How to Get LOUD Masters: Clippers vs. Limiters Explained

Sep 09, 2021 | 94,871 Views

Do you know the real difference between clippers and limiters? Hear how the sound of limiting compares to soft clipping, hard clipping and the original signal, and learn when to use each one for super-loud mixes and masters.

One of the quickest ways to get a loud mix is with a limiter, but many argue that clippers are better. Which do you prefer and why? There’s no right or wrong answer here. In this video, we discuss the main technical differences between clipping and limiting, how each sound, and when you should consider using one over the other in certain mix and master applications.

0:00 Introduction
0:36 Example #1– Hear the difference between clipping and limiting
0:53 What’s the differences between clipping and limiting?
1:40 Example #2 – Hear the difference between clipping and limiting on a master
3:01 When should I use a clipper?
3:30 When should I use a limiter?
3:59 What else can clipping and limiting achieve in a mix?
4:28 Example #3 – Compare clipping and limiting
5:15 Sign off - Which do you prefer?

If you’re new to mixing, this tutorial will prime you with the essential information you need to get loud mixes fast. We also recommend Infected Mushroom Pusher - an all-in-one mastering suite - as it provides a built-in level matched clipper/limiter you can use to compare the sounds of clipping and limiting in your music in just one click!

Discover more Limiter plugins from Waves Audio here.

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