MOST Mixers Get this WRONG! | Clipping vs Limiting

Summary

In this informative video, Bobby Balo, a mixing and mastering engineer at Rayon Productions, explains the differences between limiters and clippers in audio production and when to use them for optimal results. He clarifies that limiters prevent audio signals from exceeding a set threshold, acting as a compressor with a fast attack and high ratio, which is ideal for maintaining the clarity and power of vocals and instruments. Clippers, on the other hand, instantly cut off peaks above the threshold, introducing distortion that can add aggression and power to dynamic audio sources like drums. Balo demonstrates the effects of both tools on audio signals and emphasizes the importance of understanding compression for effective use. He also provides a free guide on perfect compression in the video description for further learning. The video concludes with practical advice on using limiters for tonal control and clippers for adding punch to drum transients, while cautioning against using clippers on melodic or tonal elements to avoid unwanted distortion.

Takeaways

• 🎚️ **Understanding Limiters and Clippers**: A limiter prevents audio from exceeding a set threshold, acting like a compressor with a fast attack and high ratio, while a clipper has an instantaneous attack time, which shaves off peaks above the threshold.
• 📈 **Usage of Limiters**: Limiters are best used for controlling the overall level of a signal, particularly when a tight control over the final loudness is desired, such as on vocals, guitars, or bass.
• ✂️ **Usage of Clippers**: Clippers are ideal for adding aggression and power to dynamic audio sources like drums, where they can enhance the perception of impact without significantly altering the tone.
• 🔍 **Harmonic Distortion**: Limiters introduce quieter harmonics compared to clippers, which generate louder, odd-order harmonics that can be perceived as distortion.
• 🚫 **Avoiding Misuse**: Overdriving a limiter can lead to a buildup of distortion artifacts, and using a clipper on tonal instruments like bass or vocals can result in unwanted grit and harshness.
• 🔊 **Maximizing Track Density**: Limiters allow for maximizing the density of a track in a clean way by targeting the loudest parts and reducing their volume.
• 🎶 **Musical Impact**: Clippers can make drums feel more aggressive and impactful due to the perception of clipped transients as increased excitement, which a limiter may not replicate as effectively.
• 📉 **Visualizing Effects**: Using a plugin like Plugin Doctor with an oscilloscope can help visualize the differences in waveforms and harmonic content when using limiters and clippers.
• 🎛️ **Compression Knowledge**: A good understanding of compression is essential for effectively using limiting and clipping in audio production.
• 📚 **Free Resource**: The speaker offers a free guide on perfect compression for further understanding and setting the best parameters for music.
• 👂 **Listener Perception**: The perception of audio power and aggression is key when choosing between a limiter and a clipper, especially for rock ballads and other genres requiring punchy drums.
• ⚙️ **Mastering Strategy**: In mastering, a balanced approach might involve slight clipping to manage drum transients followed by limiting to maintain power and control tonal balance without adding unwanted distortion.

Q & A

What is the primary function of a limiter in audio production?

A limiter's primary function is to prevent the audio signal from exceeding a certain threshold by compressing the signal that goes above this level. It acts as a compressor with a very fast attack, short release times, and a high ratio.

How does a clipper differ from a limiter in its operation?

A clipper differs from a limiter in that it has an instantaneous attack time, which means it immediately shaves off any peaks that go above the threshold and sets them to the threshold level. This results in a more aggressive sound with added distortion.

What are the potential artifacts introduced by a limiter when limiting audio?

When a limiter is used, it introduces artifacts in the form of harmonics. These artifacts are usually quiet compared to the main signal and may not be very noticeable in the overall audio.

Why is a clipper considered to add more distortion to a signal than a limiter?

A clipper adds more distortion because it chops off the waveform's peaks, generating odd harmonics that are louder than those produced by a limiter. These harmonics can be as much as 10-12 dB louder, contributing to a more aggressive sound.

When would it be appropriate to use a clipper in audio production?

A clipper would be appropriate to use when you want to add aggression, anger, or abrasiveness to a signal. It is particularly useful for dynamic audio sources like drums, where it can enhance the perception of power without significantly degrading the sound quality.

Why might a limiter be preferred over a clipper for certain instruments?

A limiter is preferred for melodic or tonal instruments like vocals, guitars, or bass because it provides a cleaner sound without introducing the additional distortion that a clipper does. This helps maintain the purity of the tone and prevents unwanted artifacts.

What is the main issue with using a limiter on drums?

