Sonnox Limiter vs Fabfilter Limiter
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kenny saunders kenny saunders https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=441077
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 289 posts since 16 May, 2019
I'm in the market for one of these and 'll try the demos but if you use either of the, why did you choose it? Sonnox has the enhance parameter which seems to give it an edge...
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YER MEAT!?
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- KVRAF
- 4502 posts since 25 Mar, 2016 from Seattle
Both are great, personally I prefer the Sonnox (they have a %50 off sale starting tomorrow too)kenny saunders wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2020 9:20 pm I'm in the market for one of these and 'll try the demos but if you use either of the, why did you choose it? Sonnox has the enhance parameter which seems to give it an edge...
Have you tested DMG's Limitless? It's my go to.
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kenny saunders kenny saunders https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=441077
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 289 posts since 16 May, 2019
Yeah that's a timely sale . I'll have a look at dmg as wellsimmo75 wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2020 9:53 pmBoth are great, personally I prefer the Sonnox (they have a %50 off sale starting tomorrow too)kenny saunders wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2020 9:20 pm I'm in the market for one of these and 'll try the demos but if you use either of the, why did you choose it? Sonnox has the enhance parameter which seems to give it an edge...
Have you tested DMG's Limitless? It's my go to.
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YER MEAT!?
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kenny saunders kenny saunders https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=441077
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 289 posts since 16 May, 2019
How come you use different limiters,, what does one do that the other doesn't, or is it just the character?
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YER MEAT!?
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- KVRAF
- 6457 posts since 17 Dec, 2009
Character when pushed hardkenny saunders wrote: ↑Sun May 31, 2020 11:35 pmHow come you use different limiters,, what does one do that the other doesn't, or is it just the character?
Although lately I’ve been resorting to clippers more.. so its becoming less relevant
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- KVRist
- 239 posts since 21 Apr, 2010
You can use so many combinations of clipping/distortion AND limiting (sometime - as CPU nowadays permits it anyway - use SEVERAL limiters, each doing 1-2dB GR).
Its VERY hard differentiating limiters unless VAST experiments are done. and as there are literally HUNDREDS of tools available... one reaches an impasse very quickly (ie. trying to figure what the difference is and how this difference contributes - or not - to the aesthetics of the final outcome). want an example ? ok, here's one : take your audio and process it with Pro-L2, Limitless, Waves L2 - or whatnot.
Now, bypass the plug and insert two Airwindows plugs (very simple config, just for this topic) : one BitShiftGain set to [-2] - that is [-12dB] of gain. then, insert Fracture (distortion). set it's "Fracture" parameter to be aligned EXACTLY under the default "Drive" parameter... and touch nothing else. do not touch the output level ans Wet/Dry. listen. is it too much ? lower the "Fracture" parameter a little more and/OR the "Drive" parameter.
Listen again.
Is the difference VASTLY different to your limiter ? in my experience, with synthetic (electronic) material, burdened with transients and very little "movement" - it is electronic music after all - you might find that Airwindows' combo is punchier and - as Michael Brauer calls it - more "Urgent" (upfront).
Just stick to the tools you have and know, unless you are a "process explorer" (ie. not making music or spend way too much time "testing" instead of actually using the wonderful tools we are spoiled with).
My 0.02....
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kenny saunders kenny saunders https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=441077
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 289 posts since 16 May, 2019
I've just got the standard cubase plugs for limiting loudness, but the loudness war is real, especially with mainroom trance, they literally turn it up to 11! I never thought to use more than one limiter in series, I guess Icould have one for character (something from PA or Waves), and one for transparency, (FF or Sonnox).eytanmich123 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:02 amYou can use so many combinations of clipping/distortion AND limiting (sometime - as CPU nowadays permits it anyway - use SEVERAL limiters, each doing 1-2dB GR).
