Sound Definitions

Techniques : audio level compression : limiting (limiter)

Limiter vs compressor

A limiter is a compressor with a stronger ratio. Two commonly accepted definitions are that more than 4:1 or more than 8:1 ratios are limiting, anything less is compressing. They are no different in process. Soft and hard limiting are also differences of degree. The "harder" a limiter, the lower its threshold and the higher its ratio.

Brick wall limiter

Brick wall limiting means that nothing passes the threshold. In practice, this is a ratio of 50:1 or possibly 100:1 or greater. The sonic results can be undesirable, unless applied to only the loudest transients; it is most appropriate as a safety device in live and broadcast applications.

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