The main issue with using a limiter on drums is that it can reduce their power and impact, making them sound as if they are being turned down in the mix. This can lead to a loss of aggression and punch in the drum performance.

How can a clipper enhance the transients of drum sounds?

A clipper can enhance the transients of drum sounds by effectively targeting and attenuating the loudest parts without reducing the overall level of the drum. This can make the drums feel more aggressive and powerful, as if they are being hit harder.

What is the recommended approach when using both a clipper and a limiter in mastering?

When mastering, it is recommended to use a clipper first to shave down the drum transients, making them more manageable. Then, a limiter can be used to squeeze the track together, maintaining the power of the drums while keeping the other instruments sounding melodic and clean.

Why should one not use a clipper on bass or other tonal instruments?

Using a clipper on bass or other tonal instruments can result in an undesirable sound, adding harshness, grit, and unwanted distortion. This can detract from the instrument's melodic content and overall tonal quality.

What additional resource is offered for those interested in learning more about compression?

A free guide on perfect compression is offered, which provides strategies for using a compressor effectively and helps dial in the best settings for music production.

Outlines

00:00

🎚 Understanding Limiters and Clippers in Audio Production

This paragraph discusses the confusion between limiters and clippers in music production and aims to clarify their functions and appropriate usage. A limiter is described as a type of compressor with a very high ratio, fast attack, and short release that prevents audio from exceeding a set threshold. It's used to control the level of audio signals, particularly for maintaining a consistent loudness in a mix. The paragraph also introduces a free guide on perfect compression for further learning. The difference between a limiter and a clipper is illustrated using Plugin Doctor software, showing that limiters reduce volume above the threshold without altering the waveform's shape, while clippers shave off peaks instantaneously, which can introduce artifacts and harmonics.

05:00

📉 When to Use Limiters and Clippers for Audio Control

The second paragraph explains the specific scenarios in which to use limiters and clippers. Limiters are recommended for controlling the overall level of a signal, especially when precise control over the final loudness is desired, making them suitable for vocals, guitars, and bass where a clean sound is preferred. Clippers, on the other hand, are introduced as tools that can add aggression and distortion to a signal. They are particularly useful for dynamic audio sources like drums, where the clipping effect can enhance the perception of power and aggression without negatively impacting the overall sound quality. The paragraph also includes a practical demonstration of how a clipper can make drums sound more aggressive without losing their punch, as opposed to the cleaner but less powerful effect of a limiter.

10:03

🚫 Knowing When Not to Use Clippers in Audio Mixing

The final paragraph addresses when not to use clippers in audio mixing. It emphasizes that clippers can introduce unwanted distortion and grit, especially on tonal and melodic instruments like bass guitar where preserving the tone's purity is crucial. A comparison is made between the effects of a limiter and a clipper on a bass guitar, highlighting that a limiter provides a controlled and balanced sound without adding distortion, whereas a clipper can make the bass sound buzzy and harsh. The paragraph concludes with a recommendation for mastering situations, suggesting a combination of clipping to manage drum transients followed by limiting to maintain a melodic and non-distorted sound. It also invites viewers to share their experiences with limiting and clipping and promotes a downloadable guide for additional insights on using compressors, including limiters.

Keywords

💡Limiter

A limiter is an audio processing tool that prevents an audio signal from exceeding a certain threshold. It acts as a compressor with a very fast attack and a high ratio, ensuring that the audio does not go too high above the set threshold. In the video, the limiter is used to control the overall level of a signal, particularly for musical elements like vocals and bass, where a clean sound is desired.

💡Clipper

A clipper is similar to a limiter but with an instantaneous attack time, which means it immediately cuts off any peaks that exceed the threshold level. This process generates odd harmonics and can add distortion to the sound. In the context of the video, clippers are used to add aggression and power to dynamic audio sources like drums, without significantly altering the tonal quality.

💡Threshold

The threshold in audio processing refers to the level at which a limiter or clipper starts to act upon the audio signal. If the audio exceeds this level, the limiter or clipper will reduce the volume or clip the peaks accordingly. The video discusses adjusting the threshold to control the loudness and distortion characteristics of different audio elements.

💡Harmonics

Harmonics are additional frequencies that are integer multiples of the fundamental frequency. When audio is limited or clipped, it can generate harmonics that alter the sound's character. The video explains that limiters produce quieter harmonics compared to clippers, which generate louder, odd-order harmonics that can add a gritty texture to the sound.

