[aismackdemhoes]

One thing bLiNd didn't discuss, is how his snares get too loud.

[OverCoat]

hahaha

hi leifo?

[Splunkle]

Hot dang. bLiNd FTW.

Quick question to Zircon though: You mentioned that you had a compressor and a limiter on your master track, and that the limiter was there to keep the levels in check. I was under the impression that the compressor would do that for you. But you always have some sort of reason to do something, so I am preety sure I am missing something. Would you mind bringing me up to speed?

[Catlein]

The limiter could be there as a last resort thing. If one brave little wave fights hard enough and makes it to the 0db endline, the limiter will provide additional defenses.

Um... Zergrush?

[Yoozer]

Originally Posted by Splunkle

But you always have some sort of reason to do something, so I am preety sure I am missing something. Would you mind bringing me up to speed?

Not zircon, but you know the difference between a compressor and a limiter?

A limiter is essentially a compressor with an infinite ratio. Which means that if something gets above the level it gets squashed flat instead of bent. A limiter is indeed sort of a last line of defense; albeit that a recording that's mastered properly shouldn't have anything that's flat and at -0db anyway, because it means (unwanted) distortion.

Also, a good limiter shows it when there's clipping. A compressor still has a gain knob, and if it's turned up too much, it can still clip.

[SnappleMan]

Todays mastering standard is -0.1dB to -0.2dB, not 0dB.

These days, if anything hits 0dB it's pretty much considered clipping. But that doesn't stop idiotic rock and metal producers from overdoing it.

[zircon]

Yeah. It's kind of dumb. I usually don't quite go to 0db either, actually, but SLIGHTLY less just in case.

[GrayLightning]

Originally Posted by SnappleMan

Todays mastering standard is -0.1dB to -0.2dB, not 0dB.

These days, if anything hits 0dB it's pretty much considered clipping. But that doesn't stop idiotic rock and metal producers from overdoing it.

More than just them. I've seen so much professional releases lately hitting 0db! It's becoming an epidemic across the board.

[SirRus]

this is most certainly a n00b question, but what is a reliable program you all use to monitor the peak levels, and see if your songs are hitting 0 dB or not? Can you rest assured that if your song is not going above this level during the entireity of your song that it is free of clipping?

[OverCoat]

most software has dB meters in it, but any waveform editor will show you the FULL song [Audition, SoundForge, Goldwave, Audacity] and whether it goes above 0 dB or not, of course.