How To Use A Limiter: The Definitive Information (2021)
Once I take into consideration the way to use a limiter, I bear in mind again to the primary tunes I ever completed.
Pleased with the mixdowns, I’d rush to add them to Soundcloud, solely to appreciate with horror that they lacked any loudness and punch when performed proper after anyone else’s monitor. Sound acquainted?
In that case, a limiter is probably going lacking out of your toolkit. On this information, we’ll cowl every thing it’s good to learn about limiters, together with:
- Understanding what a limiter is and the way it interacts with sound
- The principle controls at your disposal when utilizing one
- When it’s best to (and shouldn’t) use a limiter
- A number of the finest limiter VST plugins on the market (free and paid)
Let’s soar straight in and undergo what a limiter is!
What Is a Limiter?
Ideas like compression, smooth clipping, and limiting can usually sound complicated as a more recent producer. One of many causes is that they lack the identical immediately recognizable qualities as a delay or a reverb.
Another excuse is that they’re all derivatives of the identical primary ideas. Basically, a limiter is a type of heavy compression, typically related to compression with a ratio above 10:1 (should you want a refresher on compression, try our Free Information to Compression.)
It’s for that reason that individuals are at all times evaluating a limiter vs compressor – they carry out related duties and are primarily based on the identical processing.
The aim of a limiter is to “restrict” (genius, I do know) the output quantity of a sound at a most stage, known as the ceiling.
You may consider a limiter as a tunnel. Any automobile under the desired peak will drive by way of with ease, however something taller will get chopped off like in a Die Arduous film.
In apply, limiting is usually used within the mastering chain to keep away from the monitor clipping (i.e. going above 0db) and introducing undesirable distortion.
It additionally permits to maximise to total loudness of the monitor, one thing the younger producer in me needs he knew earlier. This course of is known as brickwall limiting.
Nevertheless, it will also be used within the mixing section, which we’ll dive into later.
To know how a limiter works, let’s take a look at the essential controls. I can be utilizing FL Studio’s inventory plugin for this information, however most limiters could have the identical functionalities.
The Fundamentals of Limiting
All limiters have 4 important knobs: Ceiling, Achieve, Assault, and Launch. Let’s undergo every of those one after the other.
Ceiling
The ceiling determines absolutely the most stage that the limiter will output. On a mastering chain, it will typically be set at 0 or -0.1db to keep away from clipping.
When used on an instrument channel, you possibly can set the ceiling to any stage that fits your wants. The necessary factor to recollect is that the limiter will solely be activated at any time when sound peaks above that ceiling.
Achieve
This controls the quantity of enter going into the limiter. By pushing the acquire up whereas maintaining a ceiling on the output, a rise in loudness could be achieved.
Printing to audio is an effective way to see how your sound is being processed. Under you possibly can see how the preliminary sign (inexperienced) is first restricted to -6db (orange), after which elevated in perceived quantity by way of a acquire enhance of +6db (blue).
Assault
In ms. This controls how shortly the limiter responds to the enter sign and limits it.
In Ableton, this operate is known as Lookahead, and though it’s technically completely different from an Assault knob, it performs the same position.
Launch
In ms. This determines how lengthy the limiter will take to cease affecting the sign as soon as the enter stage is now not above the ceiling.
Different Controls
Every limiter has its personal distinctive options. Listed here are a number of the commonest ones that you just would possibly run into.
Audition Limiting
The FabFilter Professional-L 2 (extra on that one later) has an Audition Limiting possibility that permits you to take heed to the “delta” sign, i.e. the precise discount utilized to the enter sign.
Stereo Detection
A limiter with a stereo possibility will present the choice for the unbiased processing of the L and R channels.
This implies as an alternative of treating the audio like one mono sign, it would catch peaks taking place on both sides of the stereo area independently.
Multiband Limiting
Fancier choices such because the Waves L3-LL (extra on that one later) present multiband limiting, setting particular ceiling ranges for every frequency band enabling a extra balanced limiting consequence.
Loudness Metering
Metering is a visible help telling you the general quantity of your output. With out entering into an excessive amount of element, the meter is usually measured in LUFS (Loudness Models Full Scale) and can let you know in case your monitor is loud sufficient (or too loud) for streaming platforms.
5 Sensible Purposes of a Limiter
Though mastering is usually regarded as the primary utility of a limiter, there are lots of different cases when chances are you’ll need to use one. Let’s dive into a few of them.
Keep in mind that if it sounds good, it sounds good, regardless of if in case you have used a limiter within the “correct”manner.
Mastering
A limiter is without doubt one of the commonest instruments used within the mastering chain to maximise the perceived quantity of the monitor whereas avoiding any undesirable distortion.
To realize this, the enter sign is elevated utilizing the acquire knob, whereas maintaining the ceiling at -0.1db for instance.
The result’s a discount in total dynamics, however a rise in perceived quantity. Watch out nevertheless to not overdo it by pursuing loudness to the detriment of dynamics.
The loudness war has been a much-debated subject over the previous couple of years, so keep in mind that louder doesn’t at all times imply higher.
Vocal Peaks
A limiter can be utilized to regulate the peaks of a sign. Within the case of a vocal efficiency with a large dynamic vary, it could actually catch a number of the peaks of loud notes.
Though it’s best to typically keep away from any type of heavy compression straight on a recording, mild use of limiting can generally be helpful (see under).