💡Compression

Compression in audio is the process of reducing the dynamic range of an audio signal, making the loud parts quieter and the quiet parts louder. The video emphasizes the importance of understanding compression before effectively using limiters and clippers, as they are essentially advanced forms of compression with specific purposes.

💡Waveform

A waveform is a visual representation of an audio signal's amplitude over time. The video uses the oscilloscope to display waveforms and demonstrate how limiters and clippers affect the shape of the waveform, either by reducing amplitude above the threshold or by clipping the peaks.

💡Plugin Doctor

Plugin Doctor is a software mentioned in the video used for analyzing the effects of audio plugins. It helps visualize what happens under the hood of a limiter and a clipper, providing insights into how these tools process audio signals.

💡Transient

Transients are the short, high-energy peaks in an audio signal, often associated with the attack of percussive sounds like drums. The video discusses how clippers can be used to enhance the perception of these transients, making drums feel more aggressive without distorting the overall sound.

💡Distortion

Distortion in audio is the alteration or corruption of an audio signal, often resulting in a gritty or aggressive sound. The video contrasts the types of distortion introduced by limiters and clippers, noting that limiters introduce less noticeable distortion, while clippers can create a more pronounced effect.

💡Master Bus

The master bus in audio production refers to the final stereo channel that carries the mixed audio before it is sent for output or processing. The video mentions using limiters and clippers on the master bus to ensure tight control over the final loudness and character of the track.

💡Dynamic Range

Dynamic range is the difference between the quietest and loudest parts of an audio signal. The video discusses how limiters and clippers can be used to control the dynamic range, either by compressing it for a more balanced sound or by clipping for a more aggressive and powerful impact.

Highlights

The video discusses the use of limiters and clippers in music production and provides actionable advice on when to use them.

Limiters prevent audio from exceeding a certain threshold by compressing the signal, acting as a compressor with a fast attack and high ratio.

Clippers work similarly to limiters but with an instantaneous attack time, effectively shaving off peaks above the threshold.

Clipping introduces a significant amount of odd harmonics, which can be louder than the distortion from a limiter.

The use of a clipper can make drums feel more aggressive and powerful without reducing their volume.

Limiters are recommended for musical elements like vocals, guitars, and bass to maintain a clean and pure tone.

Clippers are ideal for dynamic audio sources like drums to retain their texture and aggression.

Overdriving a limiter can lead to a buildup of artifacts, reducing the power of drums in a mix.

A clipper can reinforce drum transients, making them sound more impactful without getting quieter in the mix.

Bobby Balo, the video's author, provides a free guide on perfect compression for further understanding of compression techniques.

Clipping is not recommended for tonal or melodic instruments like bass guitar as it can introduce unwanted distortion.

In mastering, a combination of clipping and limiting can be used to manage drum transients while maintaining the power and melodic quality of the track.

The video emphasizes the importance of understanding the differences between limiters and clippers to avoid negatively impacting the quality of music.

Using the wrong tool, like a limiter on drums, can reduce their power and make the mix sound less dense.

The presenter demonstrates the practical application of limiters and clippers on a rock ballad mix, showcasing the significant impact on the drums' perception.

A clipper can add aggression and grit to a signal, which may be desirable for certain genres or effects.

The video concludes with an invitation for viewers to share their experiences with limiting and clipping and to download the guide for more insights.

