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djglenn Wrote:Ok, everything makes sense. But let's say I have all my levels optimized. My DAW is putting out at the right level to my external soundcard. My soundcard (Toneport UX2) has level knobs, so I get those just right; then off to my mixer, where it gets the perfect level. Now wouldn't it still be possible for some 'rogue' sound (like a broken plugin) or something of the sort to come flying through and basically destroy the speakers?
I guess the limiter idea would work...but isn't there something simpler/cheaper out there? Like a 'kill switch' or 'fuse box' idea? For example, a little box you wire between the mixer and speakers that will just 'kill' the signal if it reaches above a certain point/db that you designate. Does that make sense?
Never heard of that, most people just use limiters in this case as this is pretty much what they were designed for. RNC's are just a bit more than $100 on ebay.
If the offending plugin is before your main output in the signal chain then a digital limiter should do the trick as well. What would get you is if the problem lies afterwards and this is where an analog limiter would be a failsafe.
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Limiter is the way to go.
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Ok, so limiter it is. With a digital limiter, I'd just slap that on the master out of my DAW, right?
And this is going to sound like a real noobie question, but 'RNC', you're referring to the FMR Audio 'Really Nice
Compressor?
Compressor......Limiter.....Compressor......Limiter.....?
I'm confused. I've heard of using two compressors to act as a limiter (or is it the other way around?)....so I'm thinking I'm looking at the wrong piece of gear?
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Yes the Really Nice Compressor.. A limiter is basically just a compressor with a ratio set to 10:1 or higher, along with a fast attack. Just crank the ratio all the way up on the RNC (25:1) and fastest attack (0.2ms) and you'd be good to go.
Now a digital brick wall limiter like a L2 is a bit different as it has a specfic ceiling control (say -0.3db) with which signal does not ever pass, something like the RNC or a compressor acting in a limiter mode won't do this. So it's not going to function in that type of scenario where you need abosulute level control. But in your case where you just want to stop level as a safety measure it will work just fine.
