Best Limiter VST Reviews

With so many plugins to go around, it’s easy to understand why many feel lost in their choice. We are here to help. If you don’t know, the limiter plugin is a tool to compress the signal without letting the signal go over a certain threshold. To find out more about the characteristics of the best limiter plugin stay tuned till the end. Just like any other type of plugin, the limiter plugin is required to add some new dimensions to your audio tracks and transform the sound so that it fits your view. Limiter software is usually made after their hardware counterparts and is used by all: beginning musicians and professional music bands. In this paper, we will take a look at several limiter VST plugins that have proved to be worthy by many parameters, such as flexibility, library size, functionality, etc.

Our pick

FabFilter Pro-L 2

Best limiter plugin

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Are you looking for a professional, feature-packed limiter that is loud and transparent at the same time, equipped with extensive loudness metering? Then FabFilter Pro-L 2 is your weapon of choice!

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Best limiter plugins review

FabFilter Pro-L 2 – best overall

To improve the quality of the mixes you create, you can use state-of-the-art equipment. One such auxiliary tool is FabFilter's Pro-L 2. With it, your mixes will shine with new colors, and working on adding effects will be much easier. To help users we've created a FabFilter Pro-L 2 review.

Main features

When working with the Pro-L 2 plugin, users may notice several distinct advantages. Among them is the availability of 8 limiting algorithms. With this unit, users have access to an unusual set of tools with unique characteristics. This is especially important when working with hot mixes. The Pro-L 2's functionality allows distortion to be removed during mix conversion. In other words, you can measure the volume while you're working on a track, bring it to the right sound, and process it with the appropriate noise.

Moreover, it comes with a hot mix sounds distortion-free. When working with a hot mix, the peaks may be cut off when the track is transferred to a digital converter. So limiting the audio peaks when working with Pro-L 2 is very important. If you notice that the analog signal is higher than the peak, no distortion will be applied to the mix.

Another key benefit is the volume control and compliance. This unit can measure audio volume extensively at all peaks. With the display, work is done in an online format and users have access to innovative display modes. Among them, Infinite mode stands out for displaying an audio session in a convenient format.

On top of that, the voluminous sound is achieved through flexible channel binding. This is why the FabFilter Pro-L 2 plugin is considered the ideal tool for multi-channel scenarios. Useful features include the DC offset capability. Users also note the triggering of an external Sidechain and Unity Gain. The latter option allows you to listen to effect limiting at single gain levels.

How does It sound?

Once you've tried the Pro-L 2 VST, users will never want to go back to their previous devices again. This unit allows you to work with several new types of sound. What's more, it can mix them to create new sounds. So it can sound like nearly anything you need it to.

The user does not need to open the menu and look for peaks to cut or peak the sound. Simply press the peak management button at the bottom. The mixing speed can be increased up to 32. This way, the sound is also clear and undistorted.

Peak levels can be adjusted while you're still in the middle of your mix. This compensates for any degradation in sound quality when digitizing. In the pickup format, you can select target styles to interpret the track to the rhythm and platforms you want. With Peak Limiters, music sounds comfortable for users and is easy to work with.

Summary

This platen is great for mixing your tracks. You can achieve the right level of sound with it, and the user-friendly display makes it easy to work with. All peaks can be easily controlled and no data is lost when transferring to digital media. For track creators, it's the right tool for the job.

Tech specifications

TDR Limiter 6 GE – budget solution

The TDR Limiter 6 GE is considered a modern sound processing tool using 6 dedicated modules. Often they can be placed in different orders to mix sounds. Using them will help expand the range of sounds in your mix. We've created a short TDR Limiter 6 GE review to take a closer look at its sound and capabilities.

Main features

When working with the Limiter 6 GE plugin, users may notice some interesting features that will be useful for music processing. For example, they will be able to make use of the dynamic compressor to keep the sound clear. They will also need the use of a high-frequency limiter and peak limiters for this function.

Since there are 6 modules, each helps you control a different type of music. They can be used to apply micro and macro elements to frame the music and indicate the sound's signal path. If these are combined correctly, not only will the sound be louder, but it will also be musically accurate. It's also possible to push the tempo of the music by adding some excitement to the mix.

For lovers of visual aesthetics, the unit has an option to enhance the true peak and volume measurement section. Its compatibility with the EBU R128 gives you detailed information about the dynamics of your music. So the processed mix will not affect listening perception negatively due to the use of volume amplifiers.

Another interesting feature is the set of intelligent starting points. These can be used to quickly boost the volume of your mix to the maximum. Each of these features can help you not only to master your mix but to make it unique and distinctive. Use the functions of the unit according to your needs.

How does It sound?

