check his site out.
heylow