which is the best hardware for peak limiter or brickwall limiter ?

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by stellar

wow I just skimmed this thread and every unit discussed or mentioned is a digital unit..........not what I was expecting!

It's hard for an analog unit to compete in terms of sheer level with a look-ahead digital limiter. Generally speaking, and assuming quality units, analog may have certain positive qualities, but for clean level, you'll likely hear things like overshoot and other artifacts sooner with analog than digital. Of course, digital has its own set of concerns. As usual, there's no free lunch.

[jayfrigo]

Originally Posted by lucey

When you say "pretty much" what's the difference? Very low numbers are audible, as you must know.

I'm not them, but I'd expect differences certainly due to the random nature of dither, and also due to the differences in 32-bit float vs. 48-bit fixed architecture in native plug versions. Still, these should be extremely low, and differences due to the random nature of the application of two instances of the same dither generator should not cause audible differences.

[bob katz]

Originally Posted by stellar

wow I just skimmed this thread and every unit discussed or mentioned is a digital unit..........not what I was expecting!

That's because there is no such thing as an analog brickwall limiter! If you need a brickwall, it has to be digital.

That does not eliminate the usefulness of analog compressors and limiters in the signal path for esthetic or "preconditioning" purposes, but having a brick wall digital limiter at the tail of the chain, even as simply 1/2 or 1 dB protection, is probably necessary to achieve current bleeding levels (sad but true).

[Mr Phil]

Has anybody here got/used/pondered the Maselec MPL-2?

I am thinking about getting one to add to my mastering chain, but haven't been able to find much info on it.

Am hoping to put it right before my AD converters for some high frequency control, and to give my brick wall (UAD PL) a bit of moral support.

[lucey]

The Pendulum PL-2 is pretty close to 'analog brickwall'. It can do the same 2-4 db slam, in 2 different sounding modes.

[Bob Boyd]

Originally Posted by Mr Phil

Has anybody here got/used/pondered the Maselec MPL-2?

I am thinking about getting one to add to my mastering chain, but haven't been able to find much info on it.

Am hoping to put it right before my AD converters for some high frequency control, and to give my brick wall (UAD PL) a bit of moral support.

The Maselec is a great unit. Because of digital options, I passed on it but thought the limiting was impressive and the de-esser was great.

[Andy Krehm]

Originally Posted by lucey

The Pendulum PL-2 is pretty close to 'analog brickwall'. It can do the same 2-4 db slam, in 2 different sounding modes.

I use this almost every day just before the ADC.

It's a great unit but matching the current pop mastering levels will also require a digital brickwall liniter after the ADC.

How much you need that final brickwall limiter will depend on your gear and skill level earlier in the chain! I think most experienced ME's would not be using more than a dB or 2 of GR or Threshold (L2 lingo) at the end of the line.