limiter settings

[Uncle Psychosis]

Hey folks

I've got a GLX BLM-1 compressor/limiter which is a clone of the boss LMB-3.

I'm trying to set it just to tame any big peaks, maybe add a touch of sustain but nothing too major.

Any tips on setting it up? I've got the ratio quite high and the threshold too (the output from my M-2000 is really hot). I find it hard to hear any actual limiting though! Any good tips for working out what its doing?

Also, for this application, should it go before or after my dirt pedal? Thats the only other pedal I have. I know I can try it and see, but how would you do it (and why?)

 

[Bassmike62]

Hmm... I don't know that pedal, but I've been using an LMB-3 for about 2 years, set this way left to right: noon, 9, noon, 9. It's after dirt in the chain and I usually shut the limiter off when turning the dirt on. The dirt in question is supplied by a 60B fuzz patch.

 

[SGT. BAKER]

Any tips on setting it up? I've got the ratio quite high and the threshold too (the output from my M-2000 is really hot). I find it hard to hear any actual limiting though! Any good tips for working out what its doing?

Also, for this application, should it go before or after my dirt pedal? Thats the only other pedal I have. I know I can try it and see, but how would you do it (and why?)

I don´t know the BLM-1 but I have been using the LMB-3 for a while. The limiters are setting with high ratios from 10:1, 20:1 and ever more. The main thing is knowing how hot is your bass output. This is the key to determine where you gonna set your Threshold for it works like a real limiter. If you set to low you gonna kill all the dynamics, so you´d better choose a higher set close to 0. I believe that it will works a little bit better if you choose a lower ratio (for instance, 4:1) with a medium Threshold close to -12 dB´s. So it means that you should set your Ratio close to 10 o´clock and your Threshold 12 o´clock, rougly. You will limit some hard peaks but it keeps on the dynamics too.

Think that probably this can vary ´cause you´ll understand that it can be so hard to try giving some setting advice no hearing your bass and unknowing how hot output is it.

Finally I used to putting the limiter after my dirty pedals and envelope filter for avoid killing how they react to the input dynamics of my bass.

I hope that it helps you.