Topmusicanswers
The attack and release parameters determine how quickly limiting is applied to the input signal and how quickly it returns to an uncompressed state. Limiters generally tend to have fast attacks — try to set your attack time to be as short as possible, without loosing impact. The release time can be a little trickier.
- Should I use a limiter when mastering?
- What should release on limiter be?
- What does release on a limiter do?
Should I use a limiter when mastering?
Limiting will change the sound of a recording. Reducing transients can cause things to become dull. Overuse of limiting will result in a thin, harsh recording that lacks dynamics. The goal of a mastering engineer is to apply a necessary amount of peak limiting in the most transparent way possible.
What should release on limiter be?
In general, then, the ideal would be a fast release for very loud but brief transients (to avoid punching holes and to retain the impression of loudness), and a slow release for modest peaks, so that a more gentle and subtle level control is applied.
What does release on a limiter do?
The release control determines how quickly the limiter stops working after the signal drops below the threshold. If it is overly long, you will hear audible pumping, while if it is too short, distortion artifacts may result.
