Similar in principle to a compressor, a limiter is an audio processor that prevents the amplitude of an audio signal from rising above a certain threshold, regardless of what is happening to the amplitude of the source audio. Dynamics below the threshold are more or less unaffected. Certain compressors can in fact function as limiters if their ratio can be set to infinity:1. Uses for limiters include maximizing levels for CD release, optimizing recording levels for imputing into a DAW or when going to tape, or to protect users of in-ear monitors from sudden volume surges.
(See Compressor)