Clipper vs. Limiter vs. Maximizer: What's The Difference?

Toronto music producer 5PiECE explains the difference between a clipper, limiter and maximizer and when to use each in a mixing situation.
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🔊 PLUGINS USED IN THIS VIDEO 🔊
SiR Audiotools StandardCLIP - bit.ly/3D9EbFX
Waves L3 Ultramaximizer - bit.ly/3yvdiui
FabFilter Pro L2 - bit.ly/3rZyNA6
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5PiECE - Late Night (Supported by FACTOR - Coming Soon)
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⏰ TIMESTAMPS ⏰
0:00 Introduction
1:45 Why Use Any of These Processes?
2:27 Clippers
8:02 Limiters & Maximizers
10:17 Setting Up Maximizer
12:43 Setting Up Limiter
13:15 Comparing All 3 Processes
15:59 Lesson Summary
17:53 How I Use These Processes In My Mixing
18:55 Conclusion
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Copyright 5PiECE Music 2021

[@5piece]

At 13:15 I mentioned that I manually matched the volume of each process in post-production. To elaborate: This is the ONLY section that has volume matched like this after-the-fact. I basically turned down the volume of each particular process when the plugin is enabled. So for example, from when the clipper is engaged until it was disabled, I would decrease the entire audio clip by 1-2db to match the volume of the other processes. I would repeat this again for the maximizer and limiter uniquely, reducing each by whatever was needed to hit the same level as the clipper. I left the unprocessed moments as-is. I did this because some processes (particularly the clipper) were blatantly louder than the others which made discerning between them a bit more challenging. It was also nice to hear the nuances between each without volume impairing judgement ✅ Louder will always come off as "better" after all, but this adjustment should make it easier to judge and hear the differences without the bias of volume. Ironically, after doing this, the limiter went from my preferred choice to perhaps my least preferred. The maximizer climbed the opposite way to my top choice. I'm curious: which of the 3 did you prefer: clipper, maximizer or limiter? Comment your choice below

[@reese3344]

No disrespect full respect, I love how smaller channels actually dispense valuable information, while the bigger ones are strictly for entertainment. Got a gem channel right here for surely

[@5piece]

Thank you Reese! No disrespect taken. Progress can at times be a slow process but seems like we both know where this channel is headed 🚀 thanks for the kind words 🙏🏼

[@officiallistengreatmuzik]

True

[@TheEncouragementKid]

how would this be disrespectful? to the bigger channels?

[@recay2658]

Amazing tutorial really got the answers I was looking for. Thank you for spending the time to explain, most underrated channel of 2022 wish you the best bro

[@5piece]

Anytime Recay! I always wondered this answer myself so glad I could help you too 👊🏼 i appreciate the kind words 🙏🏼

[@LosFicosMusic]

I WAITED 10 YEARS FOR THIS EXPLANATION! THANKS

[@5piece]

Agreed 😂 I was in the same boat. Sometimes if you want something done, you gotta do it yourself! Thanks for watching! 👊🏼

[@nf5856]

super clear and helpful explanations, thank you and appreciate your videos😊

[@5piece]

Glad to be of service! Thanks for watching and commenting NF 🙏🏼

[@gokhan9395]

Great explanation thank you

[@ashcatlt]

As you adjust the soft clipping fader, the left side of the graph moves up, indicating that it is adding gain. It was putting out peaks above its clipping threshold because of oversampling.

[@DanielPetre]

Good video. I am not using Waves plugins anymore but your video makes me wanna stop using my Venomode Maximizer 3 and just tweak the TDR Limiter 6 GE !instead !

[@CostasCh]

What i like to do, is to try all these plus distortion plugins like Saturn on every individual sound on my tracks seeing what fit best without alter the sound character too drastically.

[@takeshi_shinyama]

Appreciate you sir so much😁

[@julianoviedo2775]

What do you think would be the disadvantages of using soft clipper apart from the distortion they add, some say it makes the song feel smaller, what do you think?

[@shawna0515]

Thx!

[@StudioBuster]

good video !

[@5piece]

Appreciate you Studio Buster!

[@mixmattj2157]

On a clipper leave the input gain , play with the clipper threshold an output gain

[@PharaohLawLess1]

Finally someone put it in Layman’s terms that an old head like me can understand

[@5piece]

This was a pretty convoluted topic until I dug into it myself 😂 Glad I could help you with that!

[@BennoOriginal]

The beat way is clipper,maxmaizer and last in the chain limiter thats the biggist move for lowend and hasrhness

[@MegaDoubl]

is serial limiting a thing ? 😅

[@5piece]

Absolutely ! I do it all the time on masters to drive up the volume without totally crushing a track.

[@Huntermusic17]

So they have the L1 maximizer and the L2 maximizer? Russell Wilson face

[@5piece]

Lest we forget the L3 Multimaximizer. The countdown continues 😂

[@hankslucas8]

🌵 mix trap modern vocals

[@5piece]

Notes for future videos. Thanks for the suggestion 👊🏼

[@UzziVila]

That intro beat is not it 😭 lemme send you sumn

[@zabavno2112]

When I make a beat and the customer asks for a wav.stereo beat on which he will record vocals, backing vocals and mix whether I pump it with a clipper or not and if I pump it with a clipper whether he will have trouble mixing?

[@5piece]

They may have an issue but providing clients with loud, steady-mastered instrumentals is fairly common in todays world of leased beats. I’ve certainly mixed plenty of vocals to beats that are already mastered using limiters, clippers and other plugins. Sure, it’s not as ideal as having the trackouts (for maximum control) but sometimes the mastering (and clipping) achieves a sound that the mixer can’t always replicate. If you’re really concerned, it may be a good idea to bounce out a version with and without mastering (and clipping) so the client has options for either scenario. Hope this helps 🤙🏼

[@zabavno2112]

@@5piece thx mate ,you helped me a lot!