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Subject:Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Posted by: drbam
Date:1/2/2005 3:30:23 PM
Anyone have any recommendations for a budget brick wall limiter. I have an ongoing gig editing some lectures and converting them to mp3 for student's to review. The original recording is handled by someone else (to an ibook using Peak LE) and they are keeping the levels way down in an attempt to avoid the occasional over (which happens anyway). My thought is to insert a limiter in order to get some decent levels and better S/N. This is strictly a low budget operation with quality expectations only good enough for the students to review the lectures. I just would like to make my editing job a bit easier and thought this might be a solution. Thanks in advance for any suggestions. drbam |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: rraud
Date:1/2/2005 4:26:39 PM
I don't know if Wave Hammer is included with budget edition of SF(???), but Wave Hammer does the job nicely and has a pre-limiter compressor stage. The limiter/maximizer stage will absolutly not exceed the adj. output level. On other comps, try cranking the ratio to Inf. :1. There is some decent freeware out there as well, but you'll have to search for that. |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: drbam
Date:1/2/2005 8:07:09 PM
Sorry I wasn't specific enough. I'm referring to a hardware limiter. I've got tons of plugin's but I'm wanting to get a better signal (hotter- but without risking overs) at the source recording. Thanks, drbam |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: Rednroll
Date:1/3/2005 6:56:00 AM
I've always have been a big fan of DBX compressors. They make some pretty good sounding affordable compressors/limiters. A limiter is nothing more than a compressor with a compression ratio greater than 10:1....so just because it doesn't have the name limiter on it, don't disregard it as an option. For your application I would recommend the DBX 286a mic channel strip. You get the most bang for the buck because, you get a decent mic/pre, followed by a limiter/compressor, a de-esser, enhancer, and phantom power all in one compact affordable 1 rack unit space. Here's a list of DBX products along with their prices if you would like to read up on them a little more. I wasn't sure of where your "budget" starts, but these are some good choices for budget pricing. DBX 286A $200 http://www.dbxpro.com/286A.htm DBX 1066 $400 http://www.dbxpro.com/1066.htm DBX 160A $400 http://www.dbxpro.com/160A.htm DBX 166XL $250 http://www.dbxpro.com/166XL.htm DBX 266XL $150 http://www.dbxpro.com/266XL.htm |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: drbam
Date:1/3/2005 7:59:00 AM
Thanks Red! Yes I thought about using a channel strip but that would also introduce another challenge in terms of the live sound system (increased feedback potential). The lecture hall is quite terrible in this regard. I'd prefer to have the limiter after the house sound. The 2 track mix has an independent level going to it. I think I'll try an old Alesis NanoCompressor that's been laying around here unused for several years. I'll insert it prior to the 2 track which theoretically should do what I'm wanting. drbam |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: rraud
Date:1/3/2005 11:29:01 AM
In terms of hardware comp/limiters, I agree with Red; dbx, but the nano comp will work. If the house mixer has an auxillery send available, that can be used to feed a recorder which will have no effect the house mix. A pre-fader send will not have the channel EQ or fader if they are EQing for the house and playing with the levels, which may help the recording. Some times these aux sends are labeled as "Effects" (post) and "Mon." (pre)... if you have not been around a lot of mixers. |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: drbam
Date:1/3/2005 12:15:39 PM
>>If the house mixer has an auxillery send available, that can be used to feed a recorder which will have no effect the house mix<< Yes, thanks – this is the way we've routed it. drbam |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: farss
Date:1/4/2005 4:00:32 AM
Someone somewhere told be about a Behringer box that they assured me was pretty good, Shark DSP 110, compressor/limiter, feedback destroyer, delay line, mic pre, phantom power USD 189 or better. Bob. |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: Rednroll
Date:1/4/2005 7:46:01 AM
"a Behringer box that they assured me was pretty good" My experience with Behringer equipment is that it is ok for the cheap price, but every piece of Behringer gear I have ever used has been too noisy for my tastes to record thru. The only piece of Behringer gear I now have is a headphone amp. Even this is pretty noisy if you turn the headphones up loud, but works great at moderate levels. |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: dbOS://00
Date:1/5/2005 8:51:17 PM
Behringers are fragile, I had a composer mdx2200 that worked well until one of the knobs broke. Now only one side of the compressor works. Noise was only an issue when the compressor was close to wall warts, and other electrical appliances, and when unbalanced cables were used. I think I got mine on used on ebay for around $60 shipping included. Behringer gear is interesting because it's inexpensive, two out of the three behringer products I have owned met my expectations, and one broke. They are noisy at higher settings though. Because of their price it is easy to indulge curiosity. If I were you, I'd try one of the dbX compressors, I have read far fewer complaints about dbX than I have about Behringer. |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: dpvollmer
Date:1/6/2005 1:07:08 PM
I found the Shark to be extremely noisy. Might be OK for PA but not for recording. David Vollmer |
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Subject:RE: Budget Brick Wall Limiter
Reply by: RiRo
Date:1/8/2005 12:01:53 AM
I agree with red. I have one of the Shark DSPs and it is useless. Too much noise and sounds WAY digital. I didn't like the Alesis either... too noisy. DBX gets my nod. Now... if it is really low quality... the Alesis will work. But it is miles ahead of the Behringer. RiRo |