One of the main differences in the sound of the Limiter 6 GE VST is the high volume of the sound. When processing it, you have to clean up the lower noise immediately to rid the mix of unnecessary rubbish. Modules are easy to manipulate and can simply be dragged from one section of a track to another.

Keep an eye on the peaks at all times. They're easy to keep track of with this unit because they're displayed on the right-hand side of the basic menu. If you don't exceed them, you'll get a clean, high-quality track.

To ensure that track quality does not degrade when you crank up the volume, keep the range no higher than 12 LUFS. Be careful when using certain features, as they may increase the volume too much and make listening to music uncomfortable. For example, you need to apply Bypass delicately.

Summary

This tool is a great solution for those who want to improve their tracks at minimum cost For users, it is an opportunity to get a great way to mix and process their tracks. By processing a track with TDR Limiter 6 GE, the user gets a stronger mix with a nice and high-quality sound.

Tech specifications

iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced – premium

In this iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced review, we embark on a journey through the dynamic realm of audio mastering and mixing. Renowned for its versatility and ability to achieve professional-grade results, iZotope Ozone has emerged as a powerful tool in the industry.

As an avid mixing enthusiast, I have thoroughly explored this powerful suite and now eagerly share my findings. Join me as we delve into the features, capabilities, and performance of iZotope, unlocking the secrets to professional-grade audio mastery.

Key features

iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced offers a range of powerful features that enhance the audio mastering process. From its comprehensive equalizer to its versatile applications, this software provides a robust toolkit for achieving top results. Let me tell you more about them.

Equalizer

The equalizer in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced is a standout feature with precise control over frequency bands and shaping capabilities. With a wide range of adjustable parameters, users can fine-tune the audio's tonal balance, correct resonances, and eliminate unwanted frequencies. Whether you want to enhance individual tracks or master an entire mix, the equalizer in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced provides the flexibility and control necessary for achieving desired sonic results.

Dynamic EQ

The dynamic EQ feature in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced combines precision equalization with flexible compression. It selectively applies EQ adjustments based on the audio's dynamic content, allowing you to control tonal imbalances and address resonances. This powerful tool is ideal for shaping the tonal balance and adding warmth to different elements in your audio.

Dynamics

The suit offers a dynamics module that provides precise control over audio volume and impact. With compressors, limiters, and transient shapers, you can shape the dynamics of individual tracks or the overall mix. This module helps you achieve balance, control peaks, and transients, and enhance the punch and clarity of your audio.

Exciter

The exciter module in iZotope Ozone adds harmonics and character to your audio. It offers various distortion modes, allowing you to create unique tonal flavors and colorations. By selectively applying harmonic content to specific frequency ranges, the exciter brings out details and depth in your sound, whether you want to add warmth to vocals or give instruments an edge.

Spectral shaper

The spectral shaper module in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced provides precise control over the spectral content of your audio. By adjusting frequency ranges, you can shape the tonal balance and dynamics of your tracks. With settings for gain, attack, release, and threshold, you can target specific frequencies and make fine adjustments. The "Listen mode" feature enables real-time monitoring of the applied changes.

Vintage modules in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced

Ozone features vintage modules that faithfully recreate the sonic characteristics of classic analog hardware. These modules offer unique ways to enhance your mixes with a vintage touch.

Vintage tape

The Vintage Tape module in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced adds warmth, subtle distortion, and saturation reminiscent of analog tape machines. As an author, I find that using the Vintage Tape module adds a pleasant vintage flavor to my mixes, making them sound more organic and inviting.

To use the Vintage Tape module effectively, you can adjust the input and output levels to match the desired loudness. By tweaking the Bias control, you can shape the amount of harmonic distortion and saturation. Increasing the Bias imparts more warmth and saturation while decreasing it results in a cleaner sound. Additionally, the Speed control allows you to emulate different tape speeds, influencing the frequency response and transient handling.

Examples of how to apply the Vintage Tape module include using it on drum tracks to add warmth and subtle compression, applying it to vocals to give them a vintage character, or using it on a full mix to add a cohesive analog feel.

Vintage limiter

The Vintage Limiter module in Ozone 10 Advanced plugin replicates the behavior of classic hardware limiters, providing transparent peak limiting with a touch of vintage character. I appreciate the Vintage Limiter for its ability to control the dynamic range of my mix while adding a subtle analog flavor.

Functionally, the Vintage Limiter offers controls for adjusting input and output levels, as well as the release time. By setting the input level, you can determine the amount of limiting applied. The output level control allows you to match the loudness of the limited signal with the rest of your mix. The release time control influences how quickly the limiter recovers after reducing peaks.

Apply Vintage Limiter to the master bus to ensure controlled peaks and add a touch of vintage color to the overall mix.

