Can the Dynamics plug-in be used as a peak limiter?

MikeInBoston · Post by **MikeInBoston** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 10:01 am

Hi guys,

There's only one preset in the Limiter category on the Dynamics plug-in called "Up to Zero Limiter". That's obviously not it (I tried it and it starts attenuating way before zero dB). What I want is to stop OVERS on the master so I don't hurt my ears or my speakers when I'm creating sounds on my synths. Are there settings that I can use to do what I need, or is Dynamics the wrong plug-in to use? One of my big gripes with Motu is the lack of plug-in presets to get you started, and in some cases NONE AT ALL. (Jeez, Motu! If you can't do it, then get some pros to do it for you.)

Thanks, guys. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Mike

crduval · Post by **crduval** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 1:09 pm

You can use the dynamics plug - there is a limiter setting, but for what you are doing you might want to use the MW limiter. This plug lets you specify a max level that will not be exceeded by the input.

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HCMarkus · Post by **HCMarkus** » Sun Mar 30, 2014 1:55 pm

crduval wrote:for what you are doing you might want to use the MW limiter.

+1

daniel.sneed · Post by **daniel.sneed** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 1:26 am

crduval wrote:for what you are doing you might want to use the MW limiter.

+1
BTW, you may already know that MW Limiter will introduce *some* latency.

IMHO, Bob Katz book *Mastering audio, the art and the science* is very enlightening on many monitoring levels questions.
It helped improve my workflow and my understanding of levels in digital area.

MikeInBoston · Post by **MikeInBoston** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 7:36 am

Hi guys,

Thanks for the feedback. I will try the MW Limiter, and yes, it's a great book. I own it, too.

Mike

Prime Mover · Post by **Prime Mover** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 10:07 am

Yeah, MW Limiter is your ticket, though I tend to use multi band limiters myself these days (Waves L3). As for why Dynamics starts compressing before the threshold, virtually all compressors have a "soft knee" of some sort, which is a curve into the ratio just around the threshold. This keeps it sounding less digital and a bit smoother. So even if the threshold was -.5dB, it probably starts compressing as low as -3dB or -2dB, but doesn't get to your 10:1 (or whatever your hard limit ratio is) until -.5dB or maybe even +2dB in this case, since the knee often places the threshold in the middle of the curve.

MikeInBoston · Post by **MikeInBoston** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 2:12 pm

Thanks, Prime Mover. That's a great explanation as to why the Dynamics Limiter was attenuating the sound before it hit zero dB.

Mike

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