What limiter do you use, if any?

[kvotchin]

So I haven’t had any reason (that I was aware of) to use a limiter, until now.

Which one do you use, and why? Is there even much difference between them all? I imagine not, but hey, open to the possibility.

Thanks.

[roman.i]

They're mostly used as the last item in the mastering chain, and they do sound different in how they shave peaks, and how much loudness you can get from each limiter/algorithm without distortion. There is a huge difference in quality between an old tech limiter and a modern one, but not too much of a difference in quality between two modern limiters when listening in a home studio environment. Another use case is in sound design. Long effect chain can create unexpected peaks, a simple limiter or a compressor set to a high ratio can solve this issue.

[pljones]

As above, really. I use a limiter where an input signal can occasionally peak but generally needs a bit of a boost in level, so the limiter sits just below my target level (so that its attack time is just long enough to catch the peaks). I used to use a limiter when mastering but I've been switching more to a straight "amp and compress" lately... Maybe it's my mood...

As to which - "old school" VST "mda" limiter for in-line limiting - I guess because I've grown used to how it works. For mastering, I just use the Audacity built in one - it's not subtle...

[SneakyBeats]

I have stock limiter at the master channel, just for safety to catch some wild roaming peaks.

And if I make some sound design (mess around with synths trying to get something useful, or just hit random button ), I often have a limiter on that track so that any surprise peak won't kill my speakers.

[e@rs]

DMG Audio TrackLimit because ^.

[sleepcircle]

Limiter 6 by Tokyo Dawn Labs

(edit: specifically the GE although the original is still very good)

[Spring Goose]

Izotope Ozone

[cryophonik]

My go-to's are FabFilter Pro-L, and the limiters in Ozone when I'm finalizing my tracks.

[thecontrolcentre]

bx_XL_v3 or The Glue on the master.

[sleepcircle]

bx_XL_v3 or The Glue on the master.

the glue is extremely good. …i never honestly considered using it as a limiter! but I suppose you totally could use it, couldn't you? if you just had an intersample peak meter afterwards, to check that it wasn't letting anything slip past.

[JerGoertz]

Limiter 6 by Tokyo Dawn Labs

I have the GE edition. When limiting "problem tracks" it consistently came out on top. Amazing stuff and amazingly cheap.

[Tendou]

I use Waves L2 or Ozone maximizer on a low end bus or on the kick channel or on a bass channel to even the dynamics or squash the busses (I make techno) on the master I used to use uad presicion maximizer but noe I use fabfilter pro-l2 bc I sold my UAD card

[atya]

My gotos are izotope Ozone for complete tracks and Limiter 6 for samples etc...

[dark water]

I use Elephant 4: it's decent as are most / all Voxengo plugins.
I read at KVR and Gearslutz that a lot of people prefer other limiters nowadays and that Elephant is maybe people's 3rd favourite choice, but I've had Elephant since version 2 and it's uncomplicated and does a steady job as a limiter.

[jonalyn]

waves l1 and fabfilter L2 for mixing but elephant is huge !