Transcripts

and if you mix these two things up your

music is going to suffer dearly lot of

people out there talking about when you

should be using limiters and Clippers

and no one's giving good actionable

advice so in this video today I'm going

to break down what a limiter is what a

Clipper is what they do and when you

should be using them and when you

shouldn't be using them there's a lot of

people mixing these two things up and

it's killing their music now to use

limiting and clipping effectively you're

going to want to have a good

understanding of compression so to help

you on your journey to understanding how

to use compression what it is the best

settings for your music go to the

description and download my free guide

on perfect compression this is going to

break down all the different strategies

for using a compressor on your music and

help you dial in the best settings

possible now the easiest way for me to

show you the difference between a

limiter and a Clipper is actually using

the software called plugin doctor but

this is going to give us basically an

analysis of what is actually going on

under the hood of a limiter and a

Clipper so I have waves L1 and I have

little Clipper by boss digital I have

the oscilloscope set to 1 khz and this

is the waveform that we have going in

okay so this is what we're feeding into

these two different plugins okay let's

start with the limiter now the way

limiters work is that if your signal or

your audio goes above a threshold it's

going to basically stomp that signal

down so that it doesn't really exceed

the threshold that much so it's

basically acting as a compressor with

really fast attack in usually really

short release times in a really high

ratio okay that's going to keep our

signal from going too high above our

threshold let's see what it looks like

digitally so here's our signal you can

see it fed into this plug-in here's the

level of that that 1,00 HZ signal if we

do any adjustment above that signal

nothing changes to the waveform if we

start bringing that threshold below our

signal now we're starting to get a

limiting effect on this signal okay so

all it's really doing is smashing down

all the volume that's above that

threshold to that limit okay that's why

it's called a limiter and usually it

does this relatively cleanly let me show

you what the harmonics look like okay so

these are all the different artifacts

that happen when we start limiting audio

okay as we go below our threshold

immediately when we hit our waveform

we're introducing artifacts okay so you

can see a number of harmonics that are

generated and these are relatively quiet

compared to our our main signal so our

signal is sitting here at -15 and the

first artifact that we see at the first

harmonic is like at minus 84 DB that's

very very very quiet okay so the

Distortion that's introduced from a

limiter is pretty quiet okay so this is

stuff that we probably won't hear that

much now if you start really overdriving

it these things can build up now another

way to visualize this is by doing

something like this where we have two

signals we have this quiet signal and

then loud signal so this is kind of like

a drum transient this is like a snare

drum or kick drum or something now as we

lower our

threshold only the louder signal is

being attenuated okay and when we get to

the same level as the quiet signal and

we keep going now we're attenuating

everything and reducing the volume so

this is essentially how a limiter works

is it targets the loudest parts of your

audio and then lowers them down that

allows you to maximize the amount of

density in your track in a relatively

clean way let's take a look at a Clipper

now you can think of a Clipper as

basically a limiter but it's attack time

is instantaneous meaning it just shaves

off whatever Peak goes above it and sets

it to our threshold level we'll start

with the oscilloscope again as I bring

our threshold down on our Clipper watch

what happens to the tops of these

waveforms it's clipping the top so

that's where the name comes from and if

we go back to our limiter EX example and

we go down it maintains the shape of

that waveform right it's not clipping

the top off whereas when we use a

Clipper we literally are chopping the

waveform off so let's see what that does

in terms of the harmonic content or the

Distortion that it generates so if we go

to our harmonic analysis we can see it's

a very clean 1 khz signal and watch what

happens as soon as I bring this down

below the threshold bam explosion of

harmonics these are all odd harmonics

that are generated okay and this is

mathematically what happens when you

clip a signal and they're pretty loud uh

we're seeing these harmonics as loud as-

70 so that's like 10 12 DB louder than a

limiter now some people might think oh

that's really bad but you're going to

see in a little bit it's not that bad

this has some very unique advantages

that we need to know if we want to make

loud powerful Punchy music and just for

sake of completeness I'm going to show

you the loud and quiet signals when we

have a Clipper so as you start

decreasing your threshold you can see

it's clipping the top of the louder

signal first and these are staying nice

and rounded and as we keep going then

all of a sudden now everything is being

clipped so again it's going to Target

the loudest signals first when we use

these Clippers in our music that is an

important concept that I want you to

remember so now that we know how

limiters and Clippers work let's talk

about when and why you would use these

tools so you would use either a Clipper

a limiter if you're just trying to

control the overall level of a signal

especially if you want very tight

control over the final loudness of that

track people use limits and Clippers on

guitars drums Master bus anything where

we want to really make sure that nothing

jumps out of a mix now here is some

critically important advice that you

have to remember the limiters are very

clean sounding and they're clean because

they don't chop the top off of our

waveform so that makes limiters really

really useful when you have something

very musical something like a vocal

something like guitars or Bass now the

beauty of a Clipper is that it

introduces a lot of distortion now this

can either be good Distortion or bad

depending on the source for most musical

stuff we don't want to add a bunch of

odd order harmonics if we don't need to

because it just makes the tone less pure

unless you're going for a kind of a

gritty distorted sound then that's

totally fine so when would you use a

Clipper then remember Clippers add a lot

of Distortion so if you want to add

anger aggression abrasiveness to a

signal a Clipper is a great tool to use

now something most people want are drums

that are loud and aggressive but we all

know distorted drums don't sound very

good but here's the magic of a Clipper

for audio sources that are really

dynamic in nature like drums it's only

acting on them for a tiny fraction of

time so our ears perceive the clipping

of drum transients as almost like

excitement of the drum transient so your

snare drums will actually feel like

they're getting hit harder and they're

more aggressive same thing with the kick

drum whereas a limiter is going to do it

in a very clean way that just makes it

feel softer and not have as much power

behind it so for material that has a lot

of transing information a Clipper is

probably the Ideal tool to use over

limiter if you want to retain the

texture and the aggression of that tone

and you will not believe how big of a

difference this is and I'm going to

bring you into to a session right now

and show you so this track is called

Love and War it's something that I mix

for a band called once around and if you

like this song or anything I have all

the artist information in the

[Music]

