1178 Stereo Peak Limiter
A working guide for setup, controls, recall, and the problems that appear after the unit is in your rack.
Connect balanced XLR input and output, then power the signal chain in its normal order.
Begin in Stereo and L/R. Leave M/S and dual-mono until the basic path is confirmed.
Select 4:1, Mix off, HPF at 0, moderate attack and release, and GR metering.
Raise Input until the meter shows around 3-6 dB of gain reduction, then match Output.
The 1178 has no dedicated threshold knob. Input level determines how hard the fixed-threshold circuit compresses.
Use a straight-on front-panel image here. The four groups below explain what to adjust first and what each control changes.
Input sets compression drive. Output restores level after the compression decision is made.
Clockwise is faster. Set attack for transient shape and release for musical movement.
Select 4:1, 8:1, 12:1, 20:1 or combinations. GR Off disables limiting while retaining colour behavior.
Keep low frequencies out of the detector, then blend dry signal back when full wet is too dense.
Choose a mode
Mode changes the meaning of the upper and lower control rows. Choose it before fine adjustments.
Stereo workflow
Link both channels, match timing and ratio, then drive Input until the meters show roughly 3-6 dB of gain reduction.
Dual mono workflow
Use A/B when two mono sources, or the two sides of a stereo source, genuinely need different compression behavior.
M/S workflow
Use M/S only with an M/S encoded signal path. The upper controls address Mid and the lower controls address Side.
Troubleshooting
Change one variable, listen again, and only then move to the next check.
Recommended check
Confirm GR is enabled, select a ratio, choose GR metering, then increase Input drive.
Recommended check
Slow the attack before changing the entire setup. Very fast attack can flatten the source.
Recommended check
Try the 60 Hz or 120 Hz sidechain HPF so kick or bass does not control the detector.
Recommended check
Reduce Input drive first. If the tone is right, use Mix to restore unprocessed signal.
Formal panel descriptions, specifications and rear-panel reference.
Starting settings for drums, vocals, acoustic guitar and M/S workflows.