Vintage EQ

The Vintage EQ module in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced accurately emulates the sound of classic analog equalizers. It offers various vintage EQ curves and tonal shaping options to enhance your mix's overall balance and color. Personally, I find that the Vintage EQ adds warmth and character to my masterpieces.

When using the Vintage EQ, gentle boosts or cuts can be applied to shape the frequency response. Experimenting with different vintage EQ models, such as Pultec-style or Neve-style EQs, allows you to achieve different tonal characteristics. For instance, you can use a Pultec-style EQ to add weight to the low end and smooth out the high frequencies or employ a Neve-style EQ for precise and focused tonal shaping.

Vintage compressor

The Vintage Compressor module in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced emulates the behavior of classic analog compressors. Using the Vintage Compressor, I've found it effective in smoothing out peaks, adding sustain, and providing cohesiveness to individual elements of my mix.

The Vintage Compressor offers features such as threshold, ratio, attack, and release controls. Adjusting the threshold sets the level at which compression is applied, while the ratio determines the amount of gain reduction. By manipulating the attack and release settings, you can shape the compression envelope to suit your desired sound.

How does It sound?

iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced provides a diverse range of modules that greatly enhance the sound production process. Let's delve deeper into some of these modules:

Stabilizer module

The Stabilizer module in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced is a versatile tool that helps refine and stabilize the sound production process. It effectively smooths out audio inconsistencies, resulting in a more cohesive and balanced mix.

I find the Stabilizer module invaluable in achieving a refined and professional sound. Its dynamic adjustments create a controlled and even mix, elevating the overall quality of the audio production.

Impact module

The Impact module is a powerful tool for shaping the impact and energy of your audio. Its ability to control the attack and sustain of individual elements allows for precise manipulation and emphasis, effectively bringing certain elements forward or pushing them back in the mix. It adds depth, presence, and captivating quality to the mix, making the audio truly stand out.

Magnify soft clip in Maximizer module

The Maximizer module in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced VST incorporates the Magnify Soft Clip feature, which plays an essential role in maintaining high fidelity while increasing loudness. This feature applies subtle saturation, allowing for increased levels without introducing harsh clipping artifacts. This preserves the dynamic range and overall clarity of the mix, resulting in a transparent and professional sound. With the Magnify Soft Clip feature, I can confidently push the boundaries of loudness without compromising the integrity of the audio.

Recover sides in Imager module

The Imager module includes the highly useful Recover Sides feature, enabling width reduction without sacrificing stereo information. This feature provides the flexibility to adjust the stereo width while retaining the original spatial characteristics of the mix. It allows for precise control over the width of the audio, resulting in a well-defined and captivating soundstage.

Master rebalance

The Master rebalance feature in iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced offers real-time functionality for adjusting the levels of individual elements within a mix. This tool allows me to fine-tune the balance between vocals, instruments, and other elements without the need for separate stems. By utilizing DAW automation with the Master Rebalance feature, I can dynamically control the levels of different elements throughout the song. It helps achieve a meticulously balanced mix with seamless transitions and professional sound.

Low-End focus

The Low-End focus feature offers the ability to shape the clarity, punch, and definition of the bass and sub-bass frequencies. I've used this feature to fine-tune the low end, ensuring a tight, impactful bass that doesn't overpower the mix. With its advanced controls, one can achieve a well-balanced mix where the low frequencies are controlled and blend harmoniously with the rest of the audio spectrum.

Summary

By harnessing the capabilities of these modules within iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced, music producers and sound engineers can elevate their sound productions to new heights.

In this review, I have endeavored to thoroughly examine the comprehensive capabilities of iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced, a powerful tool for mastering and mixing audio. With its advanced artificial intelligence capabilities, iZotope Ozone provides precise control over your audio production. Notable additions such as the Stabilizer and Impact modules further expand its capabilities. All in all, iZotope Ozone 10 Advanced proves to be an effective tool for achieving exceptional audio results.

Tech specifications

Sonnox Oxford Inflator – also a great choice

In this paper, we present you with our Sonnox Oxford Inflator review. This 64-bit devices compatible sound amplifier will be of good use to those who want to make their music louder, juicier, and deeper. This plugin has a simple user interface, a high limit of virtual headroom, 2 unique sounding modes, and high resistance to various audio artifacts.

Main features

First, the user interface is very comfortable and easy to navigate. It was made specially to be as simple as possible. Second, the Oxford Inflator plugin toolkit allows its user to amplify the sound level of most program material you can use. On top of that, with it, you can add warmth, character, and dynamic sounds as if you were using a vintage hardware amplifier. It is also possible to go beyond the average digital maximum of virtual headroom with this plugin. If you get annoyed with frequent signal overload in other plugins, in Sonnox Oxford Inflator VST your percussive peaks will pass without issues.

