compressorlimiter

Compressor-limiter refers to a dynamics processing device or plugin that provides both compression and limiting in a single block. It is designed to reduce dynamic range by applying gain reduction to signals that exceed a set threshold, and to constrain peak levels to a defined ceiling, helping to avoid clipping in digital systems. It is used in mixing, mastering, broadcasting, and live sound.

Operation: The unit continuously monitors the input level with a detector and applies gain reduction according to a ratio and threshold. When the signal surpasses the threshold, the compressor portion reduces gain; if a limiter function is engaged, peaks are capped at the limiter threshold, often with a higher ratio or a brickwall characteristic. Attack and release times control how quickly reduction starts and ends; knee type (hard or soft) shapes how the reduction ramps up. Some devices offer true peak detection, sidechain inputs, and makeup gain to restore the overall loudness after reduction.

Types and configurations: Hardware units can be stereo, dual-mono, or multichannel; software plugins may include classic compressor models with an integrated limiter, multiband versions, or transitions between compression and limiting. Brickwall limiters yield the strictest peak control; soft-knee limiters emphasize natural-sounding limiting; multiband variants separate the signal into frequency bands to contain dynamics more precisely.

Usage considerations: In a signal chain, a compressor-limiter is often placed after other dynamics processors or used as the final limiter in mastering to achieve the target loudness while preserving transients. Metering and program material influence settings; makeup gain ensures consistent output level. Sidechain filtering and lookahead can further tailor the response to the material.