Who uses Autogain and the Limiter

[haze324]

Been reading today and seen some threads where guys have said the S4 sounded great others saying the output was too low. Curious as to what everyones setting is. I think the autogain + limiter + software volume + hardware volume = a ton of ways folks can go wrong.

I've been using:

- Autogain (rotaries work well once I put the track gain info on the deck info)
- NO limiter
- Software between -3 and -4
- Hardware = havent had to go past 60-70% volume on the systems I've played which were nothing special.

I find the headphones to be louder without the limiter but sound much better with the limiter. Without it and if I put it too loud it distorts some. Being that I'm playing on small set ups I think I may just put the limiter back on.

[padi_04]

I have the limiter on, but it hardly ever hits there so it really makes no difference. master is around -5. What really bothers me is the difference in volume between a cued track and whatever is being aired (moving the cue mix knob).

[popoff44]

I have the limiter on, but it hardly ever hits there so it really makes no difference. master is around -5. What really bothers me is the difference in volume between a cued track and whatever is being aired (moving the cue mix knob).

Same here. I have master set to -6 dB and the difference is very noticeable. I usually just balance it out with "Cue mix".

Built-in limiter is one of the greatest features of Traktor. Don't see a reason why I wouldn't want to use it. In fact, I hope NI expands on it in the future to allow for more options such as a customizable compressor in place of a simple limiter.

[VanGogo]

Others disagree, but I used MP3 Gain to normalize my tracks, so I don't use autogain. Limiter is on, but never gets used because I keep my levels below the red zone at all times.
The only thing that screwed my system up was the S4 sample decks. So my track decks are at 0db and now I have to lower the sample deck gain to -5. But if I sample a playing song I have to remember to turn the gain back up. I might have to undo the MP3 gain normalizing and go with auto gain again because of this. I wasn't real happy with the auto gain when I first used Traktor, but when I have some spare time I guess it's back to autogain.

[photojojo]

Auto gain, on limiter on.

[JesC]

^ +1

[onetidd]

+1

[Nicky H]

Neither on.

I use the gain knobs to mix - and try to keep out of the red.

[bartboy]

Limiter On, Autogain off. I find that autogain messes with the sound output too much. I like to mix with the gain.

[Yul]

Limiter and autogain both on but I do keep use of the gain encoders anyway to adapt accordingly.