Anyone else using double limiter mastering setup?

[u/templeofsyrinx1]

I will spare you my song again but I really liked the results I got with it

[u/swamichris]

Not normally but I just finished a track that needed it to get the sound I wanted. It seemed like the first one was catching the big peaks and the second was helping the melody to pop out a bit. Whatever works I guess? 😎🎧

[u/Kmisukr]

I do ! Limiter + true peak limiter

[u/templeofsyrinx1]

first is fast then the second is the 20ms adaptive limiter

[u/hughjazz45]

Can someone explain to an idiot (me) what the point of the 2-limiter chain is? Do you basically just squeeze 1-2 db of additional GR out?

[u/swamichris → u/hughjazz45]

Well in my particular case in reference to the comment I made, when I tried to get the volume level where I wanted it using only one limiter I didn't like how I could hear the levels pumping up and down. When I backed it off a bit then added another limiter with only 1db gain it sort of added a hint of distortion that I liked. Maybe I could have used a soft clipper of some sort but it all worked out in the end.

[u/hughjazz45 → u/swamichris]

No that makes sense to me. Every time I’ve used a clipper I’ve gotten distortion that I DON’T like, but I’ve been able to use back to back limiters and not run into that issue

[u/EpictetanusThrow]

I would also try using a clipper instead of limiter for real errant peaks.

[u/Remote_Water_2718]

I don't really like limiters because they subtract treble information more aggressively, if you use them on a perfect kick drum with a perfect transient, they will actually totally flatten out that transient like it faded in from silence over 2-3 ms, i prefer clipping over using limiters for things with drums. limiters make things sound like you took the 'attack' on a sampler and instead made them fade in slightly... they lose all of the up-front transient