Low cost hardware based limiter?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Middleman
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Middleman

Middleman

Professional Amateur
OK, so does anyone have a recommendation on a low cost hardware based limiter? Kind of like the RNC of limiting?
 
Behringer Autocom...great limiting for little $$$$......
 
Thanks Gidge, I am also hearing good things about dbx 160, 160x and 160xt used units. The Behringers are under $100 and may be the way to go.
 
Just last week I decided to add a few more channels of peak limiting to my mobile rig, just for drums - ended up grabbing the 4-channel Behringer multicom mdx4400 for $70 used.

I'm no big fan of behringer gear, and in fact I was groaning when I bought the thing - but, actually, it does a good job. It's quiet, I don't notice it in the signal chain, and the limiting sounds really decent. I'm not using it as a compressor, mind you, just for overshoot protection as a limiter for digital recording - and it's just fine. Will probably never use the compressor.

I also like the ART Dual Levelar, if we're talking about BUDGET gear. Which, I think we are...
 
The dual levelar is an opto design, which is slower in reaction than VCA units. I don't think it would be any good as a dedicated limiter.
 
Yes, the levelar has a fixed .6 ms attack time, which technically doesn't make it a peakstop limiter, exactly - however, I use the thing on overheads and room mics all the time, with great results. You need to leave yourself some overhead, to begin with - it's definitely not the box to use for maximum volume with brickwall limiting.

YMMV.
 
Dick Flansen said:
You need to leave yourself some overhead, to begin with
Click to expand...

I assume you mean headroom ?

If the unit lets through the first peak of the signal, so you need to have a little extra headroom, then it's no limiter at all. A limiter is supposed to control the peaks, that's the main reason for using a limiter. You reach for a limiter when you haven't got headroom.
 
Fine, Stefan, thank you, I'll never offer an opinion again.

I'll just go back to making great sounding records for a living, with my poor little levelar.
 
Ok sure. Am I supposed to feel bad cuz I explained something ? That's weird.
 
After much experience with the Behringers, all I can say is that their compression isn't bad at all. Unfortunately all I can say for the quality of the peak limiting is that it's better than digital clipping -- not by much, but still better. :D

I would hop on ebay and look for a used symetrix 501.

For two channels, nothing beats the Aphex Dominator for the price, although that will generally run you around $400 used -- still $200 / channel which isn't bad.
 
I agree with Chessrock... Behringer does some lousy crap junk units.... but the compressors stand out as quite usable. And considering their usual low behringer prices, they give you alot for the money.
 
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