Its VERY hard differentiating limiters unless VAST experiments are done. and as there are literally HUNDREDS of tools available... one reaches an impasse very quickly (ie. trying to figure what the difference is and how this difference contributes - or not - to the aesthetics of the final outcome). want an example ? ok, here's one : take your audio and process it with Pro-L2, Limitless, Waves L2 - or whatnot.
Now, bypass the plug and insert two Airwindows plugs (very simple config, just for this topic) : one BitShiftGain set to [-2] - that is [-12dB] of gain. then, insert Fracture (distortion). set it's "Fracture" parameter to be aligned EXACTLY under the default "Drive" parameter... and touch nothing else. do not touch the output level ans Wet/Dry. listen. is it too much ? lower the "Fracture" parameter a little more and/OR the "Drive" parameter.
Listen again.
Is the difference VASTLY different to your limiter ? in my experience, with synthetic (electronic) material, burdened with transients and very little "movement" - it is electronic music after all - you might find that Airwindows' combo is punchier and - as Michael Brauer calls it - more "Urgent" (upfront).
Just stick to the tools you have and know, unless you are a "process explorer" (ie. not making music or spend way too much time "testing" instead of actually using the wonderful tools we are spoiled with).
My 0.02....
The Sonnox Inflator sounds amazing as well, it seems like a limiter but not limiter.I read an interviw by an experienced produce who said its the only thing on his mastering chain, I think he meant mix chain before actual mastering, dunno.
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YER MEAT!?
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- KVRist
- 126 posts since 4 Feb, 2012
I have both and love Sonnox better. But recently got Weiss Compressor/Limiter and it replaced Sonnox for many cases (but weiss is more CPU intensive)
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- KVRist
- 203 posts since 24 Sep, 2019
IIRC, Inflator is not a limiter per-se. It's a distortion or soft-clipper (or something in the neighborhood).kenny saunders wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:26 am The Sonnox Inflator sounds amazing as well, it seems like a limiter but not limiter.I read an interviw by an experienced produce who said its the only thing on his mastering chain, I think he meant mix chain before actual mastering, dunno.
IMO, distortion of some kind (be it soft clipping or full fledged distortion box) is the way to go when "Inflating". full fledged Limiter should be used only as means to set the "upper ceiling" protector (no signal can go above it) and even then - no more than 1.5dB GR - PER LIMITING INSTANCE.
There are Limiters that can precede the limiting action with some kind of clipping/distortion (eg. Barricade/Limitless) but they keep the rule of distorting-->limiting (Dave Gamble himself said that it is better to limit 3x2dB GR - ie. three instances of 2dB GR - than of one instance doing 6dB of GR).
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kenny saunders kenny saunders https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=441077
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 289 posts since 16 May, 2019
THe Weiss limiter has a lot of non-standard params, looks good.borrachoruso wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:45 am I have both and love Sonnox better. But recently got Weiss Compressor/Limiter and it replaced Sonnox for many cases (but weiss is more CPU intensive)
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YER MEAT!?
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kenny saunders kenny saunders https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=441077
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 289 posts since 16 May, 2019
That's interesting, thanks.Michey wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 10:49 amIIRC, Inflator is not a limiter per-se. It's a distortion or soft-clipper (or something in the neighborhood).kenny saunders wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:26 am The Sonnox Inflator sounds amazing as well, it seems like a limiter but not limiter.I read an interviw by an experienced produce who said its the only thing on his mastering chain, I think he meant mix chain before actual mastering, dunno.
IMO, distortion of some kind (be it soft clipping or full fledged distortion box) is the way to go when "Inflating". full fledged Limiter should be used only as means to set the "upper ceiling" protector (no signal can go above it) and even then - no more than 1.5dB GR - PER LIMITING INSTANCE.
There are Limiters that can precede the limiting action with some kind of clipping/distortion (eg. Barricade/Limitless) but they keep the rule of distorting-->limiting (Dave Gamble himself said that it is better to limit 3x2dB GR - ie. three instances of 2dB GR - than of one instance doing 6dB of GR).
