Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Why clipping before the limiter is ruining masters and how to do it right.
Clipping before the limiter is the new craze in mastering. It works. You get more headroom into your limiter and your master comes out louder and punchier. But most people are taking it too far and damaging their masters.
Here's the rule. The goal of clipping is to clip as much as you can without hearing the effect of the clipper. The second you can hear it doing something, you've gone too far. Transparent clipping is the goal, not audible clipping.
Around 2dB of clipping is my safe point. That gives the limiter less to do and the master more punch, without smashing the life out of the drums or making the master sound distorted.
How much are you clipping before the limiter? Drop it in the comments.
#mastering #clipping #limiter #masteringtips #musicproduction
Why clipping before the limiter is ruining masters and how to do it right.
Clipping before the limiter is the new craze in mastering. It works. You get more headroom into your limiter and your master comes out louder and punchier. But most people are taking it too far and damaging their masters.
Here's the rule. The goal of clipping is to clip as much as you can without hearing the effect of the clipper. The second you can hear it doing something, you've gone too far. Transparent clipping is the goal, not audible clipping.
Around 2dB of clipping is my safe point. That gives the limiter less to do and the master more punch, without smashing the life out of the drums or making the master sound distorted.
How much are you clipping before the limiter? Drop it in the comments.
#mastering #clipping #limiter #masteringtips #musicproduction
