glossary
Both tools catch peaks. The difference is how they bend the waveform, and what that does to punch, loudness, and distortion.
A limiter turns gain down when the signal crosses a threshold. Clipping cuts the waveform itself once it reaches a ceiling. Both reduce peak level, but they leave different fingerprints on the sound.
Limiting can feel smoother because it reacts over time. Clipping can feel more immediate because it reshapes only the peak. Used lightly, clipping can recover headroom without the limiter pumping.
Clipping before a limiter can shave fast transients so the limiter does less work. Limiting before clipping can push a dense signal into a harder ceiling and make distortion obvious.
The right choice depends on the source. Drums often tolerate a little clipping. Vocals and sustained synths usually expose clipped edges faster.
Check true peak, integrated loudness, and gain reduction together. A louder number is not a win if the stereo image narrows or the transient impact disappears.
Meter Core helps you compare the chain before and after peak control so you can see whether the loudness gain is worth the trade.