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compressor vs. limiter

hey guys i have just started using a limiter instead of a compressor on some of my channels. i have found it to be easier to adjust then a compressor and sounding a bit better too. But i was wondering if there are any problems i may run into. i do remember hearing that using a limiter as a compressor can have negetive side effects?. hopefully someone can shed a bit of light on the subject for me .
thanks

i use the reason limiter alot too on each channel infact, but usualy after eqing, compression and everything. it makes the mixing somehow easier caus each channel seems more "solid" somehow staying at one level. cant realy tell u any good info tho.

hahahah i have been doing the exact same thing . not on every channel though. i inda figured why even bother with the compressor when the limiter can bassically do the same thing. might be wrong though .??? hahah

on bassline, kick and other main elements i use multiple of both compressors and the limiter, eq before and after with both eq devices to add alot of fake sound. then some sidechaining, then the limiter just so i know it never gets out of controll somehow. this way i avoid fucked up mastering.
example:


hey so u use reason too? what kinda music u make?

off topic question,
I see a lot of people posting screenshots of their computers and never saw a name for what they use to do it.

So I googled and found "my screen recorder", is this what most people use?

And can I do videos to? Thanks!

lol, u have a printscreen button on your keyboard. try it and paste it in paint. i never know whether ur joking with me or not tho, it seems to be alot of hidden ironi and stuff in this forum.

quote:

Originally posted by palm hey so u use reason too? what kinda music u make?

uplifting all the way bro, sometimes more progressive though but almost always uplifting. what about you?

i dont know anymore. i started with "normal"/uplifting trance then techtrance and techno, then suddenly jumped on some psy-influented shit and now im trying to keep it progressive but its hard. also been playing with acid and minimal and stuff without success. if u use v4 we could probably try collabing or something?

quote:

Originally posted by palm lol, u have a printscreen button on your keyboard. try it and paste it in paint. i never know whether ur joking with me or not tho, it seems to be alot of hidden ironi and stuff in this forum.

If that works thats crazy.
Never heard of it as long as I've been using computers.

Trying right now thank you!

all i use is reason 4 with a bunch of refills and sample packs. still haven't done much to this date though. lots of unfinished songs hahaha

i dont believe u, u all try to make me and paranoid
edit: to the post above the above.

quote:

Originally posted by palm i dont believe u, u all try to make me and paranoid edit: to the post above the above.

No I'm dead serious lmao.

I can't believe how easy that was. I'm gonna be doing it all the time now and can finally try making some tuts!

Prob the coolest pc tip I've learned since ctrl/alt/del.


ps. Simley face does not impy sarcasm.

and my "ps." doesn't impy that my smileys not sarcastic either.

aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oh man. ok, lets calm down. u can also try ALT+PrintScreen, then it only copyes the "active" window/program/popup whatever. im such a computer wizard!

A limiter is just compressor with a very high compression ratio and a hard knee. Often you can acheive the same results that a limiter produces with a compressor. You just need to know what you are doing.

basically you're just compressing with a high ratio and fast as possible attack. If you're trying to supress peaks this is fine. Just don't try to use it to add punch.

quote:

Originally posted by mysticalninja basically you're just compressing with a high ratio and fast as possible attack. If you're trying to supress peaks this is fine. Just don't try to use it to add punch.

i keep hearing this "punch " word. what does this meen exactly, it has to do with the bass and kick right?

Haha, no punch isn't to do with kick or bass, its about the envelope of any sound.
It just involves using a high attack, so that the initial transient of the source material is not affected by compression, while the rest is. This means that you get more differentiation between the attack and the sustain portion of the hit, therefore more "punch".

Its really funny how I often wind up answering technical questions from people who are much better producers than me

I have never used a limiter, ever..

Don't limit by more than 1 dB or so on individual channels - it's essentially just extremely high compression and if the track is further compressed afterwards (which it almost always will be during the mastering phase) then you can end up with some real ugliness. The only time to use a limiter is if you have a few really weird peaks in an otherwise flat track (and even then, it's probably better to just fix those peaks).

Obviously it's easier to do, but the right things aren't usually the easy things.

the idea of a compresser is to squash the dynamic range and therefore reducing depth. so i reckon using a limiter is better as ur sound with be louder and u will still have the depth.

quote:

Originally posted by djandymac the idea of a compresser is to squash the dynamic range and therefore reducing depth. so i reckon using a limiter is better as ur sound with be louder and u will still have the depth.

A limiter is just a compressor with a very high ratio and fast attack. A super-compressor, if you will.

So, no, using a limiter isn't "better" if you're worried about keeping a large dynamic range.

quote:

Originally posted by djandymac the idea of a compresser is to squash the dynamic range and therefore reducing depth. so i reckon using a limiter is better as ur sound with be louder and u will still have the depth.

What exactly do you think a limiter does?

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut What exactly do you think a limiter does?

It adds analog to your tracks, right?

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles It adds analog to your tracks, right?

Only if it's an analog limiter.

quote:

Originally posted by DigiNut What exactly do you think a limiter does?

pushes any sound over a chosen amplitude level down, to stop distortion

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