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Just thought I'd throw this out there and see who's using it as their primary limiter. I have only used mine as a limiter once in the last 2 months. I just got tired of the flat sound I think it gives to aggressive stuff primarily. I've moved over to the weiss DS1 as my main limiter, The only problem is that i've now lost it as a compressor unless I make 2 passes, which I will do if it needs it. I do use the L2 as a volume control to drive digital stuff into analog gear. For that I really like it cause I can also shape some transients if I need to before it hits the analog secret black box. Once in awhile I prefer how it sounds, but as volumes keep increasing over the months on the hard stuff, I just don't think it cuts it anymore. I've tried the L3 software but I only thought it was very marginally better if at all. from the tests in Brad's forum, I don't like the MD4 any better. I haven't tried the Omnia but at $12,000 I don't think I will. Any thoughts?

Comments

anonymous Tue, 02/22/2005 - 18:03

Lagerfeldt wrote: [quote=TrilliumSound]Lagerfeldt,

Can you be more specific about "amazing" while clipping the RME and limiting at the L2 ? Are you talking about average volume levels or something else ?

Regards

It sounds amazing compared to using the L2 instead. i.e. a track with 4dB of limiting with L2 will sound duller and more compressed than a track with 4dB of clipping in the RME.

This is true only for some forms of music, some types of music will most likely sound horrible using clipping. On most of my own types of music it sounds excellent though (dance/pop with slamming programmed sampled drums).

The clipping introduces some transient distortion but it sounds quite musical and I prefer it to the L2 now.

Isn't there a translation issue here? How musical is that going to sound, when the DAC isn't an RME but a consumer car stereo, or iTunes player? Will those DAC's handle the clipping as gracefully, or musically?

Mike Barrs

Michael Fossenkemper Tue, 02/22/2005 - 19:54

Well, yes and no. depends. Some do have a hard time with it. I'm also thinking that it introduces some variables that are player dependent, like how they handle it as opposed to a rounder waveform. It's also program dependent. Breaking barriers isn't without consequences. some MP3 codecs i've come across have a much harder time with it. You can't just do it and say I did it i'm done. There is a reason why these boxes do what they do and how they do it. It has it's place but you have to find out where that place works best.

anonymous Wed, 02/23/2005 - 00:07

Ammitsboel wrote: [quote=Lagerfeldt]
Henrik, did the L2 sound bad if only doing 1dB of limiting (as in my case)?

Yes it did, but as you sead so yourself it is program depended.

I could use it at 0.5db GR, but I can't see any meaning in that except if you whant you introduce some "dullness".

Best Regards

Right, so it's a trade-off, getting 1dB extra, but getting a bit duller signal too. :-/

anonymous Tue, 03/01/2005 - 07:07

I never use L2,

Ok, i think i'm beginner, but even i've noticed, not listening any folks, and truing to listen results, it to reduce transients, crap my bass, make mix flet, there is no depth anymore, i use 4 Band Software complressor for mastering, and i will use brickwall limiter, as advised, because not all is possible to do by using 4 Band compressor....
and different settings for different parts of mix. long attack, even longer release, but some software not allows long release:((((
this is all i can offer myself, still learning:(

Reggie Tue, 03/01/2005 - 08:14

Yup

Well, I think that pretty much covers it.

But I had a question for you mastering dudes on a couple plugs; anyone try/like the UAD Precision Limiter? I think Massive endorses it, and I personally think it is quite transparent (aka no character) and decent up to around 4-5 db reduction.
Also, the PoCo Inflator has me interested to try, because we all know louder is always better. Anyone try this goofy plug?