Compression, Limiting & Clipping

Dynamic processing is about deciding what happens when a signal gets loud. The three classic tools each handle that moment differently, and each one is suited to different parts of the mix.

• Limiter — a hard ceiling. Anything trying to go above the threshold gets pinned. Use it to catch stray peaks on individual tracks and as the final brick wall on a master.
• Clipper — same ceiling, but instead of pulling peaks down it lops them off. The trade-off is a bit of harmonic distortion in exchange for keeping the front-edge punch. Brilliant on drums; surprisingly useful on the master before the limiter.
• Compressor — the gentler tool. It pulls down loud moments by a chosen ratio over a chosen attack and release time. Use it to glue things together, change the envelope of a sound, or even out a wandering performance.