Limiters

I use limiters in mixing. I do.

Mostly, I use them to do the job of a compressor when compression isn't cutting it.  I use them to tame uneven vocal performances, I use them to solidify uneven bass lines


But I've recently been challenging myself to listen to the character and sound of the limiters I use, and it's been very enlightening!

The first thing I've noticed is that the expensive L2 limiter from Waves is ... terrible. I used to use it as a staple, but I am now on the hunt for new, transparent limiters.

In the meantime, I love free software ... and a lot of the work I do relies on free VST plugins because I can't yet afford to make and manage subscriptions to big software purchases. I need to eat, after all!

So here is a list of what I believe to be the best of the best Free VST limiters. I'm still pushing the developers of reaper to create a transparent limiter for Reaper. There are a lot of JS limiters, but they all have a character sound of compression.

FREE Limiters
LoudMAX - http://loudmax.blogspot.ca/
Classic Master Limiter - http://www.acoustica.com/plugins/vst-directx.htm
TLS Pocket Limiter - http://hem.bredband.net/tbtaudio/archive/newtbtvstplugins.htm
W1 Limiter (a perfect clone of Waves L1) - http://www.yohng.com/software/w1limit.html