(See the Wwise Peak Limiter Properties below.)
The Wwise Peak Limiter plug-in effect controls the dynamic range of audio signals. It does this by weakening parts of the audio signal that briefly exceed a pre-defined threshold value as calculated with peak-based detection. To carry out this process, it uses a look-ahead time to check for signal peaks. When the audio signal returns to an acceptable value, the Peak Limiter stops weakening it.
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Caution |
The look-ahead time introduces latency into the output signal. |
You can use the Wwise Peak Limiter plug-in effect to limit the overall dynamic range of an audio signal, and therefore increase the overall amount by which the signal can be amplified. As well, you can also use it to even out the gain of multiple audio signals, and prevent clipping. Overall, this should give an impression of increased intelligibility and punch.
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Tip |
To reduce clipping in your overall project, apply the Peak Limiter to the Master Audio Bus. |
The following graph represents an audio signal with a peak, x. If the Peak Limiter is not used, peak x will be heard as a loud, sudden noise. Line c on the graph shows the approximate limit of the audio signal. By setting the Peak Limiter to a threshold at line b, you can eliminate the worst of the excess volume without adversely affecting the original audio signal.
A ratio factor determines the extent of the dynamic compression used by the Peak Limiter when the input is above the threshold. For example, a ratio of 4 means that for every 4 dB the input signal is above the threshold, only 1 dB will be observed in the output signal above the threshold.
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General remarks on Wwise dynamic processing plug-ins |
There is no interpolation of ratio control (RTPC parameter) for Wwise Compressor, Wwise Expander, or Wwise Peak Limiter. Changing this parameter during playback may lead to signal discontinuities on very clean signals.
Sounds with DC offset may alter results of compression/expansion because the sidechain detection algorithm will be offset considerably. DC offset should be removed prior to use in Wwise.
The Compressor, Expander, and Peak limiter are non-linear audio processes. This means that order of processing is important. For example, results will be different if you apply gain before or after the Effect.
For the first audio buffers, the processing algorithms are said to be in non-steady state. Because the estimated signal power operated by the side chain has no knowledge of the past, its estimate of signal power may be erroneous for a short period of time (but only if the Compressor is already engaged at the start of the sound). A solution to this (if it's a problem at all) is to start the Compressor with a ratio of 1 and shortly after bring it to the desired value.
If the Compressor applies some gain reduction and is suddenly bypassed, a signal discontinuity will be heard. A potential solution is to gradually bring the ratio to 1 prior to bypassing the Effect.
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Wwise Peak Limiter Properties
The Wwise Peak Limiter plug-in Effect contains a series of properties, many of which can be edited in real-time and mapped to specific Game Parameters using RTPCs.
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Note |
Sounds with a DC offset may alter the results of the Peak Limiter's effect. Make sure to remove the DC offset from your audio file before applying the Peak Limiter in Wwise. |
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