KVR Audio

sinkmusic · Post by **sinkmusic** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 9:56 pm

Hi
I would like to buy a limiter to prevent clipping (after my comp -which is also after my mixer desk-, and before my soundcard input).
I don't think limiting is a stuff where many parameters are to be taken into consideration, so i was after buying a cheap one (i'd rather spend money on a compressor or synths).
So i was looking for some Alesis Microlimiter or a Behringer COmposer Pro 2200, or even a Boss RCL-10 (is it stereo ?).
What would you recommend ?
Would there have a big audible difference between a cheap one and a more expensive one (knowing that i already have a compressor)?
(It is not to boost levels, it is more likely to destroy unwanted peaks after the compressor)
Thanks !

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:33 pm

er a compressor is a limiter

knock the ratio up to infinity and your threshold works as your limit.
if youre happy with the compressor buy the same one again

Kingston · Post by **Kingston** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:41 pm

don't bother doing it in hardware. you have 24bits resolution on the input so even if the incoming signal is FAR too quiet you don't have to worry about a thing.

limit on the software side later on, if you even need to. any decent plugin limiter like MPL-1 or elephant is going to give a serious spanking to any cheap or even mid-end hardware.

sinkmusic · Post by **sinkmusic** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:43 pm

yes, i know a comp is also a limiter depending on the settings.
But i like to use some specific settings with that comp in a way that it doesn't act as a limiter, and the only annoying thing is that it lets some peaks go out.
So i just would like a transparent stuff to limit peaks, in order to keep using my comp for giving more beef, coloring the output, etc.

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:47 pm

sinkmusic wrote:yes, i know a comp is also a limiter depending on the settings.
But i like to use some specific settings with that comp in a way that it doesn't act as a limiter, and the only annoying thing is that it lets some peaks go out.
So i just would like a transparent stuff to limit peaks, in order to keep using my comp for giving more beef, coloring the output, etc.

yeah i meant add another of the same if youre happy with that one

but thinking about it kingston is probably right, limit at the end in software.

sinkmusic · Post by **sinkmusic** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 10:55 pm

Ok.
I hadn't seen Kingston's post
It was in fact my second question

I really like to play with hardware, but i tend to get best results with software. So i also thought i could keep my compressor alone, and lower the volume a little bit, and limit it using software later.
(I also thought about buying the very cheap behringer Minicom800, but i wouldn't even dare to use it for compression... !)

Vurt : My compressor is an Art TCS. I like to use it, but it is not transparent enough to be used as a limiter (or : my use of it tends in fact to abuse it

), even stacked with itself.

sinkmusic · Post by **sinkmusic** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:01 pm

Another little subsidiary question for all you skilled soundmasters

I have found for dirt cheap a Vesta Fire compressor SL-200. I like it a lot on 12 bit drum machines and some synths, but because i like compressor artifacts.
At the moment, i can't use my Art TCS (it is out of order, i don't know why, it doesen't power up), so i am just using the Vesta Fire as a limiter.

Which is quite surprising to me, is that it acts as a limiter when the ratio is set to 1:1 and not to infinite : why ?

I don't really dare using it as my main limiter, for two reasons :
1- it is old cheap gear, so it might be a pity to use it on master output
2- I love its pumping artifacts too much not to use it on single drum tracks !

Kingston · Post by **Kingston** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:02 pm

sinkmusic wrote:I really like to play with hardware, but i tend to get best results with software.

it's because software compressors have far surpassed cheap or mid-end hardware years a go already. Unless you're going to DIY something decent or invest (the decent one's aren't cheap at all, except the RNC stuff maybe) in a proper compressor, steer clear from hardware. good hardware limiters? there aren't any at all. For example the 1176 barely passes as one and it's anything but transparent.

If you're looking for brickwall limiting in hardware, such a thing doesn't exist either. You might get good mileage out of some preamps by clipping certain type of amp stages or output transformers. again, don't bother on the cheap ones.

software f**king rules/pwns these days.

what really is a good idea these days is to make sure the source material is as high quality as possible, so invest in ok preamps and mics instead, and maybe a decent AD stage. when that's taken care of software will really shine.

dalor · Post by **dalor** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 11:13 pm

Another vote for MPL-1 and Elephant.

MPL-1 for baby smooth limiting, Elephant to stomp out peaks. I find both are very different and very useful. It's cool to use elephant for tracks, MPL-1 for the entire mix - there's no rule, just experiment on your own.

where02190 · Post by **where02190** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:45 am

If you are clipping ins or outs, turn your levels DOWN!!!!!!!! A limiter is not the answer, proper gain staging is.

Integratron · Post by **Integratron** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 12:51 am

If you want a nice free one, try W1 from Young.

http://www.yohng.com/w1limit.html

vurt · Post by **vurt** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 1:19 am

where02190 wrote:If you are clipping ins or outs, turn your levels DOWN!!!!!!!! A limiter is not the answer, proper gain staging is.

under normal circumstances i imagine most people would agree, rely on gain staging alone for acts such as merzbow or gsybe for example in the live arena and youve just lost your speakers.
i guess the op knows better than us what he is hoping to achieve so we answer accordingly.

stoolz · Post by **stoolz** » Thu Apr 05, 2007 1:21 am

if limiters wernt useful they would excist for recording, turning down your levels can often have a negative effct on you lower level signals especially if you are processing them with an effect unit.

recommend me a limiter