new here.

[Karl Lee]

Hello. Would someone kindly explain to me (in layman's terms) what a compressor/limiter gate (or whatever they're called) is?

I'm new to pro audio gear and new to this site, so I'm not even sure this post is in the right place...

Thanks.

 

[slipperybidness]

I would assume that you are talking about Dynamic Range Compression and/or max output limiters.

Limiter is a good way to consider it. It's a circuit that will only output a certain max amplitude, regardless of the strength of the input signal, the output cannot go above a certain amplitude.

Typically, these would be used to avoid damaging your gear or your ears.

 

[Karl Lee]

Thanks for the reply. So, for example if I set an input signal of 0dB on a mixer, in a situation where peaks in a certain music track may cause the signal to go above 0dB, I could make use of one of these limiter devices to prevent this happening?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks for the reply. So, for example if I set an input signal of 0dB on a mixer, in a situation where peaks in a certain music track may cause the signal to go above 0dB, I could make use of one of these limiter devices to prevent this happening?

Yes, but you need experience and guidance, to use compressor limiters in as subtle manner as possible. In addition to setting the dynamic range, you need to carefully judge the attack and release times. That is how fast volume is cut as limits are reached and how fast volume increases as the peak passes. This is very much program dependent.

 

[Karl Lee]

Ok cheers, I'll bare what you've said in mind should I buy one. I probably will at some point in the future as they seem like quite a useful piece of kit. Right now I'm just trying to gather as much knowledge as I can about pro audio.

 

[TLS Guy]

Ok cheers, I'll bare what you've said in mind should I buy one. I probably will at some point in the future as they seem like quite a useful piece of kit. Right now I'm just trying to gather as much knowledge as I can about pro audio.

If you bought one, what would you plan to do with it? Unless you are running a pro PA system, preparing an LP master or sending a broadcast stream to a radio transmitter you don't need one.

A compressor limiter downgrades a program to prevent a worse problems.

Pop CDs are all way over compressed to start with, which is a big problem with them.

 

[Karl Lee]

It would just be for my home audio system. Earlier this year I decided to build a new system around a professional power amplifier I got tempted into buying. Since then I've bought a multi-line mixer that i use as a kind of source selector for multiple inputs. But as I made a reference to in an earlier comment, peaks in some tracks are higher than others, causing the signal to go beyond 0dB and flash in the red. When this happens I have to manually reduce the input level for that track, and then increase it again for tracks with less aggressive peaks. I guess my idea of a limiter would be for it to automatically limit the input signal on tracks with aggressive peaks.

 

[slipperybidness]

It would just be for my home audio system. Earlier this year I decided to build a new system around a professional power amplifier I got tempted into buying. Since then I've bought a multi-line mixer that i use as a kind of source selector for multiple inputs. But as I made a reference to in an earlier comment, peaks in some tracks are higher than others, causing the signal to go beyond 0dB and flash in the red. When this happens I have to manually reduce the input level for that track, and then increase it again for tracks with less aggressive peaks. I guess my idea of a limiter would be for it to automatically limit the input signal on tracks with aggressive peaks.

Yeah......

What pro-level amp are you using? A Crown XLS?

Is the red light is kicking on, then your pro level amp likely already has a limiter built in!!!

Im sure TLS will inform us, but I "think" limiters are typically more useful on the output than the input.

 

[TLS Guy]

It would just be for my home audio system. Earlier this year I decided to build a new system around a professional power amplifier I got tempted into buying. Since then I've bought a multi-line mixer that i use as a kind of source selector for multiple inputs. But as I made a reference to in an earlier comment, peaks in some tracks are higher than others, causing the signal to go beyond 0dB and flash in the red. When this happens I have to manually reduce the input level for that track, and then increase it again for tracks with less aggressive peaks. I guess my idea of a limiter would be for it to automatically limit the input signal on tracks with aggressive peaks.

You do not need a limiter in a home audio system.

Your problem is that you have the gains in your system improperly set. Turn down the mixer output so you have at least 3 db margin for the highest peaks.

You are have the mixer turned up too high.

Also you should not need a mixer for multiple inputs. Cheap mixers are a huge problem as they never have enough head room for most sources on the input end. Good mixers are expensive, very expensive.

You need a preamp with sufficient input selections. If you have so much gear you run out of inputs on the preamp, then you need a switch bus, not a mixer.

Mixers are for live recording, PA systems and post production work.

 

[Ora Shannon]

I have alot to learn...