Group Bus Limiting
When sending a number of inputs right into a bus channel, the output quantity can shortly get out of hand.
A limiter can subsequently act as a peak controller to maintain issues underneath management. Including a little bit of acquire can then assist you to carry out the quieter components of your bus group, gluing gently the weather collectively and enhancing your total combine.
Sound Design Security
Much less frequent however simply as helpful, a limiter will also be used as a security measure.
When you’re doing a little loopy neurofunk sound design, you would possibly need to place a limiter on the finish of your chain, simply to ensure you don’t blow your ears out inadvertently whereas including your fifth OTT to the consequences chain.
In case you are experimenting with “breaking” sounds with a number of layers of distortion and EQ’ing, a limiter can turn out to be useful to maintain the degrees down and uncover quirky artifacts.
Recording
Heavy compression ought to typically be prevented when recording (except what you’re doing). The reason being that the loss in dynamics ensuing from the compression can be printed to audio and might by no means be recovered.
Nevertheless, some mild limiting on a guitar or vocal recording may also help keep away from the sign going “into the purple” and clipping. Though it’s finest to keep away from it within the first place, it is a good second layer of security.
Observe that in case your sign is continually going over 0db throughout your recording, the problem in all probability lies in your enter acquire being set too excessive. A limiter ought to solely be used to catch these occasional peaks above 0db.
The Finest Limiter VST Plugins (Free and Paid)
Most DAWs present their very own limiter inventory plugin. Typically this feature will suffice for any producer who desires to get extra acquainted with one.
Under is an inventory of a number of the finest free limiter plugins, and a few extra superior choices.
FL Studio Fruity Limiter (Free)
FL Studio’s inventory limiter, which was used as a information on this article. An incredible place to start out, as is the case with numerous different FL inventory plugins.
The visible help is available in particularly helpful in case you are nonetheless new to limiting, because it exhibits you the precise influence it’s having in your sign.
Key Options:
- Easy and intuitive graphic interface
- Alternative of 8 assault and launch curves (from speedy to gradual)
- Constructed-in compressor which can be utilized for sidechaining
Ableton Dwell Limiter (Free)
Regardless of missing a visible interface, Ableton’s inventory limiter will get the job performed. Observe that it’s not obtainable within the Lite version of Ableton.
Key Options:
- Minimal interface
- Stereo or L/R mode, enabling unbiased limiting for the L and R channels
- Auto mode selects probably the most applicable launch time by analysing the incoming sign
Logic Professional Limiter (Free)
Logic’s inventory limiter comes with the basic clear interface you’d count on from Apple.
Key Options:
- Graphic interface permitting to see how a lot acquire discount is being utilized
- 2 modes can be found, Legacy and Precision (for onerous limiting)
- Delicate Knee possibility for smoother impact
FabFilter Professional-L 2 (Paid)
The FabFilter suite of plugins wants no introduction, with a lot of their providing turning into trade requirements such because the Professional-Q 3 equalizer.
Key Options:
- Audition possibility, to take heed to the delta sign and listen to what’s being eliminated
- Wealth of presets to select from
- 8 completely different limiting algorithms, starting from Punchy to Secure
- Channel linking permits for unbiased limiting of the L and R channels
iZotope Ozone 9 Maximizer (Paid)
Ozone’s Maximizer is without doubt one of the different generally used limiters in digital music. It will probably push issues loud whereas nonetheless sounding tremendous clear, particularly with the IRC IV Fashionable setting.
Key Options:
- True Peak limiting to keep away from inter-sample aliasing
- Stereo transient and maintain linking and unlinking
- Be taught Threshold to focus on LUFS worth
- Character management to regulate behaviour with only one knob
Waves L3-LL Multimaximizer (Paid)
The final shout goes out to Waves with its L3-LL multiband limiter. Don’t be fooled by the marginally outdated interface, this one packs a punch.
Key Options:
- 5-band limiter, permitting for extra superior and exact outcomes
- IDR part controls the bit depth, dithering and noise shaping
- 9 completely different profiles, starting from Loud & Proud to Excessive Analog
It needs to be famous that many different plugins might have been talked about right here.
As a result of limiting is a regular step within the mastering chain, higher-end plugins such because the Waves Abbey Highway TG usually incorporate it inside a complete suite of different results.
Remaining phrases and ideas
Hopefully, you’ll now have grasped the basics of a limiter and the way to use one.
Earlier than we allow you to go, be certain to try these previous couple of ideas and methods to get probably the most out of your limiter:
- As with most plugins, begin with manufacturing unit presets, and regulate primarily based on style
- Be certain that to acquire match your processed sign and your preliminary sign whenever you A/B check. Louder will usually trick you into considering it sounds higher
- For causes that transcend this information, limiters are inclined to have an effect on extra the low-end of a sign, so listen that you just’re not shedding an excessive amount of bass
- Equally, limiting will are inclined to distort the high-end faster than different areas, so pay additional consideration to that space
- If you end up needing to do heavy limiting within the mastering chain and a few components develop into over-compressed, it may be a sign that one thing wants adjusting in your mixdown
Additionally, as talked about earlier than compression & limiting are very related. So seize our free compression cheat sheet under to additional your understanding!
Lastly, if mastering stays a thriller for you (and God is aware of it was for me after I began), be certain to take a look at our Mastering EDM information. Be certain that to additionally try our Mixing Information for Producers, as numerous what was defined right here can switch over to compression & limiting.