# Hard Limiter

### From Audacity Manual

Hard Limiter is like an extreme compressor effect, reducing the dynamic range of the audio. Where the waveform exceeds the level set in "dB limit" it is clipped down, so reducing the peak level.

Hard Limiter can also sometimes be used to remove stubborn clicks that peak well above the general level of the waveform. See the Wiki tips about using Hard Limiter for click removal and other methods.

  Accessed by: Effect > Hard Limiter...

To avoid excessive distortion arising from the clipping, this effect should be used in moderation. If the result sounds distorted during loud parts, try raising the "dB Limit" and/or the "Residue level".

## dB limit

The amplitude level above which the input signal is processed. If the Wet level and Residue level settings are left at default, the peak level of the result will be clipped down to this level.

## Wet level

The amount of the clipped signal that is fed to the output. It thus acts as a volume control for audio below the dB limit. If left at default level of 1.0, all sounds below the dB limit are fed to the output. At settings below 1.0, the volume of the result will be reduced.

## Residue level

This allows a proportion of the signal that has been removed by clipping to be added back to the output. By default the value is 0.0 and so all of the clipped signal is discarded. By raising this level, some of the clipped signal will be restored, making the limit softer. More peaks and troughs of the original waveform will be retained, and the resultant volume level will be higher than that set in the dB limit.

Special effect: If you turn the Residue level full up to 1.0 and the Wet level full down to 0.0, you will hear only the pieces of waveform that are above the dB limit you choose.

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