OK, no one explains the difference correctly, so I'll do it here. Imagine we have a 44.1KHz, 16-bit PCM digital audio format for export. Each of the 44,100 samples per second (one stream for left and one for right) has a value between -32768 to 32767 (signed, twos-complement 16-bit binary). But, our DAW uses 32-bit or 64-bit floating-point internally, so there are values allowed outside this range (that's why you can go into the red on your individual and even master tracks all over the place but not distort). In the final PCM file, however, such values aren't allowed. What do we do with values outside this range (from -96db to 0db, 6db per bit)? A clipper simply takes anything less than -32768 and makes it -32768; it takes anything greater than 32767 and makes it 32767. That is, a clipper *throws aways* information. This has the effect of saturation or distortion depending on how far out of range the sample values are. A limiter, in contrast, *scales* out-of-range values by multiplying by a value less than 1.0. Now, how this clipping and limiting is actually done is where the differences in individual clippers and limiters comes in (the more clever they are, usually the better, but cleverness induces latency). Some, actually most if not all, limiters look ahead, some clippers look ahead, and act on *groups* of sample values. What about that over-sampling value you can set on some clippers and limiters? So, if we have four sample values: 32766, 32767, 32767, 32766, you can guess what the value between the two 32767 values would be if we created, with oversampling, some intermediate value(s): it would be *greater* than 32767. That's a *true peak* value: it's what the waveform would look like when it's reconstructed by the D/A conversion on output. So, even though there's no sample in an audio file that's greater than 0db (32767 or less than -32768), there can still be a peak above 0db *after* the signal is reconstructed for presentation to a speaker (or over-sampled). So, clippers *throw away* information by just chopping sample values; limiters try to preserve dynamics and harmonics by *scaling* sample values (a compressor *scales* by the ratio, for example). Scaling can preserve more of the original information, though it clearly cannot preserve all of it (unless you scale *all* samples, which is the same as turning down the volume). Also, the issue here is *crest factor,* which is the difference between the peak value and RMS value of your sound. If you can get a low crest factor, you have the potential to make your final, exported mix loud without too much distortion from either clipping or limiting. And, clipping and limiting serve to reduce crest factor. That's the reason you can use saturation on a, say, cymbal sound and reduce it's peak value while actually making it *sound* louder: saturation takes the energy of the transient and spreads it around with harmonics that don't change the sound much but reduce the transient/peak energy: this serves to reduce the *crest factor* of the sound. There's plenty more to say, but, I've said my peace.

@NateCooperino

2 жыл бұрын

I wish there were more people on the internet like you. This has been really good to know and I dont even know where I'd begin to learn the technical aspects like this

@KarlGutowski

2 жыл бұрын

I'm a number's geek, so I might be into what you have to say, but you should really consider where you are, and how you present yourself. You invited yourself to dinner and took a shit on the banquet table as soon a you arrived. After reading your first sentence and seeing a giant block of text that follows it, I imagine you sound like Matt Damon in Team America when you talk, because what you're actually saying is... "Look at me! I'm Brian Case, the superior explainer! I know a thing! I know it so well, I must trash another guy's video explanation to PROVE to all you blebs that I know it BETTER! I don't care that he actually mastered thousands of songs! While he had a career in mastering, I was reading and studying and learning so I can be superior! I don't care that for most people my superior explanation is completely unnecessary and impractical, I will tell you anyway! I will tell you about sampling rates and bits and crest factors, and R-muthafking-S. I know ALL the best jargon words! I'm Brian Case! Me! Me! Me!"

@briancase6180

2 жыл бұрын

@@KarlGutowski OK, thanks for the constructive criticism.

@VAIBHAVSINGHMUSIC

2 жыл бұрын

@@KarlGutowski gosh! Sir, in case you learnt something from his comment that you feel was right and untold. Just thank and move on!! And if not, ignore and move on. Doesn't matter if it was "Me" "You" or "Us"

@PluieDeLarmes

Жыл бұрын

@@KarlGutowski Finally you’re the genius here right ?

This is an awesome, easy to understand explanation of this. Thanks! I am most definitely going to be checking out more videos on mastering, it has always intimidated me.

I like your tutorials because they are short but contain so much information.

So awesome. This info is suuuuuuuper helpful. Well explained. Thanks Streaky for helping take the guesswork out of understanding this tech.

Thanks for the explanation, Streaky, and for all the helpful videos. Merry Christmas and all the best in 2021.

What a wonderful human being you are Streaky! I know its all part of the marketing plan and you also sell great products and courses, but the amount of knowledge you are willing to share online for free is just out of this world. You are truly a legend for helping people this much, my biggest respect and compliments, you are truly one of a kind!

You really are giving it all away! Good on ya, never thought i would see the day for using a clipper on program material before a limiter? Makes perfect sense now!👍

Awesome video Streaky. Cleaning up the peaks before going into the limiter. Then using the limiter to just smash the track.

Streaky, you're really awesome man! Thanks for this stuff.

Amazing demonstration ! Thank you so much for this one :)

Thanks for the video Streaky!!! Very good stuff!!

Great vid Streaky .great knowledge your sharing here. Keep up the good work .

