How do I turn off audio limiter?

What is an Audio Limiter?

An audio limiter is a type of dynamics processing tool used in audio production and sound engineering. It works by setting a maximum threshold on the output level of an audio signal to prevent clipping or distortion (Mastering box, 2022). The purpose of a limiter is to control sudden volume spikes and compress the dynamic range of the audio.

Audio limiters work by monitoring the input signal level. When the signal exceeds a defined threshold, the limiter engages to reduce the gain and prevent the signal from getting any louder. This creates an effect where the audio seems to “hit a ceiling” at the threshold level. Limiters have a high compression ratio, often 10:1 or higher, meaning a small increase in input level results in a large decrease in output gain (Practical Music Production, 2022).

Limiters allow you to increase the overall volume of the audio since you don’t have to worry about peaks clipping. They provide a safeguard against distortion while maintaining clarity. Limiters are commonly used when mastering tracks to maximize loudness without sacrificing audio quality.

Why Use an Audio Limiter?

The main reasons to use an audio limiter are to prevent clipping and distortion, protect speakers, and normalize volume.

Limiters prevent the signal from exceeding a set threshold, which can help avoid clipping or distortion from peaks that are too loud. As this article explains, “Limiting is used to increase loudness by increasing the quietest parts of a signal.” By boosting the quieter parts, the overall perceived volume is increased while preventing clipping of the louder peaks.

Limiting can also help protect speakers or headphone drivers. Without a limiter, loud transient peaks could potentially damage equipment by overexerting the speakers or amplifiers. Limiting provides a safeguard to prevent damage by restricting peaks to an acceptable level.

As well, limiters enable normalization of inconsistent volume levels. For example, enabling limiting when mastering can result in a track with a more consistent volume level from start to finish. Limiting boosts quieter sections so they are closer in volume to the louder sections. This creates a more normalized volume across the entire track.

Drawbacks of Audio Limiters

While limiters can help control sudden volume spikes, they also come with some potential drawbacks. One of the main disadvantages of using a limiter is that it can reduce the overall dynamics of the audio. As noted by Reddit users on r/edmproduction, “The only major disadvantage I can think of for using a limiter while mixing is that it may cause latency issues depending on the limiter. Also limiters compress the dynamic range which some argue kills the vibe” (Source).

By aggressively limiting volume peaks, the lower quieter sections of audio may also be raised, resulting in a compressed dynamic range. This can give the audio a constant loudness that lacks musical dynamics. As explained by Landr, “A limiter is a very aggressive way of reducing the dynamic range of a signal. Once you flatten those dynamics, you’ll never get them back” (Source).

Another potential drawback is that over-limiting can cause pumping and breathing artifacts as the limiter repeatedly kicks in to attenuate peaks. This can degrade the overall audio quality and clarity of the sound. As Soundkickers notes, “Over-limiting a track can lead to issues such as phase problems, lack of clarity, and a boomy or unclear mix” (Source). Limiters should therefore be used judiciously to avoid compromising the mix.

Checking if Audio Limiter is On

There are two main ways to check if the audio limiter is enabled:

First, look for a limiter indicator or display in your audio software. Most DAWs, streaming software, and audio editors will show when the limiter is active. This could be a simple on/off indicator, a display of the amount of gain reduction being applied, or both. If you see the limiter working, that’s a clear sign it is enabled.

Second, listen carefully to the audio playback. A limiter prevents clipping and distortion by rapidly reducing gain once the signal exceeds the threshold. So if loud peaks are abruptly cutting off instead of clipping, that points to the limiter catching those peaks. The transitions may sound unnatural if the limiter is working too aggressively.

According to The Web Around (source), “Listen for sections where the audio seems to be increasing in volume, then rapidly drops off.” This rapid gain reduction is the audible sign of a limiter kicking in.

Turning Off Audio Limiter in Windows

To disable the audio limiter in Windows 10 and 11, you need to access the sound settings and turn off a feature called “Loudness Equalization.” This equalization applies automatic amplification to soft sounds to help improve their audibility, effectively limiting loud volumes.[1]

Here are the steps to disable it:

Open the Sound settings panel by right-clicking the speaker icon in the system tray and selecting “Sounds.”
Go to the Playback tab and select your speaker or headphone device.

Click the “Properties” button.
On the Enhancements tab, uncheck the box next to “Loudness Equalization.”
Set the amplification level back to 100%.

Click “Apply” then “OK” to save the changes.

