Limiter on master track

[1stfiest]

Doesn't Alan X want to say that you should put a limiter on your master for safety reasons, in order to avoid loud spikes and destroying your speakers? Not for making tracks loud. At least that's what I gather from his post.

Yeah, he means putting it on songs that are too loud. But this is a cheap form of compression, that will ruin any dynamics you have on a track. And someone was saying that all the tracks will come out at 0dB when you export/bounce it down to mp3/wav anyway (so there is no need for a limiter), but this is only true if you have a normalize function when exporting/bouncing (iirc). Limiting the master track is just a quick fix for bad producers, or a top tip from David Guetta.

[nameless133]

I use limiter on master track in Live just for safety reasons. I don't want anything to fuck up my sound system or something clip on master.

[1stfiest]

I use limiter on master track in Live just for safety reasons. I don't want anything to fuck up my sound system or something clip on master.

That is a fair point. Some speakers have pad attenuation that kind of does the same thing.

[Cryoshok]

This kinda feels like you all just got trolled..

Sorta feel the same way...

[Alan X]

-Limiters don't make your track louder unless you pump up gain. That's why there's a "gain" knob on most limiters. If you put a 0db limit, 0db is as loud as it will get from my limited experience.
-OfficialDAPT - I've experienced feedback loops(especially when using mics/delays) and the limiter stopped my speakers from exploding...I recommend ALWAYS having a limiter on the master track. If you don't believe me, ask anyone who mixes professionally.
-This was really intended for people with limited or no experience mixing who spike a lot
-I second disco nutter. I don't advise relying on a limiter to squash it under 0db. It should be spiking around that volume without a limiter. But for WIP tracks I'm guilty of using a limiter to cut a few spikes here and there. No harm as long as you know you that's not ideal for the final mix.
-Yes bassinline, I am aware of the volume function in Windows, but I still think it's best practice to stay below 0db even if it means a bit of squelching for an amateur. I'm confident this community will be quick to correct the mixing flaw if it sounds squashed. I'd rather do that then scramble to turn my volume down as my ears bleed.
-I second 1point5 and genevieve - its smart to cut all track volumes 12db, or whatever volume you prefer, in order to create headroom.

Bottom line, a limiter on the master track SHOULD be used as a safety net for volume spikes/protection for your speakers and SHOULD NOT be used as a crutch for keeping your track under 0db. But for those with no experience, a limiter will at least help you to protect your ears and ours

[bassinine]

limiter to prevent spikes and feed back loops during the creative stage? Ok.
and yes, it's good to have mixes not peak - but you shouldn't use a limiter for that, you should just mix the track better.

[sketchyderek]

To each and his own.