18
GainStation 8
Limiter
To achieve the desired results with the integrated limiter, it is
important to understand its operation. The threshold value is
fixed at 20 dBu. The clean and/or tube gain settings determine
the amount of limiting, so that these settings more or less work
like a threshold control. When the limiter is activated, it levels
everything above 20 dBu. The orange 18 dB LED, which displays
this level range, varies in brightness depending on limiting. The
actual amount of limiting is displayed by the Limit LED, which
becomes brighter as more level reduction is applied.
The peak limiter sounds different with the tube stage activated,
since leveling occurs somewhat asymmetrically with the tube in
the signal path, so that the negative half-wave is leveled with a
much flatter curve.
To determine the ideal limiter setting for the internal converter,
activate the peak limiting mode and adjust the Clean and/or
Tube Gain to a setting well above your working level, so that
the Limit LED illuminates brightly. Then reduce the Output Level
until the AD OVL LED goes out. Now your gain levels can be
returned to their normal settings and the limiter can be switched
into FET mode if desired. The same method should be used with
an external converter, except that in this case the external unit‘s
clip LED is used for calibration. If you are only using the FET
limiter and your program material contains few fast transients,
the output level can be set somewhat higher.
Operation
