Master Limiter

The Master Limiter can be used to maximize the level of the mix. It will typically be used in the last effect slot of the Master section.

Note that the output signal will be delayed by the amount of time set by the Ahead control.

Master Limiter window (Level History display in Pro Plus edition only, Professional edition has a LED bar display.)

Drive controls the amount of amplification.

The Master Limiter 'looks ahead into the future', so it can turn down the level before the signal peaks. Ahead controls how far the limiter will look into the future. The attack time of the limiter depends on the Ahead control (the shorter this time, the faster the attack).

The Master Limiter automatically optimizes the limiter's release time (ie. the time it takes to turn up the level again after the signal peaked) to ensure fast release times while keeping distortion low. The Release control acts as a multiplier for this signal.

The level is always limited just below the digital full scale level (-0.3 dB). This small margin serves to avoid distortion in samplerate converters, CD players, soundcards etc.

Use the Keep Level button when comparing the sound using the Master Limiter to the sound without it (by toggling the Bypass button). The Keep Level button compensates for the gain that's applied by the Drive knob, so the signals have equal levels.

Professional Edition:
The level meter shows the amount of gain reduction. Usually 3 to 5 dB reduction on loud peaks is optimal.

Pro Plus Edition:
The Level History shows the relative amount of time the input signal is at a certain level (the higher the bar, the more time). Also, the current input level is shown horizontally at the bottom. This Level History makes it very easy to set up the Drive knob. There's a dark green 'curtain' on the right side of the display that can be moved using the Drive knob. The signal bars that are covered by the curtain are limited. The statistic display will be reset when either the Transport is started or the Limiter window pops up.

In short, setting up the Master Limiter goes like this:

• Make sure the Master Limiter's window is on screen.
• Press the Space bar to start the Transport, play the whole song and press the Space bar again to stop.
• Adjust the Drive knob so that the 'curtain' covers just the small bars that will probably be on the right.