midicnGlossary 中文

Limiter

Holding peaks below a threshold to prevent clipping

A limiter holds peaks above a threshold down, usually with a very high ratio and lookahead, so the output does not clip. It is the last safety stage in a master chain.

It differs from a compressor: a compressor shapes dynamics, a limiter catches peaks; it differs from a maximizer too: a limiter aims at fidelity, a maximizer often trades more for loudness. The usual mistake is to push the limiter harder for more loudness — too much kills transients and breathing; the limiter is insurance, not tone.

Read deeper → compressor

Sources

  • 限制器的参数与母带用法,参通行录音教材;本文为原创表述

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