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Brickwall Limiter

Semantic type: BrickwallLimiter · Category: dynamics

Restricts peaks to a configured ceiling with look-ahead limiting.

This type has catalog telemetry metadata but no public observation API in v0.1. See Compatibility.

Contract

  • Seeded: no
  • Catalog sample rates: not declared; this does not mean unsupported
  • Assets: none
  • Catalog-declared latency: dynamic; depends on lookahead, oversampling, sampleRate
  • Telemetry: catalog metadata only; observation API unavailable in v0.1
Semantic name Python constructor keyword Type / count Default Unit Range or values
threshold threshold number / 1 0 dB -24 … 0
release release number / 1 100 ms 10 … 500
lookahead lookahead number / 1 3 ms 0 … 10
oversampling oversampling integer / 1 1 Not declared in catalog 1, 2, 4, 8
inputGain input_gain number / 1 0 dB -18 … 18
margin margin number / 1 -1 dB -3 … 0

EffeTune app documentation

The following section is reproduced from the English EffeTune app documentation. Its parameter names and values describe the app UI and can differ from semantic API parameters through transforms or value maps. The generated contract above is authoritative.

Brickwall Limiter

A peak limiter that keeps the chain’s digital signal below a specified ceiling while preserving as much of the music’s dynamics as possible. Place it near the end of the effect chain when earlier effects create high peaks. It limits signal peaks, but does not guarantee safe listening levels or protect playback equipment; set the listening volume on your playback device.

Listening Enhancement Guide

  • Put the limiter near the end of the chain, before Level Meter, to catch peaks created by EQ, saturation, or other effects.
  • Start with Input Gain at 0 dB, Threshold at -3 dB, Margin at -1 dB, and Release at 100 ms.
  • If limiting is frequent or the music loses impact, lower Input Gain or raise Threshold toward 0 dB.
  • If you hear pumping, lengthen Release. If transients sound smeared or distorted, try a shorter Release or reduce the amount of limiting.
  • Use Level Meter after the limiter to confirm the resulting digital peak level. Adjust your amplifier or playback device separately for listening volume.

Parameters

  • Input Gain (-18dB to +18dB)
    • Adjusts the level going into the limiter
    • Increase to make peaks hit the limiter more often
    • Decrease if you hear too much limiting
    • Default is 0dB
  • Threshold (-24dB to 0dB)
    • Sets the peak level where limiting begins before Margin is applied
    • The effective ceiling is Threshold + Margin
    • Lower values leave more peak headroom
    • Higher values preserve more dynamics
    • Start at -3dB for light peak limiting
  • Release Time (10ms to 500ms)
    • How quickly limiting is released
    • Faster times maintain more dynamics
    • Slower times for smoother sound
    • Try 100ms as a starting point
  • Lookahead (0ms to 10ms)
    • Allows the limiter to anticipate peaks
    • Higher values for more transparent limiting
    • Lower values for less latency
    • 3ms is a good balance
  • Margin (-1.000dB to 0.000dB)
    • Adds a fine downward offset to the Threshold
    • The actual ceiling is Threshold + Margin
    • For example, Threshold -3dB with Margin -1.000dB limits around -4dB
    • Default -1.000dB works well for most material
    • Adjust for precise peak control
  • Oversampling (1x, 2x, 4x, 8x)
    • Higher values for cleaner limiting
    • Lower values for less CPU usage
    • 4x is a good balance of quality and performance

Controls and Metering

  • Direct controls for Input Gain, Threshold, Margin, Release, Lookahead, and Oversampling
  • The plugin panel does not show a separate peak-level graph

Transparent Peak Control

  • Input Gain: 0dB
  • Threshold: -3dB
  • Release: 100ms
  • Lookahead: 3ms
  • Margin: -1.000dB
  • Oversampling: 4x
  • Effective ceiling: about -4dB

Extra Peak Headroom

  • Input Gain: -6dB
  • Threshold: -6dB
  • Release: 50ms
  • Lookahead: 5ms
  • Margin: -1.000dB
  • Oversampling: 8x
  • Effective ceiling: about -7dB

Natural Dynamics

  • Input Gain: 0dB
  • Threshold: -1.5dB
  • Release: 200ms
  • Lookahead: 2ms
  • Margin: -0.500dB
  • Oversampling: 4x
  • Effective ceiling: about -2dB

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