Is L2 standard for everyone?

[nickynicknick]

Hey guys just curious if everyone is using the L2 now...it seems to be a key piece of gear...is there anyone who doesn't like/use it?....and what was everyone doing before the L2... does anyone feel like it's being leaned on too much these days? Thanks

Nick

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by nickynicknick

Hey guys just curious if everyone is using the L2 now...it seems to be a key piece of gear...is there anyone who doesn't like/use it?....and what was everyone doing before the L2... does anyone feel like it's being leaned on too much these days? Thanks

Nick

Many people don't use the L2. Quite a few people feel that there are better limiters than the L2. Do a search on the forum. There are quite a few threads a bout this.

Alistair

[ISedlacek]

I don´t think everybody is using L2 and to me personally it sounds quite bad and I don´t use it at all ...

[nickynicknick]

Originally Posted by UnderTow

Many people don't use the L2. Quite a few people feel that there are better limiters than the L2. Do a search on the forum. There are quite a few threads a bout this.

Alistair

thanks for the response...have to say searching on here is dicey...you have to spend an hour wading through BS just to find one post...I feel this is a valid question

[nickynicknick]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

I don´t think everybody is using L2 and to me personally it sounds quite bad and I don´t use it at all ...

what do you think sounds bad about it...is it too grainy when pushed, too squishy...too boring...too digital....none of the above?

Nick

[Bob Boyd]

I don't think L2 sounds bad when used in moderation. Problem is, in today's expectation of aggressive-sounding masters, I don't find much place for it. I haven't printed L2 across a whole record in probably 4 years.

IMO with more than light limiting, I think L2 tends to eat up the low end. If I'm looking for that kind of limiting, I'm more likely to grab PSP's flexible Xenon or Massey's L2007 for better results.

[Bob Boyd]

I don't think L2 sounds bad when used in moderation. Problem is, in today's expectation of aggressive-sounding masters, I don't find much place for it. (I master a lot of rock/pop.) I haven't printed L2 across a whole record in probably 4 years.

IMO with more than light limiting, I think L2 tends to feel soft and eat up the low end. If I'm looking for that kind of limiting, I'm more likely to grab PSP's flexible Xenon or Massey's L2007 for better results.

[finetuner]

Still used a lot but less and less with excellent (software) alternatives available now.

I use the L2 for no more than 1.5 dB of peak reduction and preferably only at incidents. Just have the reduction lights come on every now and then. Once led's stay on during a song, you'll be losing snare impact.

It's my guess that the unit's bad name came from people who solely relied on the L2 for level.
True, the unit is called 'loudness maximizer' but one shouldn't rely on it (or any limiter !!) just to reach desired level.

Having said that, the unlink switch comes in handy sometimes and i find the unit a very convenient headroom indicator with hold and reset .

Before that, i used TC Electronic M5000's soft clipping limiter. 'bit dirty..
It's successor, System 6000 with MD4 is probably still the best hardware alternative available, but more than that.

Peter van't Riet
FineTune Mastering

[surflounge]

It can add the sound of "someone walking on broken glass" to your mix, compared to better limiters.
I've used it on rock songs when the artist wanted it LOUD and didn't care about the sacrafice. But can't apply it to classical or acoustic songs.

[nickynicknick]

Originally Posted by surflounge

It can add the sound of "someone walking on broken glass" to your mix, compared to better limiters.
I've used it on rock songs when the artist wanted it LOUD and didn't care about the sacrafice. But can't apply it to classical or acoustic songs.

Maybe I should be asking what did everyone replace their L2's with? Thanks and any more info would be great.

Nick

[jdg]

i think the big "plus" (at least it was for me) for the L2 was it was available as racked outboard. this made it very easy for me as i didn't have to rely on plugs, upgrades, WUP, etc....

that said, i now use the sonnox or the limiter in ozone3 (amazing limiter)

[Cellotron]

I find there are a good number of digital brick wall peak limiters out there that sound quite a good bit better than the L2 (and the L3 for that matter) - so you can count me as someone who doesn't use it either.

Best regards,
Steve Berson

[xmostynx]

Originally Posted by Bob Boyd

Massey's L2007 for better results.

atleast i know i'm hitting my mixes with what other people enjoy

[UnderTow]

Originally Posted by nickynicknick

Maybe I should be asking what did everyone replace their L2's with? Thanks and any more info would be great.

Nick

Sonnox Oxford Limiter
Voxengo Elephant
PSP Xenon
iZotope Ozone Limiter

To me these all sound better than the L2.

Alistair

[Bob Boyd]

Originally Posted by jdg

the sonnox or the limiter in ozone3 (amazing limiter)

yup, got those in the 'toolbox' too...

[jdg]

the new psp limiter.. i just couldn't get my head around it when i demo'd it

everyone seems to really like it.. i could not get it sounding transparent.

[Jules]

Another vote for the SonOx Limiter..

Uber loudness is possible with a pleasant tone.

[twwalsh]

i barely ever use the L2...maybe once every 15-20 records.

[Jaques Beraques]

I like the L3 much more than the L2.For me it Sounds better and more versatile.

[Lagerfeldt]

Sonnox Oxford Limiter or Flux Pure limiter would be my recommendations instead of the L2.

[swirlyd]

I prefer the Massey to the L2 these days...

[idrinkalot]

sonnox limiter here too. haven't used the l2 in a long time.

[jayfrigo]

I have the L2 hardware still sitting in the rack, and every once in a while I'll use a bit, but for the most part I'm using the t.c. 6000 with the MD4 limiter. For super loud, sometimes I use some t.c followed by a bit of L2 (often in conjunction with other techniques).

The L2 was great when it first came out, and still useful in many situations where you don't need more than a couple dB, or if you want a somewhat bright, aggressive sound; but for real transparent limiting or heavy hitting, there are many things that have surpassed it in the years since it was introduced. Anybody want to buy a hardware L2?

[Ben F]

The L2 has been used a couple of times in the last year, mainly to match aggressive mastering from other studios on compilations.

[MASSIVE Master]

I gave up my L2 for lent... 2003...

[DSD_Mastering]

I had the L2 Hardware in here for a while and never really liked it. There's lots better out there.

Regards,
Bruce

[nickynicknick]

That's a lot of good replies...and is helping to reaffirm what I think about it.... in my limited experience(I'm not a mastering engineer)....I'm not a big fan of it. Thanks guys.

Nick

[thermos]

Originally Posted by jdg

the new psp limiter.. i just couldn't get my head around it when i demo'd it

everyone seems to really like it.. i could not get it sounding transparent.

I knew we heard things the same way. It sounded harsh to me, and far from transparent in the action, regardless of the setting. The Ozone Limiter is my favorite.

I think people also like the L2 hardware over the plug because its dual mono, which is really preferable imo with light gain reduction. But you can just take any ol' plug limiter and just use 2 of them.

[Bob Boyd]

Originally Posted by thermos

I think people also like the L2 hardware over the plug because its dual mono, which is really preferable imo with light gain reduction. But you can just take any ol' plug limiter and just use 2 of them.

After updating, I recently noticed that with Waves new release, 5.9.7, you can run the L2 plug in dual mono.

[inlinenl]

How do you guys audit/listen to you're processing including the "limiting" when you're having a software limit ..... or do you guys capture without limiting and adding if needed limiting ....

I like the L2 hardware and/or the weiss ds1 as a hardware limiter box because I can process into the limiter and hearing the "final" result/capture ....

the L2 will be a classic one day ... on ebay they're asking € 1500,- for a 3 years old one ...