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Are You Listening? Ep. 4 | Limiting in Mastering (Part 1)
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Aspiring mastering engineers and music producers wanting to refine their use of limiters.
TL;DR
Mastering engineer Jonathan Wyner explains how to use a limiter as a safety tool to set target levels without distortion. He covers peak vs. average level, level-matched A/B comparison, and how limiters affect sound quality. Practical tips include setting the limiter first and anticipating streaming service loudness normalization.
Key Takeaways
- A limiter acts as a safety ceiling preventing signals from exceeding a set threshold, crucial for avoiding distortion in digital mastering.
- Limiters originated in analog broadcasting to prevent distortion, but digital limiters provide a true brick-wall ceiling unlike their analog predecessors.
- Level-matched A/B comparison is essential when evaluating a limiter's effect, as volume changes can mask the true sonic impact of processing.
- Limiters primarily interact with peak levels, not average or RMS levels, though adjusting input gain shifts the perceived loudness.
- Heavy limiting can degrade sound quality by reducing low-frequency information and introducing unmusical high-frequency distortion.
- Setting a limiter's target level should account for integrated LUFS standards used by streaming services, aiming for peaks 3-4 dB above the desired average.
- The limiter is always the last processor in the signal chain, but it's often the first tool deployed to establish a target level early in mastering.
In This Video
- 00:00Introduction to Limiters
Jonathan Wyner introduces limiters as essential mastering tools.
- 00:19History and Function of Limiters
Limiters were created to prevent distortion in radio broadcasts.
- 01:07Setting Target Levels in Mastering
Limiters help specify target levels like -14 dBFS loudness normalized.
- 02:58Two Modes of Using a Limiter
Fixed threshold with gain increase vs. adjustable threshold with makeup gain.
- 04:15Level Matched A/B Comparing
Level matching is crucial for hearing true limiter effects.
- 06:01Peak vs. Average Level Understanding
Understanding peak and average level is key for effective limiting.
- 08:51Limiter's Impact on Sound Quality
Limiters can cause low-frequency loss and high-frequency distortion.
Questions & Answers
What is a limiter used for in mastering?
A limiter sets a maximum level to prevent distortion, acting as a safety ceiling. It's essential for specifying target loudness.
How do you set up a limiter in mastering?
First, set the limiter to your target level, like -14 LUFS. Then adjust gain or threshold to reach that level while monitoring for too much limiting.
What are the two modes of using a limiter?
One mode fixes threshold and increases input gain; the other adjusts threshold with makeup gain. Both achieve the same effect but work differently.
Why is level-matched A/B comparing important?
It eliminates playback level as a variable, letting you hear true differences between processed and unprocessed audio, crucial for evaluating limiting.
How does a limiter affect sound quality?
It can reduce low frequencies and add high-frequency distortion, often unpleasantly. The bass drives the limiter most due to its high amplitude.
What is the difference between peak and average level?
Peak level is the maximum instant amplitude; average level is the overall loudness. Limiters primarily interact with peaks, not average levels.
Key Terms
- Integrated LUFS — A measurement of overall loudness over an entire audio file, used by streaming services to adjust playback level.
- Level-matched A/B comparing — A technique to compare processed and unprocessed audio at the same playback level to hear true differences.