Acceleration Limiter In Mastering

[garry_spectrum]

Hello Folks,

Would you please be so kind to share your thoughts regarding the following:

1) What is the main difference between an "acceleration limiter" aimed at limiting the top-end of the given audio recording and a de-esser tuned to reduce high frequency content by means of traditional highpass de-essing ?

2) Apart from the main idea of "If it sounds right then it's just right" what would be the key technical aspects and/or limitations that you would call upon when using either an acceleration limiter or de-esser in mastering ?

3) Please name hardware or software units that are in your opinion suitable for general mastering purposes (sharing additional information covering negative and/or positive experience is pretty much welcome) ?

Thank you in advance.

Kindly -

Garry Mkrtchyan

[Paul Gold]

Originally Posted by garry_spectrum

Hello Folks,
1) What is the main difference between an "acceleration limiter" aimed at limiting the top-end of the given audio recording and a de-esser tuned to reduce high frequency content by means of traditional highpass de-essing ?

Acceleration Limiter was what Neumann called the BSB74. Calling it a high frequency limiter is fine also. You could also call it a de-esser.

2) Apart from the main idea of "If it sounds right then it's just right" what would be the key technical aspects and/or limitations that you would call upon when using either an acceleration limiter or de-esser in mastering ?

The reason they called it an acceleration limiter is because it reduces excessive groove acceleration. This can be caused by sibilance or other high frequency information.

3) Please name hardware or software units that are in your opinion suitable for general mastering purposes (sharing additional information covering negative and/or positive experience is pretty much welcome) ?

Maselec MDS2. Weiss DS1.

[Cellotron]

fwiw - in the analog realm I use a pair of Empirical Labs DerrEsser EL-DS's and they work great for de-essing and high frequency limiting chores. I'll often run them configured in M/S. These are relatively affordable compared to the other options but still keep the integrity of the mix even when you put just the stereo mix through them - Untitled Document

In software one of the best de-essers out there is in fact free - Digital Fishphones "Spitfish" - digitalfishphones.com - free audio effects plugins

If I de-ess in the DAW I will select only the sibilant areas and isolate them so that only these places get processed and the rest of the audio stays untouched.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[Virtalahde]

I generally use Spitfish, but I'm always looking into other options.

Like Steve said, selective de-essing is a good thing. Lately I've been just using spectral repair tools if it's only a handful of ss's that bother me.

[garry_spectrum]

Thank you, gentlemen!