LM-2 Limiter

The LM-2 Limiter provides hard limiting in Boss's compact format, clamping signal peaks above a set threshold. Released in 1987, it's a more aggressive dynamic tool than the CS-series compressors, designed to prevent signal peaks rather than smooth dynamics.

Limiting differs from compression in its approach: a limiter allows everything below the threshold to pass unaffected, then sharply reduces anything above it. The LM-2 acts as a brick wall, preventing signal spikes from overdriving downstream equipment. This makes it useful in front of a recording interface, mixer, or sensitive amp.

Threshold, Ratio, Level, and Release controls. At 12mA it's power-efficient. The Release control determines how quickly the limiter lets go after clamping a peak.

Produced from 1987 to 1992. The LM-2 serves a different purpose than the CS-series compressors: it's a protective dynamic tool rather than a tone-shaping one. Useful for controlling volume spikes from aggressive playing or effect combinations.