Hi people. my question is : It's good to put a limiter from the beginning of the proyect? I mean, if I put a limiter, I can raise the main volume and make the mastering process easier. But most of producers don't like that and don't recomend it, also I want to know WHY.

Thanks.

 

because u will lose the dynamics of the mix from the start and there will be not ''room'' for mastering ...dont add nothing on the master bus, thats my advice ...

 

When I record a song I try NOT to use any effects if I can help it.Less=better.Limiters are best used for taming peaking signals.Your best result will be to record using as little as possible and use effects as needed when you master.

 

thanks for the answers! very usefull info.

 

The most important if how to use the limiter from the beginning.

I think it's important to put a limiter to "limiter" all your audio if u make some thing wrong with yours effects, tweaks,... the limiter ensure and block all peaks above 0 db (or your config) and protect the speakers.
Use as is, no use to gain +10 db....

 

....you dont nessisarily have to use it to squash the audio. I like to keep one on the master just to stop the spikes and save my ears/equipment when Im composing.(ever accidentally route a feedback loop?) Like when Im tweaking an eq/filter/synth. I dont hit it hard, I just use it to limit

 

Once I mistook the gain knob with the dry/wet on Reverberate - so I turned the gain instead of the wet up to full - and the feedback almost blew my ears away (not to mention my speakers, but they're replaceable, your ears are not...)

So my advice would be to put always a limiter on your master to prevent hearing loss....

 

when something is too low in volume dont bring it up, bring everything else down. This way you wont run into the clipping problem. you can use a limiter on single tracks to tame some of its peaks. The problem with masterbuslimiting is that you get so used to the squashed sound that you will overhear the point where yor mix is starting to become a mess.

 

A limiter will limit peaks, but the loudness will come throug still. So I think even with a limiter you will suffer hearingdamage. The only thing that it takes away is the buildup of the digital overtones generated by clipping.

 

Many people use a dynamic processor on the stereo bus. Keep in mind that a most limiters can also apply gentle compression as well.

The Ratio knob controls how drastic the compression is applied. 20:1 and over is hard limiting while 2:1 is very light compression.

Dynamic processors show you how much they are turning things down with a gain reduction meter. Keep an eye on this because compression is hard to hear unless it is extreme.

Some pros like to mix with a little light compression to help glue the mix together using the Waves SSL bus compressor. To set this up use 2 or 4 ratio, slow the attack a little to 10ms, and lower the threshold until you see 3 to 6 db gain reduction.

If you are using the dynamic processor as a peak limiter you would use different settings. Use a hard ratio of 20, a fast attack, and gain reduction barely active at all.

While mixing double check the gain reduction meters often to make sure you are not over doing it.

You can use both of these dynamic processes at the same time if desired. If so compress for gluing the mix then limit the peaks.

Hope this helps you out

 

The best way to describe how you should make a tune is.

1. Sounds/melodies/riff: this is choosing drums etc and style and synths, no FX should be added all you are doing is creating a palette.

2. Writing/toplines/progression/structure: this is the body of the song, only creative fx here but you song should now be playable on a piano.

3. Mixing/fx: now you have finished the whole song now you should mix (this is not mastering) set levels and apply comp/eq/etc

4. Mastering: this is applying compression, mastering fx and finally a limiter.

As a writer and producer you should not be mastering yourself, the only reason to limit would be to send out music to DJs before you release or as a safety precaution to protect speakers and sound card and avoid digital ripping.

As a rule never activate a limiter during the whole time you are writing, mixing etc and you can then apply mastering fx later and trust me you'll get a louder sound that if you had been mixing pushing into the limiter all the time.

A limiter is not making your sound louder as louder is a subjective term, a multiband compressor and limiter with exciters and stereo enhancer should increase the RMS level much more than just a straight limiter.

If you need a good limiter voxengo elephant on the masters punch setting is amazing and also the sonnox oxford limiter with effect turned up to 75% sounds great too.


It's up to personal taste but i like to have a parallel multiband compressor on my master with eq after the compressor and stereo widening then push that signal pretty hard into a brickwall limiter. I like to cut 250hz on the eq in that and boost 50hz and boost 10khz a little. Doing this on a master often result in a super loud rms master of -8db and if you are mixing right it'll sound massive!