Now I understand just how to use a clipper with a limiter. Thank you love your content some of the best out there.

So well explained and really helpful, absolutely brilliant

Wow this was so straight forward. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you! this was very helpful, especially the part about how limiters can sound different! I use the one in Logic Pro and really like it but i am going to try some other ones.

Dude you are an absolute legend! I've been a mix/mastering engineer for 12 years. I own Manic Recording Studio in Toronto. You have by FAR the most helpful, insightful and thoughtful content on the internet when it comes to the world of audio! Thank you for your service.

Ace. Didn't even know there was such a thing as a 'clipper'. just Used it to tame some Acoustic guitar spikes . Thanks, Streaky !

I did ask about this clipper thing few days ago on your insta dm and here is the explanation and demo great🙌

Bro i hope u had a great holiday. 👍🏽 can never thank you enough for what you do for us

I was asking me what's best between clipper and limiter and how to use both of them, and this is your video for my birthday 💯 Thanks Streaky 🔥

Following the lead and results get better. Cheers Streaky 👍🏿!!

I find myself watching more and more of Streaky's videos. He doesn't explain things like he's talking to another engineer. He explains things like he is NOT talking to another engineer.

@davidevans1420

3 жыл бұрын

And that is the difference between a good teacher and an outstanding teacher. The outstanding teacher is the one that understands that not everyone gets what's between taught equally across the board and can bring anyone and everyone along...

@_TheViewer_

3 жыл бұрын

Bet Underbelly would be the dude for you !

This is the most informative video on these two very different plug-ins.

You definitely know the subject i'm in right now! :)

This is my new favorite channel. These engineer channels are usually full of super long videos with some boring guy and and awful/irrelevant music. The music on this channel is always amazing and the videos are easy to follow along to.

SUPERB TUTORIAL , AS ALWAYS STREAKY

Following the lead and results get better.Good luck Streaky

i really appreciate the way you break down things so thanks you

Ive been producing for 14 years and never looked into clippers. Im excited to experiment now - ive always struggled to get loud yet transparent masters. Thankyou 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Been using the Brainworx bx_XL v2 for a while now. Really love it! The clipper intrigues me though. Doing a lot of jazz artists where the dynamic swings greatly.....the clipper could be interesting. Thanks Jedi Streaky!!!!

i literally discover mastering world since january 2021 to apply on my beats and i can tell that this trick is the best i learned so far.

The only mixing and mastering channel worth watching.

@theoldtreespot

3 жыл бұрын

Yeah, a lot of youtubers give techniques without the knowledge of how (to the full extent) and when to use it - Streaky with 25 years (!!!!!) of knowledge and experience is teaching us - AND HE'S DOIN IT FOR FREE!

Nice one! Keep up the good work!

I use Kclip by kazrog. Sometimes I prefer also adding an exciter before the limiter. Or just shaping or rounding of some peaks with unfiltered audio zip with a very tiny threshold and gain reduction. Usually just a couple of dB. I was inspired using an exciter by an ozone 9 preset as a goto mastering chain.

AWESOME! Though it's 2 years old of content, this is still quite relevant and helpful! Thanks!!!

I hate the loudness wars, but I used Flatline on my mix for the first time and it really unified the whole thing, made it easier to listen to loud and even brought out lots of the details.

@eXpas04

Жыл бұрын

i love the loudness wars

The video I’ve been waiting for

@deja0entendu

3 жыл бұрын

Do a video on the Gainstation

carnage ~ "it makes everything very very way more super louder"

Thank you! ❤

Great advice every time

Cheers mate, really appreciate this content! Interested about the limiter sandwich too

Thanks for the very helpful information!

Great video and explanation!

Hi Streaky, thanks for all the tips. Any chance you could do a video (or a few) about how to combine some of them? For example, how you would combine a Glue compressor, Luxury Low Mids, Dynamic EQ, etc. on the mixbus. Any particular order? Are there some combinations that work better than others? I'm thinking more about mixing here rather than mastering. Cheers!

Back in the day I did the clipping trick using the analog input stage on my ADC. It was a colossal pain the butt. Now I use KClip or DMG Limitless and I’m much more relaxed.

Hi there. Nice one Streaky. I like 1:1 way of using clipper. 👍🤓

Thanks for the cool tips man.

I believe you're gonna get that 50k Family🙏👍🏽🔥

keep up the good work boss man !!!

So excited of new Clipper plugin by Acustica, came here to really study further about clippers.

Great video. Thanks

nice ez explanation from the start!

that was super useful

You ask... Streaky delivers!! thank u

Helpful vid. Subscribed.

Very useful, thanks very much. Liked and subsribed!

bro mixed and mastered as long as im on this planet just existing

Very nice video!!!

Best of all

Oxford inflator is amazing, no idea wtf it does but you get increased loudness with no loss in dynamics, no compression etc My chain for my drums is ssl bus comp, saturn2,Oxford inflator,soothe,limiter

Awesome video

great video thank you

I tend to always run a clipper before my final limiter

That FLATLINE clipper looks good

thank you very much

That lil tidbit at 8:00 maks so much sense!!

