L1

[BlackTalon]

ok, to start out i'm making r&b and other urban type tracks. I have L1+ultramaximizer and use c1 for compression. I started this track, first eqed, then compressed just using the attack and release till it sounded good for each instrument...now, is the ratio and threshold more for controlling the volume or for balancing the sound to how you want it? Because I seem to get a great sound without touching those two. So now I want to get my levels up high, so from what i've read to usually put a limiter on the percussion at least the kick and snare. So I throw the limitor on the kick, ( some places say limit first then eq and viceversa which adds to the confusion )which as far as I know is supposed to stop it dead in it's tracks where I tell it to stop. Thing is is it still clips. That and to add to the confussion I want the peaks to be at 0 for the final mix right? and the ones that usually peak are the kick and snare, then i read kick should usually be set around -2 and other for the snare. So then the limitor is used to pull the -2 up to 0? ... lol, i'm so close to having this all figured out just this last part so I can begin the real work. Anyone see what i'm doing wrong here?

 

[Dave Nyberg]

Peaks at 0 will always clip. I usually make the ceiling -0,3 db. That's also directly the limit for cd duplicators. Their equipment can't handle outputs higher then -0,3 dB. Well, at least here they do hhehe. The treshold will determen the amount of dB reduction. The Ratio is the amount of power the compressor has. Like when you put it on 8:1 the compressor will make 1 db over the treshold level for every 8 dB it get's passed.

Just play with that untill you reach your destination sound. The L2 might be a better choice. I think it's a bit more clean and advanced than the L1. But that might also be just personal preference

 

[BlackTalon]

Thanks for the tip i'll give that a try. I tried putting a analyzer after my limter and through there it showed no clipping but the sequencer was showing that it was clipping for some reason, somewhat confused the hell out of me

 

[Alécio Costa - Brazil]

DM, do you have any reference where we could read about our nice info, regarding a ceiling of -0.3dB?

I always limit to -0.1dB.
Thanks

 

[AudioGaff]

I'll normally use -0.5dBFS but will also use -0.3dBFS max. Anything closer to 0dbFS and I find that it can cause problems on some players and/or dupers and dupe houses. Keep in mind that not all recorders and players are calibrated the same for what is considered an over.

 

[lorenzo gerace]

Hi

I too limit at -0.3dBFS, I was told by the tech guy working at the dup plant I usually use that if that threshold is exceded they will lower the entire program by 3dB! so just to be safe...and in the end I don't think that any human being can hear the difference between -0.3 and -0.1, so it's just a matter of conventional agreement.

Cheers

L.G.