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YER MEAT!?
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- KVRAF
- 6457 posts since 17 Dec, 2009
your post confused me a littleeytanmich123 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 9:02 amYou can use so many combinations of clipping/distortion AND limiting (sometime - as CPU nowadays permits it anyway - use SEVERAL limiters, each doing 1-2dB GR).
Its VERY hard differentiating limiters unless VAST experiments are done. and as there are literally HUNDREDS of tools available... one reaches an impasse very quickly (ie. trying to figure what the difference is and how this difference contributes - or not - to the aesthetics of the final outcome). want an example ? ok, here's one : take your audio and process it with Pro-L2, Limitless, Waves L2 - or whatnot.
Now, bypass the plug and insert two Airwindows plugs (very simple config, just for this topic) : one BitShiftGain set to [-2] - that is [-12dB] of gain. then, insert Fracture (distortion). set it's "Fracture" parameter to be aligned EXACTLY under the default "Drive" parameter... and touch nothing else. do not touch the output level ans Wet/Dry. listen. is it too much ? lower the "Fracture" parameter a little more and/OR the "Drive" parameter.
Listen again.
Is the difference VASTLY different to your limiter ? in my experience, with synthetic (electronic) material, burdened with transients and very little "movement" - it is electronic music after all - you might find that Airwindows' combo is punchier and - as Michael Brauer calls it - more "Urgent" (upfront).
Just stick to the tools you have and know, unless you are a "process explorer" (ie. not making music or spend way too much time "testing" instead of actually using the wonderful tools we are spoiled with).
My 0.02....
first you told me to process explore airwindows
then you told me to stick to what i have and know
i could probably get Pro-L2 with Elephant (but i suspect it would be harder the other way around)
i mean, attack and release on limiters and its curves will affect how it sounds.
for electronic music oversampled clipping (essentially waveshaping sure, so fracture seems analogous) probably works better.
but i do mixing and i get a lot of different garbage to mix, so i can't clip everything
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herewardcarrington herewardcarrington https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=466159
- KVRer
- 18 posts since 20 May, 2020
Although I frequently use the Oxford Limiter, the FabFilter L2 is way more transparent in terms of artifacts, distortion and noise. Especially the 32 x oversampling option is unbelievable clean, which gives you the possibility to squash your program material pretty hard without ISP problems.
Soundwise I prefer the Sonnox but it's not as clean due to pretty low oversampling and especially the enhance function aliases like hell (same is true for Inflator btw).
If you're looking for pretty loud mainroom trance masters I would definitely recommend the L2 over the Oxford Limiter.
Soundwise I prefer the Sonnox but it's not as clean due to pretty low oversampling and especially the enhance function aliases like hell (same is true for Inflator btw).
If you're looking for pretty loud mainroom trance masters I would definitely recommend the L2 over the Oxford Limiter.
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kenny saunders kenny saunders https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=441077
- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 289 posts since 16 May, 2019
Aliasing in even the most recent version of oxford (V3)?, that's surprising. Frankly I may still get the FF L2 as you save £187 on the mastering bundle which is Pro q, Comp, multiband, and L2, and i need the other 3 . And the gui is as good as it gets.herewardcarrington wrote: ↑Mon Jun 01, 2020 12:13 pm Although I frequently use the Oxford Limiter, the FabFilter L2 is way more transparent in terms of artifacts, distortion and noise. Especially the 32 x oversampling option is unbelievable clean, which gives you the possibility to squash your program material pretty hard without ISP problems.
Soundwise I prefer the Sonnox but it's not as clean due to pretty low oversampling and especially the enhance function aliases like hell (same is true for Inflator btw).
If you're looking for pretty loud mainroom trance masters I would definitely recommend the L2 over the Oxford Limiter.
edit: then I must really stop buying plugins!
If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any pudding. HOW CAN YOU HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YER MEAT!?