Output Application Switch; Limiter On, Limiter Off - Mackie M-2600 Owner's Manual

OUTPUT APPLICATION SWITCH

The OUTPUT APPLICATION switch should
be configured before you turn on the amplifier.
This switch allows you to choose between three
different configurations:
LIMITER ON (TYPICAL). This is the
normal configuration: full-bandwidth audio
with protective limiting.
LIMITER OFF is also full bandwidth
audio, but without protective limiting.
LOW OUT (SUBWOOFER) mode, with
built-in low-pass filter, but no protective
limiting.
LIMITER ON, LIMITER OFF
The LIMITER is not designed
to alter your sound — it's
just there to protect your
speakers from the effects of
clipping. Its effect is virtually
transparent, meaning you
probably won't even notice any audible difference.
We recommend that you leave it engaged, hence
the TYPICAL label below the ON setting.
If you're working at quiet levels all the time,
or you've already placed a compressor/limiter
in the signal path, or if you just hate compression,
you can leave the LIMITER off.
The LIMITER works independently on each
channel. It senses when the amplifier channel
is about to be overdriven and attenuates the
overall level just enough to keep the signal
from clipping. Clipping occurs when the output
voltage no longer linearly follows the input
voltage and simply stops. This causes a sine
wave to "square off," and the average power
going into the speaker is roughly double that
of a sine wave. Square waves sound awful, and
could possibly damage your tweeters and your
reputation.
The LIMITER is especially handy when
you're working with loud output levels. Having
the signal spikes (kick drum, for instance)
attenuated a bit can actually increase the
apparent loudness of the overall mix without
diminishing the "power" behind the spikes.
Be Forewarned: With the LIMITER engaged,
you can still overdrive the amplifier into clipping
and cause distortion. It just takes a stronger
signal to do it. So even with the LIMITER
turned on, you should still pay close attention
to the front panel OL LEDs
you are hearing distortion or your speakers
start smoking (which is bad for their health).
, especially if
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