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Posted by Sjodalf on Jan-04-2011 18:23:

Volume hardware limiter

I'm looking for a hardware unit that can limit the volume sent to my speakers, if it goes over a certain db. So it can protect my ears from sudden unexpected volume increases.

For example with a limit to 80db, so that any input with higher volume would be limited to the preset value.

Hope you guys have some suggestions, thanks!

Posted by Zombie0729 on Jan-04-2011 18:33:

why not put a limiter on your master channel?? do you not work with a computer?

Posted by Zak McKracken on Jan-04-2011 21:49:

are your speakers active?

Posted by kitphillips on Jan-05-2011 07:33:

quote:
Originally posted by Zombie0729
why not put a limiter on your master channel?? do you not work with a computer?

audio glitches could still damage the speakers...

Most speakers should have a built in limiter though I think? And if its just for your ears... well, just have your fingers handy to jam in them at a moments notice if anything goes wrong...

Posted by Zak McKracken on Jan-05-2011 09:24:

quote:
Originally posted by Zak McKracken
are your speakers active?

in that case, read the manual and see whats max SPL, then subtract 80 from that and you get the position you should set your monitor volum at.

example:
max SPL = 110dB.
limit = 80dB

-> diff: 30dB.

your volumeknob should be at -30dB.

easy.

Posted by Sjodalf on Jan-05-2011 20:23:

I have the Alesis M1 Mk2 Activs (SPL = 102db) And I have a mixer in between the PC and monitors.

The problem can occur with low audio files you want to listen to at high volume - so you have to crank up the volume. But then the next file can have a high mastering.

Did I miss your point, ken_lee? Or do I need some kind of hardware compressor/limiter?

Posted by Zak McKracken on Jan-05-2011 20:57:

play back from iTunes, it has volume normalizer of your mp3. a limiter/compressor can only help if you have it before the volume-knob which means that u need a hardware volume knob also if u plan on using a hardware compressor/limiter.

Posted by EddieZilker on Jan-05-2011 21:18:

It just seems like there's a bad practice in your production and mixing if you need a hardware limiter for speaker/ear protection on your back-end. Get rid of the bad habit rather than getting something which corrects for it.

Posted by Zak McKracken on Jan-05-2011 22:04:

i think he means for playback of mp3s. use normalizer in iTunes.

Posted by Zombie0729 on Jan-05-2011 22:08:

quote:
Originally posted by Sjodalf
I have the Alesis M1 Mk2 Activs (SPL = 102db) And I have a mixer in between the PC and monitors.

The problem can occur with low audio files you want to listen to at high volume - so you have to crank up the volume. But then the next file can have a high mastering.

Did I miss your point, ken_lee? Or do I need some kind of hardware compressor/limiter?

is it a really nice mixer? if not, feed it back into your computer.

Posted by EddieZilker on Jan-05-2011 22:16:

quote:
Originally posted by ken_lee
i think he means for playback of mp3s. use normalizer in iTunes.

Doh! I just read that post.