Limiting vs. Compression

Compression and limiting are more or less the same thing. Typically, the term limiter is used to indicate a device that is compressing with a ratio of 10:1 or higher. The word limit is used because it essentially limits the signals ability in any substantial way to go above the threshold.

A Brick Wall Limiter is a special type of limiter with an extremely high ratio (50:1 or greater), usually used with a high threshold that only is engaged right before the signal would distort.

Common Uses for Limiting

In electronics, a limiter is a circuit that allows signals below a set value to pass unaffected, as in a Class A amplifier, and clips off the peaks of stronger signals that exceed this set value, as in a Class C amplifier.

An FM radio receiver usually has at least one stage of amplification for this purpose. It provides a constant level of signal to the FM demodulator stage, reducing the effect of signal level changes in the output. If two or more signals are received at the same time, a high performance limiter stage can greatly reduce the effect of the weaker signals on the output. This is commonly referred to as the FM capture effect.

Generally, FM demodulators are not affected by amplitude variations, since the baseband is contained in the frequency deviations. Some detectors, including the Ratio Detector, inherently limit gain by a nature of the circuit design. In AM radio, the intelligence is located in the amplitude variations, and distortion can occur due to spurious signals that could cause the baseband to be misrepresented.

Again TC has a great Limiter, very easy to use with a nice interface.

Note: Equalization and other effects apply before reverb then compression and limiting!