Hard Limiter - Audacity Manual

# Hard Limiter

### From Audacity Manual

Hard Limiter is like an extreme compressor effect, reducing the dynamic range of the audio. Where the waveform exceeds the level set in "dB limit" it is clipped down, so reducing the peak level.

Hard Limiter can also sometimes be used to remove stubborn clicks that peak well above the general level of the waveform. See the tutorial Sample workflow for LP digitization for tips on using Hard Limiter to remove clicks.

  Accessed by: Effect > Hard Limiter...

To avoid excessive distortion arising from the clipping, this effect should be used in moderation. If the result sounds distorted during loud parts, try raising the "dB Limit" and/or the "Residue level".

## Effect Settings

### dB limit

The amplitude level above which the input signal is processed. If the Wet level and Residue level settings are left at default, the peak level of the result will be clipped down to this level.

### Wet level

The amount of the clipped signal that is fed to the output. It thus acts as a volume control for audio below the dB limit. If left at default level of 1.0, all sounds below the dB limit are fed to the output. At settings below 1.0, the volume of the result will be reduced.

### Residue level

This allows a proportion of the signal that has been removed by clipping to be added back to the output. By default the value is 0.0 and so all of the clipped signal is discarded. By raising this level, some of the clipped signal will be restored, making the limit softer. More peaks and troughs of the original waveform will be retained, and the resultant volume level will be higher than that set in the dB limit.

Special effect: If you turn the Residue level full up to 1.0 and the Wet level full down to 0.0, you will hear only the pieces of waveform that are above the dB limit you choose.

## Real-time preview

This effect supports Real-time preview - effect settings can be changed while playing and listening to the result in real-time. Text-based button controls are provided as in the image above. The Enable checkbox acts like a live "Bypass" control. Uncheck the checkbox Enable to hear the audio without the effect applied, and recheck the box Enable to hear the effect applied at its current settings.

The Manage button accesses choices to add, delete, import or export presets for this effect and to set options for this effect.

## Links

|< Index of Effects, Generators and Analyzers

|< Effect Menu

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