So what's the difference between a compressor and a limiter?

[Aloha]

Allways thought they were the same thing just different names.

[genericperson]

its about the slope. a compressor will start catching the signal and gently squashing it at lower volume levels. a limiter will abruptly squash the loudest peaks, but leave the rest alone.

thats a simple explanation. so you use a compressor for your haircut, and the limiter to trim the sideburns.

as a basic idea...

[warhead]

Or use a limiter to keep your sideburns from growing at all nowadays...

War

[BeeGee]

When I try to explain the difference to a non-audio person, I say that they both reduce the dynamic range of a signal, but a Limiter does it by making the loud bits quieter, whereas a Compressor makes the quiet bits louder.

BG

[djui5]

Originally posted by genericperson
its about the slope. a compressor will start catching the signal and gently squashing it at lower volume levels. a limiter will abruptly squash the loudest peaks, but leave the rest alone.

thats a simple explanation. so you use a compressor for your haircut, and the limiter to trim the sideburns.

as a basic idea...

It's also a ratio thing...Limiters start at a 8:1 ratio while anything less is considered compression. Which would explain what generic said.

[RUSCO]

Originally posted by BeeGee
When I try to explain the difference to a non-audio person, I say that they both reduce the dynamic range of a signal, but a Limiter does it by making the loud bits quieter, whereas a Compressor makes the quiet bits louder.

BG

isn't that another way of twisting the gain makeup at the end?
i mean they both attenuate the signal and then make up for lost gain

limiters don't usually have variable attack/release constants like compressors do

[excellrec]

i've always been told it was the 10:1 ratio point that made whatver device switch over into limiting, or vice versa.

The real question is what's the difference between a flanger and a chorus!

[Stizz]

Originally posted by excellrec
The real question is what's the difference between a flanger and a chorus!

To quote TC Electronic:

"A Chorus/Flanger is basically a short Delay that is modulated by an LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator). The difference between Chorus and Flanging is the applied Delay time and the Feedback parameter in the Flanger. The modulation of the short Delay gives very small variations in pitch. These pitch changes blended with the direct sound gives you the Chorus/Flanger sound. A Chorus effect is typically used as a smoothing effect where the Flanger is more in the genre of "special effects".

[djui5]

Originally posted by excellrec
i've always been told it was the 10:1 ratio point that made whatver device switch over into limiting, or vice versa.

Maybe...I could have been wrong. 10:1 sounds better...

Anyone know for sure? Slip? Fletch? Thrill? Jules? Donald Trump? Pres. Bush? Chenney? What am I doing?

[PaRaNoId]

In my opinion I'd say whether you are limiting or compressing is determined by ratio, but even more by threshold. Like someone said earlier, if you are sqashing stuff that is quiet to medium loud, then you are compressing, but if you are looking to modify only certain peaks, then it is limiting. BTW: I have also heard that 10:1 and above is limiting....whatever works

[Wayne]

How about this; Compression uses lower ratios that extend well down into the signal; the whole thing gets compacted.
Limiting treats the tops, and more aggressively.
Wayne

[joeq]

Compression is like having your mother-in-law in the back seat.

Limiting is like seeing a cop in your rear view mirror. tutt

[djui5]

Originally posted by joeq
Compression is like having your mother-in-law in the back seat.

Limiting is like seeing a cop in your rear view mirror. tutt

I printed that one out...classic.