Limiter or Compressor?

[Corvine]

In practical terms, what is the difference between a limiter and a compressor?

Also, Berhinger do a cheap limiter/enhance, is it worth trying, or is it as cheap and nasty as the price suggests?!

[clauster]

All limiters are compresors. Not all compressors are limiters.

A limiter is a compressor with a very high compression ratio and a fast attack time. It is there to stop anything above a certain level.

The Boss limiter/enhancer (of which I suspect the Behringer is a copy) has a a ratio control and is capable of some very subtle compression (so isn't actually a limiter after all, but can do limiting). It's also one of the better cheap pedal compressors so the Behringer could well be good for the price. There was a Boss LMB-3 up for sale for £30 on here last week. Don't know if it's gone yet.

[RandomBass]

I use a Boss LMB-3. It can do anything from gentle compression up to hard limiting, and I find the threshold to be a very useful range. The Behringer is a fairly good clone of the LMB, it seems to sound pretty much the same, but with a plastic body. If you can pick up a s/h LMB for about £30 or £40 it will be worthwhile, and will last forever. And if you decide you don't like it you will get your money back by selling it on here.

Also, with the compression ratio set to 1:1 (no compression at all), it can be used as a booster.

Cheers

Geoff

[paulpirie8]

These two pages will tell you just about everything you need to know about compressors and limiters:

[url="http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/howto.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/howto.shtml[/url]

[url="http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/limiter.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.com/articles/limiter.shtml[/url]

There's also lots of other useful stuff on that website such as the effect a compressor will have at certain points in your signal chain etc. And there are reviews for most compressors out there including the Behringer one you're talking about (although it's not very detailed).

Paul

[6v6]

+1 for the LMB-3, I've used one for years and it does the job for not much cash. If the Beringher clone is made out of plastic, I'd say get a used Boss instead.

[clauster]

I should add, I've been using the LMB-3 for the last few months after a sucession of modded Boss CS-3s and a few other pedal comps. It's been my favorite pedal comp bas the Maxon CP9.

I sold my LMB-3 a week or two ago, but only because I want to go to a rack compressor now

[51m0n]

A limiter also tends to be very interested in the shortest over possible (we are talking nano seconds), whereas many compressors are uninterested in the fastest peaks and actually effectively measure RMS over a small period of time rather than peak level.

[barkin]

[quote name='Corvine' timestamp='1377552103' post='2188843']
Also, Berhinger do a cheap limiter/enhance, is it worth trying, or is it as cheap and nasty as the price suggests?!
[/quote]

I've a Behringer BLE100. It's far better than I expected it to be and the plastic casing, which feels like it should have broken ages ago, is still intact.

[discreet]

I've owned the Behringer DC-9 (twice ) and it's the best budget compressor you'll get - for the money.
Well worth buying if you want to see if compression is for you, and you can move it on without much loss if you don't like it:

[url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/behrDC9.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/behrDC9.shtml[/url]

[Corvine]

Cool, thanks for the info guys.
I'm looking at an LMB-3 on ebay for about 35 quid. From what I can tell the Behringer is a clone, but guess the Boss will last longer. Also some reviews said that the Behringer has a bit of a hiss to it when not in use.
ovnilab looks like it can tell me everything else I need to know.

Cheers

[uncle psychosis]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1377604980' post='2189255']
I've owned the Behringer DC-9 (twice ) and it's the best budget compressor you'll get - for the money.
Well worth buying if you want to see if compression is for you, and you can move it on without much loss if you don't like it:

[url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/behrDC9.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.c...s/behrDC9.shtml[/url]
[/quote]

I really hated the DC-9 I had, but I can't remember why!

[Ancient Mariner]

I had a DC-9 - completely changed the tone, with a loss of bass frequencies. Maybe they fixed them a couple of years back?

To the OP - I have a GLX BLM-1 limiter that's a Boss clone you can have for 20 quid if you want to give it a try. All metal case (not plastic like Behr) excellent condition with velcro on the bottom. It worked well, but I just don't need it since I don't really play bass much right now & have all sorts of other kit. PM me if you're interested.

[Lozz196]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1377604980' post='2189255']
I've owned the Behringer DC-9 (twice ) and it's the best budget compressor you'll get - for the money.
Well worth buying if you want to see if compression is for you, and you can move it on without much loss if you don't like it:

[url="http://www.ovnilab.com/reviews/behrDC9.shtml"]http://www.ovnilab.c...s/behrDC9.shtml[/url]
[/quote]

I like these as well. As some say, you do get a loss of low-end, but if the pedal is going to be on all the time, well just up the lows on the amp. Good pedal at a good price.

[tonyquipment]

The lmb3 is a fine choice. From limiting to pure hard squash. I prefer squashed, that way my playing is always the same loudness throughout

Brick wall

[uncle psychosis]

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1377716227' post='2190850']
I had a DC-9 - completely changed the tone, [/quote]

Yes! Didn't like it at all.