Hello Everyone,

Today I was playing with a softsynth that got stuck in a feedback loop.  I had to immediately shut off my monitors as I felt they were going to blow!
 
I was thinking, should I place a limiter on my master bus (just temporarily while I am tracking, removing before the mix process), just to protect my monitors?
 
If so, what limiter would you suggest with what settings?  I would not want the limiter to change or alter my audio AT ALL.  It's goal would JUST be to protect my speakers.

What do you guys think and do you do this in your own projects?
 
Thank You,
Adam

The only problem with this is that yiur entire mix is always passing through a limiter before it gets to your active monitors. Even if you set the limiter with a high threshold so most of time it does nothing, the problem is the sound of your mix is always having the sound of the limiter imposed over it. You would need to invest in a quality limiter that was transparent in sound. Not cheap.
Personally I would not do it.
 
(live PA for sure!) 
 
Most active monitors have protection built in which will save them. You are better off acting quickly when something like this happens. Just turn your monitor level down to zero or kill the noise etc.. or don't let it happen in the first place.

Hi Jeff,

Thank you for the response.   Yes, that is what I was afraid of, but not sure how that would be.  For instance, if I use Boost11, set the ceiling to -0.5db, but set the boost to "0", I was under the impression, at this point (as long as you are not near the -0.5db mark, the limiter is doing nothing and NOT effecting the sound at all.   
 
I thought a limiter does NOT color the sound, but only limits when you reach the ceiling set in the limiter.  Am i wrong on this?
 
Thank You,
Adam

You are correct. The limiter shouldn't color the sound as long as levels are well-below the threshold. However, depending on the limiter and its settings gain reduction can begin before the threshold is reached. I don't know about Boost11 specifically, as I don't use it. But as a general rule, if your mixes are peaking under -6dB and the limiter's threshold is set to 0dB there shouldn't be any coloration.
 
Do I do it myself? No. But then I'm usually dealing with samplers and live tracks, not synths so much, and usually at low volume. Plus my monitors have internal limiting for speaker protection (which I've accidentally tested).

 
Nano Patch+ Compact 2 Channel Passive Volume Controller
 
If I were SM Pro Audio, I'd have designed this with the mute integrated into the volume pot so you'd just have to slap the big knob to kill signal to the monitors, instead of pecking at the mute button.  I'd also have painted the knob red.
 
(I'm going to make my own, one of these days...)
 
 

you really want a hardware limiter protecting your monitors,
if you are going to go there.
 
better to have plenty of headroom,
and keep levels down at proper levels.
 
what do the pros do with their extremely expensive monitors?
 

Yes I was referring to hardware limiter between your mixer and your monitors. 
 
Putting a limiter on your stereo buss is only a part fix. 
 
And please don't use Boost 11.  It is the worst limiter on the planet!

Even a sound device with monitor control can help like Focusrite for example.
 

All of the posters above know a lot more than me and probably have better hearing.
 
I put Boost 11 on my master as a default on all projects with no gain and a 0Db limit.  It kept me from doing a lot of stupid things and kept me from getting as many audio dropouts from overloading.
 
I currently use the Concrete limiter the same way.
 
Works for me.  You can always turn it off when you get serious about mixing.
 
Glen
 

batsbrew
what do the pros do with their extremely expensive monitors?

The better powered speakers have failsafe limiting built in. However, that only protects the speakers and their amplifiers - not your ears.