In other words, you want to increase the level without it sounding like it's being processed.
Limiters are used in both mixing and mastering, but for the latter, their primary purpose is to transparently make the audio louder. However, too much pushing not only makes the audio sound squashed and lacking in dynamics, but can also cause distortion. Since it can't go up any further, the distance between the lowest and highest levels shrinks the more it's pushed. One way to visualize brickwall limiting is to think of it like pushing your audio up against the ceiling. With the peaks reduced, the dynamic range gets smaller allowing the limiter to then apply make-up gain to boost the whole signal louder.Ī mix prior to (left) and after (right) peak limiting As a result, the signal can never get above where you set the target level.Ī limiter does its job by reducing the peaks of the signal and bringing up the overall level. A brickwall limiter, which is what you'd typically use in a mastering situation, has a ratio of infinity:1. This guide will help you determine which type of limiter is right for your song.įor those unfamiliar, a limiter works just like a compressor, except that it has a much higher ratio. Still, limiting is essential for getting the music up to standard listening levels and sometimes for subtly shaping frequencies and transients. Because streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube have instituted loudness limits, you no longer need to squash the life out of your music to allow it to compete in level with other recordings. If you're doing your own mastering, whether it's for a complete album or it’s just a song you're releasing online, you'll need a mastering-quality limiter to use as the last processor in the chain.
Here we’ll guide you through picking the most effective limiter for your music.
Putting a brickwall limiter at the end of the master chain is a staple in the sound of modern releases, but you have many different options.
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