With loudness equalization disabled, any audio limiting effects will be turned off, restoring full dynamic range.

Turning Off Audio Limiter on Mac

The easiest way to turn off the audio limiter on a Mac is through the Audio MIDI Setup utility. Here are the steps:

Open Audio MIDI Setup, located in Applications > Utilities.
Select your audio output device from the list on the left.
In the settings on the right, uncheck the box next to “Use audio port for limit.”

Close Audio MIDI Setup. The limiter should now be disabled.

The “Use audio port for limit” setting enables the audio limiter to prevent distortion at high volumes. Unchecking this box turns off that limiting function so you can output audio at higher levels if desired. However, distortion may occur if playing extremely loud volumes through your Mac’s built-in speakers or standard headphone jack.

For more advanced audio settings beyond just disabling the limiter, you can explore the various options in Audio MIDI Setup. But for a quick and easy way to turn off limiting, simply unchecking that box is all you need to do. Just be careful about blasting high volumes that could potentially damage your hearing or speakers.

Disabling in Audio Editing Software

Many audio editing programs like Audacity have built-in audio limiting effects or plugins that can be disabled.

First, look in the preferences or settings menu of your audio software. There may be a setting to disable any limiting effects globally. For example, in Audacity’s Preferences > Recording, uncheck “Software playthrough” to avoid auto-limiting during recording (Audacity Manual).

Next, look through your audio effects and plugins. If you see an effect labeled “Limiter” or “Limiting”, disable it by unchecking it or removing it from the effect chain. This will stop that particular limiter from affecting your audio (Audacity Forum).

Finally, search the software forums and help docs to see if others have reported issues with limiting. There may be a workaround or patch available from the developer to resolve it.

Adjusting Limiter Settings

To avoid excessive processing by the limiter, you can adjust the settings to reduce the amount of gain reduction applied. Some key settings to adjust include:

Reduce amount of gain reduction – Lower the limiter’s ratio setting from 10:1 down towards 4:1. This lessens the amount of compression the limiter applies once the signal passes the threshold.

Increase threshold – Raise the threshold so that limiting only kicks in during the very loudest peaks. This prevents the limiter from constantly compressing the audio.
Fast attack and release times – Set the attack time to 1-10 ms and the release time to 10-100 ms. This helps the limiter quickly control peaks without heavy distortion or pumping.

Adjust these settings while listening to the loudest sections of your audio to hear how the processing changes. Using a slower attack time or lower ratio can make limiting more transparent. However, this also reduces how much the limiter can control peaks. Find the best balance for your specific audio.

Try Compression Instead

In some cases, using a compressor may be a better option than a limiter for controlling dynamics. Compressors provide more nuanced control over the dynamic range, allowing you to gently shape the sound rather than harshly limiting it. Here are some benefits of using compression instead of limiting:

More control over dynamics – With a compressor, you can finely tune parameters like ratio, threshold, attack, and release to achieve your desired amount of gain reduction. This gives you more options to tame peaks rather than just slamming a limiter on the signal.¹

Less distortion – Because a compressor works more gradually, it causes less distortion and harshness than the abrupt gain reduction of a limiter. This results in a more natural, higher quality sound.²

Retains transient punch – Fast transients like drum hits can trigger a limiter’s harsh gain reduction. A compressor responds more flexibly, allowing those punchy transients to come through while controlling the overall dynamic range. This preserves impact and detail.¹

For many applications like vocals, drums, and instrument busses, try using a compressor first before reaching for a limiter. With the right settings, compression can give you smoother and more musical control over dynamics.

When to Use a Limiter

Limiters are most commonly used in the final stage of audio mastering according to An Introduction to Limiters (and How to Use Them). At this stage, a limiter can help protect against sudden volume spikes and enhance the overall loudness of the track. Mastering engineers often use limiters to bring up the volume of a track to competitive levels heard on streaming platforms and radio while preventing clipping.

Limiters may also be used on individual instrument tracks if needed. For example, if a vocalist sings with inconsistent dynamics, putting a limiter on the vocal track can help even out the volume. This allows the vocals to sit better in the mix with other instruments. However, limiters should be used sparingly on individual tracks to avoid removing natural dynamics.

The key benefit of limiters is their ability to transparently boost loudness and control peaks. If used properly during mastering, they can make a track sound punchier and more professional without introducing audible compression or distortion. Mastering engineers rely on limiters to give mixes maximum impact.