EAW DX1208 Help File page 40

In general the difference between compressors and limiters lies principally in the way they are
configured and used rather than how the DSP processes actually function. Compressors are
traditionally used to reduce the dynamic range of signals to within a nominal range that is
compatible with the acceptable dynamic range of the entire sound reproduction chain
(including amplifiers and speakers) within the context of the acoustic environment in which
they are placed. Compressors generally have lower ratios (i.e. less than 4), and thresholds
set blow or near the nominal signal level of the system.
Limiters, on the other hand, are used to place a limit on the maximum peak level of a signal in
order to prevent clipping (in the analog or digital domain), or to protect downstream devices
such as amplifiers and speakers from damage due to clipping and/or driving components
above their rated maximum operating levels. Therefore limiters typical use extremely high
ratios (from 10 to Infinity) to prevent the signal from exceeding the absolute limit set by the
threshold, thresholds at or near signal clip levels, and fast attack times to quickly suppress
transient overloads. They also use hard-knee compression so that signals can get as close to
the threshold as possible before gain reduction is applied (which adds THD when very fast
attack and release times are used.)
The DX1208 gives you the flexibility to configure the Output Limiter as a Limiter, Compressor,
or AGC. Because the Limiter occurs AFTER the Output Fader, the DX1208 Limiter prevents
amplifier overload caused by any other gain stage in the DX1208 Output. How you decide to
use the Output Limiter is completely dependent on your application.
AGC
Description
As with the Input Channel Compressors, the Output Channel Limiters can also function as
Automatic Gain Controls (AGC). See the Input Channel
information on the Output Channel AGCs.
Delay
Description
Each of the eight DX1208 Output Channels is equipped with a digital Delay that occurs
between the Limiter and the D/A converters in the DX1208 signal chain. Delays can be used
to time-align individual drivers within a speaker system (used in combination with the
Crossover Filters), or an array of distributed speakers so that sounds from each speaker arrive
at the same time within a designated listening area.
Parameters
•
Delay Output Channels can be individually delayed in single-sample
increments (1 sample = 20.83 µs at 48 kHz), up to [2000 ms].
AGC section of this helpfile for
40