One way engineers like to use a limiter is to increase the overall loudness of a mix at the very end, but whether that’s the best use of them is debatable. Usually, though, we talk about limiting the mix bus, and limiter plugins universally round out a mastering chain. Limiters tend to be used on buses, such as a vocal bus where performances can sometimes peak wildly. They also do this transparently, whereas compressors can be colorful. But instead of processing the entire signal like a regular compressor, a limiter’s primary job is to prevent signals from going past a chosen ceiling. The general consensus defines a limiter as a compressor with a ratio of at least 10:1, going all the way to infinity.
Here is a modest sample of 10 of the best limiter plugins out there, both free and paid. Limiters are awesome plugins for catching a signal’s highest peaks in a way that doesn’t ruin the overall tonality and balance of an instrument, group, or mix.