One of the key features of this software is 2 flexible modes responsible for the diversity of sound. You can use Band-split and Direct audio modeling modes to get music sound the way you see it and to control the optimal DSP usage. Another feature is that you can add an extra dynamic range of sounds to previously clipped signals. If you master all its tools and controls, you will be able to add such sound effects, as subtle, tube-like harmonic sounds, with warmth, presence, and thickness, or with good old saturation distortion.

How does It sound?

Such a simple plugin can deliver a magnificent analog amplifier sound. Since I started using it, my audio tracks gained additional dimension to them. With its help, I can add more depth, juicy sounding, and rich color. One of the most common drawbacks of using such plugins is sonic artifacts, but in the case of Oxford Inflator, it is really hard to stumble upon such. It became so easy to create pumping music with mesmerizing warm signals, drums, and vocals. Such a wide range of possibilities is packed in such an inconspicuous sound amplifier emulator.

Summary

This plugin is a good choice for any musician, whether you are an amateur or a professional. High-quality software is hard to find these days, and Oxford Inflator will prove you it is one of them. Highly resistant to audio artifacts, with a multi-purpose tool, this plugin will bring the loudness to the next level and beyond.

Tech specifications

Soundtoys Devil-Loc Deluxe

Today one can find the Soundtoys Devil-Loc Deluxe review, where one checks all the necessary information about this sound amplifier. Using its features, one can add presence and tube-like warmth that amplify the perceived loudness of any material and get virtual headroom above digital maximum. On top of that, it is compatible with 64-bit devices.

Main features

Usually, sound amplifiers do not possess many features, but the Devil-Loc Deluxe plugin has some of them. For starters, one can enhance the loudness of most of the known program material. The next feature is that this plugin is capable of creating a warm vibe, character, and dynamic excitement that can be heard from vintage analog amplifiers. Virtual headroom is an important parameter, and this amplifier is capable of going beyond the digital maximum. Since signal overload is an issue to be reckoned with, Devil-Loc Deluxe VST helps percussive peaks to pass without any problem.

Within this plugin, one will find 2 modes that ensure high flexibility and allows utilizing creativity to the fullest, namely Band-split and Direct. Another aspect these modes are responsible for is supporting optimal DSP usage. One can add various sound effects starting with subtle, tube-like harmonic characteristics containing warmth, presence, and thickness and continuing with straightforward saturation distortion emulating. With its vast tools, one can add to your clipped signals an additional dynamic range. Topped with a simple, utilitarian design, this sound amplifier is a good choice for all musicians: beginners and professionals.

How does it sound?

This plugin truly gets the meaning behind the vintage sound. By using it, one could create that extra dimension to the mixes. With additional depth, the audio tracks gained some juicy and rich color. Thanks to its high quality, it is really hard to get those annoying negative sonic artifacts, unless they are the goal. Creating epic music with pumping loud sounds was never that easy for me before this plugin. Magical, warm signals with a wide range of sounding, and simple design allows even an amateur to perform amazingly. It is especially good with drums and vocals. This plugin can be considered a great invention for any musician.

Tech specifications

Best free limiter plugins review

Kilohearts Limiter Snapin

We present you with this Kilohearts Limiter Snapin review, where we break down this limiter in all detail. It is a compact, snapin-type plugin that will help you to increase the loudness without changing the transients too much.

Main features

Even though it is modest in size, the Limiter Snapin plugin has some controls and features you might use. For example, it has in gain and out gain knobs, which change whether the input signal will be applied before or after limiting respectively. The VU meter shows you the input level, limiter's attenuation, and the threshold you chose. Also, snapin type means users can utilize this software as a VST/AU stand-alone plugin, or together with other snapin hosts, like Multipass and Snap Heap, which open even more possibilities.

How does it sound?

This plugin helps with increasing the loudness without going crazy. Especially when joined with other Kilohearts products, it allows you to combine some amazing sound effects and create mesmerizing tracks.

Tech specifications

VladgSound Limiter No6

In this paper, you will find a VladgSound Limiter No6 review. This plugin contains various indicators, knobs, and features that will let you fine-tune the volume and other aspects of your track.

Main features

Many interesting features are hidden within the Limiter 6 plugin, like M/S and Multiband modes, or 5 modules that help to reach the best sounding. This plugin provides high-quality signal processing that you can use to your advantage. This plugin is capable of ISP limiting, and if you require oversampling, this software possesses such a feature. A decorative feature, and yet, this plugin is designed after vintage analog limiters, so if you like the retro style you will be pleased. And the stereo-linking feature prevents the distortions from infiltrating your tracks.

How does it sound?

A good limiter that helps to adjust the sound. There are so many controls, knobs, meters, and evens skins for this plugin so you can customize it. Maybe even too much, but the result is worth it.

Tech specifications

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