Manual

26
2.4 Limiter
From a level profile perspective, a limiter is essentially the same as a compressor with its
ration set to infinity. However, the use of much faster attack times with a somewhat different
dynamic behaviour allows faster and more effective reduction of peak levels. Historically,
limiters were developed mainly for radio transmission systems where absolute limits on
modulation were needed.
In this situation, simple saturation was not useful, since the HF energy produced by signal
clipping could still breach modulation limits. The earliest limiter designs were mostly fast
attack slow release types, designed to minimise audibility problems. Since then many
different designs and much more complex methods have been developed. And more recently,
using limiting and its side effects has almost become an artistic exercise in itself, being partly
responsible for the recent trends for absolute maximum modulation and loudness, currently
favoured amongst producers and broadcasters of popular music. As a result of this expanding
trend for stylised dynamic control, the demarcation between limiting, compression and even
EQ has become increasingly blurred, as an increasing number of ever more complex devices
become available that make use of all of these functions in a quest to produce impressive
results.
The Oxford plug-in limiter, however, is presented as an entirely separate and direct process
that is designed and optimised specifically for highly efficient and musical peak limiting
functionality. Despite being simple and intuitive to understand and operate, superior results
can be obtained from highly accurate level and timing behaviour, making optimal use of
look-ahead processing that acts on signal peaks prior to their arrival at the gain control
element. Although the limiter is designed to complement the compressor section of the plug-
in, it can be equally well used as a stand alone application for enhanced peak level control
and programme modulation maximisation.