This is something I've been meaning to look into myself because I'm not quite sure what the best way to go about it is.

My problems:

1) As OP mentioned when browsing patches with DimPro I've had X2 crash but right before it does it makes a horrific noise that could potentially cause damage.

2) When scrolling up or down in the console or PC sometimes the cursor hooks into the faders/knobs and cranks something out of safe ranges.

Now I'm not sure a limiter is going to do much for a crash but it's worth a shot. I also think there might be a setting somewhere to change mouse behavior so that scrolling does not adjust parameters but I have not found it yet.

Basically I want to have the limiter on the Master bus but I do NOT want it to affect the mix in ANY way other than if there is a massive volume spike it gets limited. I'm worried about coloring the mix or having the limiter make me falsely believe I have reigned in any volume spikes. I want to be able to turn the limiter off at the end of mixing and have the exact same results as I did with it on.

Make sense?

Now if one of you smart fellows could recommend the best Limiter included with X2 to use (I upgraded from the X1 Production Suite so I think I got an extra limiter with that) and how to set it up so it only kicks in when something goes horribly awry (I don't want it to start limiting even if my levels are really loud... I want it to kick in when things get PAINFULLY loud) I would be ever so grateful.

Thanks.

I think Boost 11 sucks, but it is included. I have problems with the project muting (about half of the time) when using the Concrete limiter in PC. I have found a bunch of good free ones. Heres a good list. 

http://bedroomproducersblog.com/2011/07/24/bpb-freeware-studio-best-free-limiter-vstau-plugins/

I use a MASTER MIX bus for all final effects.

This feeds a MAIN OUT bus which sends the signal to the speakers.

The MAIN OUT buss has panipulator, meters, analysers, protection limiter (Set way high),...

AND::::  when bouncing the mix to tracks, from the MASTER MIX bus, the new tracks go to the MAIN OUT bus, bypassing all mix effects.  

So I am hearing the bounce as it was mixed, at the same volume, and can use the tools to analyse the mix.

I do not need to remember to disable effects, adjust volume, etc....

And the MAIN OUT is the first bus so it is way quick to adjust speaker volume without affecting the MASTER MIX levels.

And I do not have to have the hardware buses showing.

jm24


I use a MASTER MIX bus for all final effects.

This feeds a MAIN OUT bus which sends the signal to the speakers.

The MAIN OUT buss has panipulator, meters, analysers, protection limiter (Set way high),...

AND::::  when bouncing the mix to tracks, from the MASTER MIX bus, the new tracks go to the MAIN OUT bus, bypassing all mix effects.  

So I am hearing the bounce as it was mixed, at the same volume, and can use the tools to analyse the mix.

I do not need to remember to disable effects, adjust volume, etc....

And the MAIN OUT is the first bus so it is way quick to adjust speaker volume without affecting the MASTER MIX levels.

And I do not have to have the hardware buses showing.

Like that idea - makes a fair bit of sense, and would also let me add a little room EQ if needed without coloring the mix - nice post thanks :)

Grif

Melda's Limiter is the best free one I've ever heard. The problem with Boost11 is, it adds a bit of high end to the mix. There's a video on u-toob about it that Cakewalk put out several years ago. It's not designed to be transparent.

Melda is free, 64bit, supports Windows 8, and VST3. It's part of a huge suite of free plug-in's. I use them all the time now. They've all but replaced the Sonitus Suite for me.

Link

On a side note .... if you are concerned about volume spikes ... is there any way to set up a gate on the master bus or as a side chain to kick in at a certain db level? Maybe set your projects up with a 'Pre-Master' bus and put a Gate on it, then have that bus go to your 'Master'? I don't know if it would work, never tried something like that. Just brainstorming.

hmm... I don't think I'm yet smart enough for this. I was kind of hoping to just toss something on the master that cuts things at say +6dB that adds absolutely nothing to the sound.

:-/

Oh well. These things don't happen often. I'll just have to be careful.

Any compressor is a limiter when the ratio is 10:1 or greater. So it does have a few limiters included in it. The ratio setting the only difference between compressing and limiting. Yea Baby!!!!

Cj

Beep - try the Sonitus compressor with the limiter button engaged and no compression setting in the master bus fx bin.

Bub


Melda's Limiter is the best free one I've ever heard. The problem with Boost11 is, it adds a bit of high end to the mix. There's a video on u-toob about it that Cakewalk put out several years ago. It's not designed to be transparent.

Melda is free, 64bit, supports Windows 8, and VST3. It's part of a huge suite of free plug-in's. I use them all the time now. They've all but replaced the Sonitus Suite for me.

Link

On a side note .... if you are concerned about volume spikes ... is there any way to set up a gate on the master bus or as a side chain to kick in at a certain db level? Maybe set your projects up with a 'Pre-Master' bus and put a Gate on it, then have that bus go to your 'Master'? I don't know if it would work, never tried something like that. Just brainstorming.

WOW the entire free effects package looks great. just read through everything in the Melda free effects bundle. This is turning into a really good thread Thanks for sharing this Bub!

Okay. Thanks, scook. That other stuff being mentioned seemed overly complicated.

That just reminded me to go check for a disable scrolling on faders option too now that I have my DAW running.

Hope you're having a good day.