Limiters and Distortion

[crackpot]

If one of your channels is peaking and you put a Limiter on the overall output will whats on that channel still distort? I am sure this is a painfully obvious question for some of you, Im still getting my head round the more technical side of things thanks

[AxeD]

No, a limiter on the master will take care of audible distortion. The master sums all your individual busses before the physical output. Clip indicator or meter on that particular bus will still show clipping.

I would advice to prevent clipping on any channel though.

[Add9]

Sometimes, it depends what your limiter settings are and how much the channel is peaking by. Here's a link that explains it pretty well (and succinctly):

http://www.audiomasterclass.com/does-li ... AY1k9yAGuc

[nowaysj]

Based upon what you said, it depends on what plugins you are using etc.

But I do have a fool proof solution to prevent this.

You need to mix at a much lower level. Like the volume of your individual channels needs to be lower. And your monitors/speakers need to be louder. The loudest channel in your mix should be PEAKING at around -12db. NO WHERE NEAR 0db. If you do that, you'll get a mix that peaks around -6db when all is said and done.

You can use limiters in my suggested scheme though, if you want to control stray peaks along the way in the mix, and pump up certain sounds. If you use too much limiting, your mix is going to sound flat and dull and won't have any punch. Used correctly, you'll have a clean clear punchy thick even smooth mix.

Again, none of your channels should ever get anywhere near 0db, or clipping.

[crackpot]

thanks guys this was very helpful. am still getting my head round professional mixing and home mastering

[KRONIKAL]

I can' understand why people care so much about using limiters...i mean if your problem is about a clipping channel maybe after distorsion or anything why don t use the gain that basically every plugin have for example the last one of the plugin chain ? I know that is different using a limiter ( compression) and a gain ( volume ) but i still can t get why you may want to use a limiter...

[Add9]

I can' understand why people care so much about using limiters...i mean if your problem is about a clipping channel maybe after distorsion or anything why don t use the gain that basically every plugin have for example the last one of the plugin chain ? I know that is different using a limiter ( compression) and a gain ( volume ) but i still can t get why you may want to use a limiter...

I guess because some people don't want to sacrifice volume when they're dealing with a clipping problem, so they just throw a limiter on and call it a day. I would argue in favor of proper gain staging and only limiting at the very end of the process... but I'm not one to tell people how to live their lives so if they gotta limit everything then so be it.

[KRONIKAL]

Exactly...i think that limiting should be one of the last thing you' ve to care about but as you said some one may like a totally fucked up sample with no dynamic...just saying

[nowaysj]

it is not about avoiding clipping, it is about increasing rms while keeping (or reducing) the same peak level.

[Simulant]

it is not about avoiding clipping, it is about increasing rms while keeping (or reducing) the same peak level.

I'd ignore pretty much everything this cunt says, just listen to his shitty music - he hasn't got a clue!

[soronery]

it is not about avoiding clipping, it is about increasing rms while keeping (or reducing) the same peak level.

this is a great summary of the situation being described imo

it is not about avoiding clipping, it is about increasing rms while keeping (or reducing) the same peak level.

I'd ignore pretty much everything this cunt says, just listen to his shitty music - he hasn't got a clue!

i quite liked his signature track

do you have any of your stuff online to compare and contrast it with?

[nowaysj]

it is not about avoiding clipping, it is about increasing rms while keeping (or reducing) the same peak level.

I'd ignore pretty much everything this cunt says, just listen to his shitty music - he hasn't got a clue!

[ftwgmorm]

The shorter the release, the more distortion will be present.