Editing Limiter (section)

{{Short description|Electronic amplitude-limiting device}}
{{About|signal processing|engine speed limiters|Centrifugal governor|limiting related to the Law of the Minimum|Limiting factor}}
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[[File:Clipping waveform.svg|thumb|alt=Comparison of soft and hard clipping.|Comparison of soft and hard clipping.]]

In [[electronics]], a '''limiter''' is a circuit that allows signals below a specified input power or level to pass unaffected while [[Attenuator (electronics)|attenuating]] (lowering) the peaks of stronger signals that exceed this threshold. Limiting is a type of [[dynamic range compression]]. [[Clipping (audio)|Clipping]] is an extreme version of limiting.

'''Limiting''' is any process by which the amplitude of a signal is prevented from exceeding a predetermined value.

Limiters are common as a safety device in live sound and broadcast applications to prevent sudden volume peaks from occurring. Limiters are also used as protective features in some components of [[sound reinforcement system]]s (e.g., powered [[mixing board]]s and [[power amplifier]]s) and in some [[bass amplifier]]s, to prevent unwanted [[Distortion (music)|distortion]] or [[loudspeaker]] damage.