What is the difference between

What is the difference between increasing input or threshold level in the limiter of studio one? I m a beginner.

From the manual:

Threshold: Allows Limiter to be used as a leveling amp. When Threshold
is below Ceiling, a soft knee and 1:20 ratio between Threshold and
Ceiling values is used. Threshold setting is relative to Ceiling. Numerical
display is absolute value. Variable from Ceiling value to 12 dB below
Ceiling value.

I use the threshold when I'm really pushing something hard. When I am running something hard into the limiter sometimes it starts to distort and I find that bringing the threshold down will lessen the distortion because the signal is being compressed before it hits the brick-wall limiter. Try playing around with the settings with various sounds/instruments.

Thanks for your reply.

Increasing input applies gain to the signal before it applies the limiter. Increasing the threshold allows more of the original signal to pass through the limiter unaffected. Any time you apply gain, you change your signal. You also change the signal with the limiter.

Think of the threshold setting as a valve on the end of a pipe that slows down the water flow. Lower threshold settings make the valve close and vice versa. Increasing the input is the same as turning up the pressure of the water going into the pipe.

I know it's not a perfect analogy, but it's close...

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 24/06/2012 17:44:07

Thank you for the information.

Now the song is fnished and I want to push the level of rms. The fader of the main out is set to -0.3 db and the level meter show around -10db, this is my headroom.

At the song scene I have insert one compressor (soft compression) and two limiters (pushing the level in two steps, I have read is better).
After these replies I have set the limiters as I show in the file attached. Long release to avoid changes of rms levels.

There is not any reduction showed at the limiter meter in any of the compressors, and the level of rms achieved is aroud -0.60 db (no cliping appears).

Now I am going to compare the level with others songs and maybe we need to push the levels, and the only way to do that is increasing the input, and the reduction will appears ( I have checked it).

I have tried to reduce the time of release, but changes in global levels appears, and I don't eant this effect.

What do you thing about it?

To be honest, I don't use the built-in limiters for anything. It's hard to tell you if your settings will work from a picture - use your ears.

To get my levels up if I need it, I got the Waves Ultramaximizer L1+. I think it sells by itself for $64 and works well for my needs...

First of all, don't use softclip if you don't want distortion. And then, the last limiter should have isl active.

Before you do stuff like stacking limiters, you should understand / feel how they work. I.e. use one and tweak that. See ome of the mastering chains also.

What i prefer vs stacking limiters, is using mild multibandcompression (mostly boosting the low end), which can be done with tricomp or mltibanddynamics, and then the final limiter.

Thank you, I keep in mind.

Only one more question: Does the limiter push the level equally, low mid and high frecuencies? I mean with the configuration I show, without reduction. Could be better to push directly the level of all tracks (as a group), now the level is -10db, so push to -4 db, for example and then insert the mastering chain?
Well... are two questions

First of all, a limiter doesn't push anything. By definition it does the opposite. Only by limiting and then turning up the output gain does it appear to push things.

Next, it will limit all frequencies, but if you are heavy in the bass frequencies they will push down the whole mix. You would need the multi-band compressor to effect different frequencies differently.

Clear as mud?

Yes, like the mud I can see around mi neck ...

Thank you for your tips. There is something clear too. I have to test a lot of possible configurations to find what works well with my music.