My basic limiting readings and how much..

[slightly]

Hi, second post..
(must go back n read first again)

Anyway, I'm managing to do some
Things just about right at this stage,
Not too shabby with an eq.
.. I think just right amount of compression
With near enough good settings..

Don't know why but I always reach for waves
Pie compressor/limiter after I compress using
Softtube tube tech..

I never make things louder with
The compression stage, just more controlled,
And reading input levels into the 'pie limiter'
Always have reduced gain enough to
Be just under the zero reading..

Somewhere and it plays on my mind,
I read limiting tracks should read -3db

I try not to look at meters til end, and up
To now what sounds about right just
So happens to read thereabouts -3db
Limiting,

On a bd track I'm tried to get safely right,
This time, I can hear using the pie compressers
At limiting that threshold at -10 is too much,
-8 just enough or at least I'm happy with,

Then I set the decay time of the'pie' to
Setting: '16' a good bit etc

This sounds just about right but for once
I'm at -1 ish not near -3

Long winded but is -3db some ideal setting
Like I read or
Would even the tiniest amount of limiting
Be fine and not result in something
Too 'heavy' or untaimed?

Any little guideline tips would be nice here..

..and this time I didn't use search=
Too many sites today with too many
Results to wade through!
Thanks

[sambrox]

If it sounds right, it IS right!

[Hugh Robjohns]

If you mean: is 3dB of limiting gain reduction when polishing a mix optimal? I'd say pretty much, yes.

Hugh

[slightly]

more on individual tracks i.e a typical drum machine bassdrum

after some controlling compression, which using softtube tube tech I lower the "gain"
therefore reading just below zero on input of the Waves PIE Comp./Limiter

Have yet to reduce more than 3db(limiting).. read on some random site this(-3db) would be typical of "limiting"

because I don't go beyond this thus far: -3db with the limiting, i'm not bothered "should I do more"
that sounds okay to me, but is there some minimum value, ideal attentution of-3db when,
on this occasion hitting thereabout sounds not good and just hitting -1db sounds more natural.

is even a small bit of reduction good enough if ever, cause I do find it a "polishing" application?

and: "if it sounds good, it is" is acceptable too, I'm just inexperience and not totally trustworthy of my judgements
or my ears, even on a good day!

[MadManDan]

If it sounds right, it IS right!

Exactly. Twist knobs,listen carefully, then look at the meters.

I worked with pro comps/limiters for four years before ever seeing an LA2A. Then I watched an engineer using one to cut a vocal.

Sounded smooth, composed, no pumping. Then out of curiosity I watched the gain reduction meter and that thing was swinging way back, like a stripper on a pole!

Lesson learned:Use your ears first, eyes next.

MMD