Audio Limiter… Is there a real one?

[Adolfo Rozenfeld]

Wayne: In my experience the FCP audio limiter works, but not just from the filter controls but in combination with an adjustment to the gain settings in the clip. Try to see if it works for you.
If it doesn’t, Soundtrack Pro has those Logic engineered compressor/limiter thigs.

Adolfo Rozenfeld
Buenos Aires – Argentina
https://www.adolforozenfeld.com
adolfo(AT)adolforozenfeld.com

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

[Adolfo Rozenfeld] “In my experience the FCP audio limiter works, but not just from the filter controls but in combination with an adjustment to the gain settings in the clip.”

I agree.

I use the FCP Compressor/Limiter every day. Sounds great.

As a starting point, adjust the Settings to an “all 2’s” formula:

Threshold (db) -20
Ratio 2
Attack Time 20
Release Time 200
Preserve Volume CHECKED (very important!)

Now click the viewer to display the actual audio track and set the Level to “2” or “3.”

Now, when you play the track it should be at a “more consistent” level.

You can play with my “all 2’s” formula if you want, but its a good starting point for compressing the levels without a lot of compressor “pumping.”
The “Threshold” setting will affect the clip the most… as you slide left, it brings more of the low levels UP.
The actual volume adjustment now comes from the “Level” slider on the actual audio track (and you can key-frame that if you want.)

[Adolfo Rozenfeld]

That’s great information, Thax!
It’s also nice that the conclusion I arrived at by playing with it gets confirmed!
The documentation for FCP’s audio filters is quite poor, especially considering how good is the documentation about almost everything else.

Adolfo Rozenfeld
Buenos Aires – Argentina
https://www.adolforozenfeld.com
adolfo(AT)adolforozenfeld.com

[Wayne Carey]

Thanks guys…. but my problem is that I don’t want to compress, just limit. I used to work for another production company that used the Sony PVW-2800 betacam recorders and they had limiters on them that worked really well. I’m looking for just a plain old peak limiter that I can say limit at -12 db, for example.

_____________________________

Wayne Carey
wcarey@strikeking.com

[Thaxter Clavemarlton]

You can adjust the settings for “limiting”.

But a “limiter” HAS to COMPRESS the levels above a certain threshold… how else could it work?

“Plain old” analog limiters (including your Sony deck) work just that way.

The “top” setting in the filter determines at what point the compression kicks in.

If you set it high enough, it won’t “bring up” the lower levels, but just compress the ones that go above a certain amount (as a limiter would).

Just play with the adjustments until you get the proper effect.