The Pro Producer’s Guide To LIMITING

One subject that seems to cause more confusion than any other among beginners and experienced engineers alike is the real difference between compression (in its many forms and plugins) and limiting. Here, we’ll build on your knowledge of compression to explain what these subtly different tools are, how they work and how they can help you.

“The rule of thumb is that if the ratio is 10:1 or higher, then the unit is considered a limiter”

Limiters, levelling amps and expanders

The difference between a compressor and a limiter (sometimes known as a peak limiter) is essentially very small. Both operate in a similar way, reducing the volume of a signal when its level exceeds a given threshold. The usual rule of thumb is that if the