Thanks a bunch man !! Really a good insight towards using clippers without a fear from now onwards... Believe this has been a secret receipe for SUPER LOUD but yet undistorted masters so far! ... But not a secret anymore!!! Thanks millions Streaky.... Please suggest the best clipper plugins as you move ahead.... Cheers!🎉🎉🎉🎉👊👊👍

Hey Steaky! Great video. I use mostly 3 clippers: UAD Elysia Alpha Compressor (it has a built-in clipper many people never mention and it sounds killer!), Kazrog KClip3, and Event Horizon by Steelwell. It all depends on the material of course. I use clippers on almost every group as well as some individual tracks if necessary. Do you have any favorite clippers we should know about, Streaky?

My favorite clipper is the TRS Classic Clipper by IK Multimedia. It is $49 but often goes on sale or even free, so you should definitely check it out!

@J_Costa15

3 жыл бұрын

YES this is my favorite thing to use in mastering! I just got it for free and it sounds so much better than a limiter

@weet1574

3 жыл бұрын

how do you get it for free?

@AveDelta

3 жыл бұрын

They gave it away a couple months ago!

@kingkahlo

3 жыл бұрын

Agreed on drum bus I think it sounds insane!

@simonriley983

3 жыл бұрын

@@weet1574 befriending a pirate

Great video. Thanks for addressing the 90's start of the loudness wars. So I guess the TC Finalizer was responsible for squashing. I read their site and it seems that the soft clipper in the Finalizer was invented to emulate the sound of driving tape.Is this the reason why most AD converters don't clip well? Are the high end AD converters that clip well relying on a soft clipping circuit to handle clipping before it hands it off to the digital conversion algorithm?

Thanks mate

invisible limiter also sounds good to me, I use both Pro L2 with invisible ;)

When I first found out about clippers a top tier engineer (in my niche scene) told me to put sausage fattener on the mix bus, touch nothing on it and drive signal into it, if there’s issues hitting the loudness target then the issue is in the mix. Now I’m wayyyyy down the rabbit hole with clipping, so far down i can’t find my way out.. I’ve heard kclip is really good but haven’t tried it yet

Freeware Gclip is a good one. It has a waveform display too has you set it.

@Bumper210

3 жыл бұрын

Can confirm, it's so good

@nebroskitheraut6705

3 жыл бұрын

Free Clip for me, i dont really like GClip that much

Getting my daily Streak!!

Learned something new today... not studied clipper at all... new thing to dive into now

Thanks, this was very helpful! Quick question, did I read somewhere that you opt to have the true peak limiting on the L2, off by default?

Great!

Another great video. I've just bought the Pro L2. I know you've done many videos but any chance of a in depth overview of all the settings on the pro L2 and what to adjust / look for dependant on what you're hearing. Maybe a break down of the default settings i.e modern, transparent etc. Top man, I genuinely look forward to your videos 👍

@Streaky_com

3 жыл бұрын

I must have done this in the past search my channel for a review ✌🏻

jeez that sub in the intro is still freaking me out - thanks ;D

i turned that like button on maaan :D

Hello Streaky, thank you for that great content! Can you do the same video about Maximizer vs. Limiter?

@cervantesroger

3 жыл бұрын

if your thinking “ozone maximizer” there is just no difference, it’s a limiter (with the added transient emphasis control, which is a transient shaper BEFORE the limiter so that you can emphasize those transients to compensate for the effect of that limiter squashing them)

I think I'm starting to get a hang of this. I've been a noob all my life

Would love a video on true peak and when to use it

Now I'm learning!!!!!!

Great video, I'm interested what is considered the best mastering grade, (best sounding) and transparent clipper circa 2024?

I'm assuming you wouldn't want to have the threshold so low on the clipper before feeding into the compressor, right? Just have it clip off any crazy peaks that would cause the compressor to wildly over-correct?

Hey streaky could you do a video on softubes weiss ds1 mk3 plug-in ? Can you see if it’s good compared to the hardware unit

I remember when I opened up Depeche Mode’s “precious” in soundforge 15 years ago, and it looked like a solid rectangle. But it sounded pretty good.

@stealthis

3 жыл бұрын

Good?

Needed a clipper on the "WelcomeBack" ! :)

Since i limit and clip my mixes sound loud and awesome. What is do for instance is grouping kick and snare and than clip the kick and snare when they play together so the limiter is not reacting to the snare only

❤️❤️

C L I P before you L I M I T >>> Instantly changed my masters!!. Thanks master

I sent you a band type song to demo if you like. I say "band type" because I'm the only member, haha! Thanks for all you do for the community.

Is what you've explained all for the master bus when mixing, or when mastering? Thanks!

i was wondering, couldn't I also use two instances of the ProL2, the first one with adjusted output according to the gain (moving gain while holding option) so that it does not push into the brickwall, but still cuts off the tops (transients etc) and giving me kinda the same as the clipper, and then the second instance of ProL2 where you move the gain without holding shift and pushing it into the brickwall.

😍

try the T-Racks Clipper,is also ultra cool

So how would I use it in a vocal chain? DeEssar, eq, clipper, limiter, compressor, and then eq or how would I use implement it into a vocal chain?