Deithering & Limiter

[Sweck]

Is is ok to put a limiter in the chain after a dither in the master channel?

[Alexey Lukin]

This may cause truncation or re-dithering, depending on your DAW.

[Sweck]

Im using cubase 5, On my 24bit master it's 0db, when the deither is added to change to 16bit i clip, so i was using an l2 after the uv22r to stop that and was wondering if thats a bad thing to cap it.

[Alexey Lukin]

Dithering will increase your level by less than 0.01 dB (typically 0.001 dB), so I wouldn't care about clipping.

If you want to keep it perfect, apply your limiter before converting to 16 bits and leave 0.1 dB headroom for dither.

[Sweck]

I dont care but my visitors do when they see red.

I didnt quite get the last bit you said, basically ive a 24 bit in the daw mastered already, the only thing applied is the uv then the l2 which is fine theres no difference i can hear apart from no red which keeps every1 happy, just wondering if thats ok

[Alexey Lukin]

Apply gain of -0.1 dB to your 24-bit master and then dither it to 16 bits.

[huejahfink]

You could just drop the gain by few cents before printing to 16bit with the dither? (EDIT : SNAP ^^^)
You're really not going to lose anything meaningful IME.
If you are keen to remain bit-transparent though, use a limiter that stays bit-transparent when not in reduction. I'm sure there are many, but I know that TC Brickwall Limiter is completely 1:1 at unity unless reducing a peak.

[Greg Reierson]

Originally Posted by Sweck

Is is ok to put a limiter in the chain after a dither in the master channel?

No. That would bring your word length right back up to the max of your system (i.e. 32 bit, 64 bit).

Always dither last. No exceptions.


GR

[wado1942]

Originally Posted by Sweck

I dont care but my visitors do when they see red.

Wait, so your clients want you to degrade their recordings for the sake of faux loudness as long as the red light isn't saying the computer is on to them?

Any way, I usually leave .2dB headroom on my masters for CD, a little more for AAC/MP3 downloads. Most pros would be hard pressed to hear a .5dB reduction in output level, especially without comparing it directly to the louder version, forget the common man hearing a .2dB reduction.