Though compression is used on nearly every instance of recorded live audio, there still seems too often be some confusion as to what exactly compression is, and when (and how) you should use it. Limiters are typically even more misunderstood, so today we wanted to take a look at exactly what a limiter is, and when they come in handy for your recordings.
A Limiter IS a Compressor...
Part of the confusion concerning limiters is that many try to distinguish between a limiter and a compressor, when in fact they are technically the same thing, it’s just that they are used differently. It could be said that a limiter is an extreme version of a compressor.
As we’ve written before, a compressor is simply a tool that reduces the dynamic range of an audio track. This is done for a number of reasons, and is primarily responsible for evening out the volume of a track. But while compressors are typically used in a way as to make them transparent on a song (i.e. you can’t hear the compressor pulling down the volume of certain parts), a limiter plays a different role.
... But Not All Compressors are Limiters
To get the aforementioned transparent sound when using a compressor, you often set a very low ratio. For example, a ratio set to 2:1 means that for every 2 dB the input signal volume goes over the threshold, the output will only actually be 1 dB higher. Limiters however, use very high ratios, often ratios that aren’t available on compressors, hence why not all compressors are limiters.
Typically, a compressor is being used as a limiter when its ratio is set to 20:1 or higher. That means that the threshold essentially becomes the “limit” of the volume level. This often results in “blocked off” sound waves, as the peaks of a wave are essentially shaved off into a flat line. A track with this often is described as being squashed, because the peaks are squashed down, reducing the dynamic range.
Not For Use in All Situations
As you’d expect, limiters have much more limited use than compressors -- after all, you typically don’t want your dynamic range reduced to nearly zero. However, limiters can be extremely helpful in certain situations, and are often used in the mastering process.
While there’s no one “right” way to use a limiter, a good rule of thumb is to set a fairly high threshold, so that not all of your dynamics are reduced. A high threshold will allow you to control the excessive peaks without losing all of your range.
Another note: though we mentioned that limiters are often used in audio mastering, this does not imply that slapping a limiter on your final mixdown track constitutes mastering. Limiters are used in the mastering process along with a number of other tools and techniques. Many recording at home will use a limiter purely to make their mixes louder, when all that really happens is you reduce your mix to a lifeless audio track with no dynamics. So while limiters are great in certain situations, be careful not to overuse them.
Make Pro Songs
There are 8 unique value-points inside the Sage Audio membership, so let’s go over each one so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.
1. 50 Free Mastered Songs Per Year
- 50 free mastered songs per year with your own dedicated professional mastering engineer so you can get all your mixes sounding like professional songs.
- You’ll get your own dedicated Sage Audio mastering engineer to create custom masters that are specific to you and sound exactly how you want.
- Unlimited revisions with your dedicated Sage Audio mastering engineer. As a standard of our service, we are not happy until you are happy with the sound of your masters.
- All masters are delivered as commercial, industry-standard high-resolution 24-bit HD WAV masters so they will sound clean and clear on every platform.
2. 1-on-1 Mentorship
- The Sage Audio 1:1 Mentorship gives you direct access to us to answer all your questions and receive unlimited advanced mixing feedback directly from us.
- Unlimited direct access to us for in-depth discussions to help you improve your mixes and masters.
- Unlimited advanced mixing feedback with detailed suggestions for improvement.
- Fast communication to answer all your questions and get tailored guidance that’s specific to your needs.
3. Unlimited Mixing Feedback
- Unlimited mixing feedback so you can improve your mixes quickly.
- This is highly valuable - giving you access to a thriving community of mixing engineers who can provide feedback about what you can improve before sending your mix to be professionally mastered.
4. Sage Audio University™ (SAU) — (Mixing and Mastering Education Platform)
- SAU is a modern audio engineering education platform that includes in-depth mixing and mastering course curriculums that match the new music industry.
- SAU is designed for every experience level, ranging from first-time mixing engineers to advanced engineers. The techniques and concepts taught can be applied to any DAW to create industry-leading mixes without expensive software or plugins - and free plugin alternatives are suggested throughout every course curriculum.
- SAU course curriculums include Start-to-Finish session walkthrough lessons for multiple genres so you can follow along with your preferred genre.
- SAU Certification Document, which can be downloaded and showcased on your website, social channels, and portfolio for as long as you remain a member.
- Get first access to all future SAU course curriculums to continually build and refine your mixing and mastering skills as the industry evolves.
5. Mixing and Mastering Competitions
- Compete in Mixing Competitions and Mastering Competitions to win prizes and connect with friends and colleagues.
- This is a great collaborative way to improve your skills alongside both aspiring engineers and seasoned industry professionals.
6. Community
- The Sage Audio community is a tight-knit community of passionate audio engineers who can provide you with real-world mixing feedback, meaningful discussions, networking, collaborations, and more.
7. 70+ GB of Curated Sage Audio Downloadable Content, Including:
- 36 multitrack sessions spanning multiple genres for mixing practice.
- 57 un-mastered mixes spanning multiple genres for mastering practice.
- 62 Recommended Free Plugins List (vetted, tested, and approved, so you don’t have to).
- 39 Recommended Paid Plugins List (vetted, tested, and approved, so you don’t have to).
- 58 Sage Audio custom plugin presets to improve your mixes and masters.
- Sage Audio Membership Badge to showcase on your website, social channels, and portfolio.
8. 700+ Video Catalog
- Access 700+ in-depth Sage Audio mixing and mastering videos - curated and organized into playlists so you can take a deep dive into all aspects of audio engineering with thousands of hours of concise, expertly crafted Sage Audio videos to continually improve your mixing and mastering skills at your own pace.