description so it's this big like Rock

ballad right now we want these drums to

be slamming and if we put a limiter

thinking that that is going to help us

make everything louder we're going to be

gravely mistaken and very very sad and

emotional that our drums suck now

because they have no power let me show

[Music]

you all right so we have nice big Punchy

roomy drums right so let's see what

happens when I put waves L2 on this kick

and snare now I want you to listen for

the power and the impact that the snare

and kick drum have here we go

[Music]

do you notice how it just sounds like

they're getting turned down more and

more and more in the mix we could have

just done that by taking the volume and

turning it down and down and down right

that's not really helping us make the

kick and snare more dense and Powerful

in the mix so this is the main problem

with using limiters is it just has the

impression of turning it down it doesn't

maintain the aggression in the level

let's see what a Clipper sounds like all

right here we

[Music]

go okay here we go now we're

[Music]

attenuating you hear how the drums never

got quieter right they just sound almost

the same or maybe a little bit more

aggressive okay those Distortion

characteristics so the Clipper is

actually reinforcing the drum transients

wild right check this out let's go back

to the limiter and we'll set it to the

exact same level and we're going to

switch back and forth between the two

here we go so the yellow is bypassed

okay so we're going to start with the

sound of these drums with the limiter

here we

[Music]

go

clipper

[Music]

you can hear the snare drum has like a

little bit more snap to it now and it

stays Punchy and it doesn't get quieter

whereas the limiter kind of makes it

feel like we're just turning everything

down that is a massive difference and I

see so many people that always go and

use limiters on their drums and I really

think it's killing the power of your

drums so now let's talk about when not

to use a Clipper okay let's go over to

like the base guitar bass is extremely

tonal it carries The Melody of all the

instruments right for the most part

unless you're some weird aveng guard

bass player and you just kind of do solo

the whole time or whatever all right so

now let's limit the base and see what

happens to the tone as we start limiting

[Applause]

this

so the bass really isn't changing any of

its tonal characteristics right it just

sounds like it's a little bit tighter

more controlled and that's it we're not

adding Distortion it's not crunchy it

just feels very balanced and controlled

and if we were to do a ton of limiting

like this we're doing 18 DB you can just

increase the gain

[Music]

and now you just have a very controlled

base tone that's super level and

consistent which is what you need in a

dense rock song so you don't have weird

fluctuations we try to do the same thing

using a Clipper check this out it sucks

it's not

[Applause]

good do you hear how it's starting to

get get really sizzly and Buzzy and like

almost

[Applause]

irritating

garbage it's like harsh and gritty and

gross sounds like your bass player went

to a flea market and bought a really

crappy distortion pedal probably the

orange one that everybody gets when

they're like 12 years old so Clippers

don't always sound good on everything so

again the key is if you have lots of

transing information you want to use the

Clipper on those types of instruments

right drum tracks and that's pretty much

it as far as I'm concerned anything that

melodic or tonal like a voice or a

guitar or Bass use limiters do not use

Clippers unless you need extra layers of

aggression and grit now in a mastering

situation you kind of have to wrestle

with both you have some transient

information from drums and you have all

the tonal information from all those

other instruments in those circumstances

what I actually recommend doing is

clipping a little bit to shave down the

drum transients make it more manageable

and then squeezing the track together

with the limiter that's going to

maintain the power of your drums and

then that limiter will then go in and

keep things sounding melodic and not

adding a layer Distortion now I'm so

curious to hear about when you use

limiting or clipping let me know in the

comments also did you think it even made

a difference in the track let me know as

well it's all these tiny little tricks

that add up over time they're going to

help you make professional sounding

music and if you want even more tricks

on how to dial in compressors including

limiters I have that free downloadable

guide in the description so don't forget

to grab that before you leave my name is

Bobby Balo I'm the mixi and mastering

engineer at rayon Productions and I'll

see you in another video