suggestions for mastering limiter

[mimsey]

Already checked with the Mastering Forum on this, thought I might have more luck in High End. I'm looking for a good piece of gear to do "quick" mastering out of the box. This is not to replace the trained mastering professionals, just a way to get a better sound for demos and such. I've read good things about the Pendulum ES-8, and I've heard others talk about the SLAM, but my mind is wide open... perhaps too wide.

I was hoping to hear some opinions. The system I'm working on is a PT HD rig with a few nice pieces of outboard already

LTD 1
Germ
Germ Tone control
Avalon 737
Distressor
API 2500
MC77

monitors are Adam S3a's, and yes I've tried the Massey plug-in, it's awesome but I want to see what comes next after you step... "out of the box" ooohhh *waves hands in a spooky, but magical, type way*.

Any suggestions? The rack needs a new friend.

[Mike Caffrey]

Try the Pendulem PL-2 in MS, by putting in on the insterts of the Dangerous S&M box.

You'll be able to do a ton of limiting on the transients in the center and probably wont need any on the sides. The lack of limiting on the sides will mask what you're doing in the center and you'll hear far less damage to your audio.

[Audionaut]

The Cranesong STC-8 is a pretty great compressor with an incredible limiter circuit. That's what I've got inserted on my buss. There's some knob twiddling involved and it's not cheap.
If you're looking for a quick fix to slam end of session tracking ruffs to present day "CD" levels, I'd check out the Waves Maxx BCL. NOT a plugin, but the actual hardware unit. It's a more professional alternative to the horrid "TC Finalizer" that has great converters, the infamous L2 limiter, a compressor and Maxx Bass processing. You can save a couple of presets for different genres of music ...patch it in front of your recorder and go.