Using Satin as a mastering limiter

[kj.metissage]

Hey guys,

What are your thoughts about using Satin as a mastering limiter ?

Last processor in the mastering chain with the "Soft Clip" function enabled, using the output gain to raise level.

That said is that function a basic waveshaper or a a more advanced algo ?

PS : What about overshoots ? Are all the peaks limited. I mean no DA/AD distortion...

[ariston]

Good question!

Unscientific answer: it was one of the first things I tried, and my bottom line was: no. The effect was too much, which kind of makes sense when you think about it. From the manual:

soft clip
When the button is engaged, output levels approaching 0dBFS are gently limited using a very
smooth transfer function similar to a Class-AB tube or FET-driven amplifier stage that gradually
changes from clean to clipped. Disengage the button If you want the occasional peaks to be
handled elsewhere within your mixing environment (overshoots are only visualized, not treated).

On single tracks, however, I am quite happy to use it as a limiter (depending on the type of track, naturally - I wouldn't use it on vocals, f.e.).

I guess there's nothing wrong with using it as a mastering limiter if you're careful about gain staging in general, but if you really intend to drive it hard, then it will likely be too powerful. Limiting in mastering should be as clean as possible in my opinion.

[kj.metissage]

Good question!

Unscientific answer: it was one of the first things I tried, and my bottom line was: no. The effect was too much, which kind of makes sense when you think about it. From the manual:

soft clip
When the button is engaged, output levels approaching 0dBFS are gently limited using a very
smooth transfer function similar to a Class-AB tube or FET-driven amplifier stage that gradually
changes from clean to clipped. Disengage the button If you want the occasional peaks to be
handled elsewhere within your mixing environment (overshoots are only visualized, not treated).

On single tracks, however, I am quite happy to use it as a limiter (depending on the type of track, naturally - I wouldn't use it on vocals, f.e.).

I guess there's nothing wrong with using it as a mastering limiter if you're careful about gain staging in general, but if you really intend to drive it hard, then it will likely be too powerful. Limiting in mastering should be as clean as possible in my opinion.

Thanks for the reply. I don't like clean that much . Even for mastering, I like to put some "color" on the main mix.

Of course color can and has to be subtle here.

Glad to know it's a "deep" algo, and not some random "cookbook" stuff .

But that part about overshoot not being treated gives me a headache. Maybe I'm too tired and missing something.

[sascha]

But that part about overshoot not being treated gives me a headache. Maybe I'm too tired and missing something.

You neither need sleep nor aspirine. It's simple: turn 'Soft Clip' off and the audio goes through the roof (indicated by the LED and the 'Over' Label next to it). Turn Soft Clip on and you're protected (Label now says 'Clip', meaning 'Yes, I clamp your signals gracefully').

[kj.metissage]

But that part about overshoot not being treated gives me a headache. Maybe I'm too tired and missing something.

You neither need sleep nor aspirine. It's simple: turn 'Soft Clip' off and the audio goes through the roof (indicated by the LED and the 'Over' Label next to it). Turn Soft Clip on and you're protected (Label now says 'Clip', meaning 'Yes, I clamp your signals gracefully').

Wise words from the master (pun intended ) !

Thanks for this awesome tool.

[HannesHagebuch]

Here I found my favorite limiter...