Waves L4 Ultramaximizer: Louder Than Ever?
The Legendary Limiter Plugin Gets an Update for the Modern Era.
Waves L4 Ultramaximizer: Louder Than Ever? · Source: Waves
"Graphical" View · Source: Waves
Standard View · Source: Waves
The Waves L4 Ultramaximizer is the latest addition to a series of the most widely used limiter plugins of all time, with five limiting algorithms.
The story of the first Ultramaximizer plugin began with the Waves L1, way back in 1994, which is a long way back for a plugin. Well, it didn’t take long for the L1 to catch on among mastering and post-production engineers. The combination of peak limiting, noise shaping, and dithering allowed you to push levels to extremes without clipping, making it THE secret weapon in the loudness war.
Waves L4 Ultramaximizer
The first thing you’ll notice about the new L4 is its detailed LUFS metering with a useful “Graphical” view, so you can see exactly which peaks are breaching the threshold of the limiter. If you’ve used one of the Ultramaximizer plugins, you’ll be familiar with the ceiling and threshold controls, as well as the attenuation meter.
However, the L4 has five limiter algorithms, including Modern, Aggressive, Smooth, Safe, and the classic L2. What’s more, Waves has added an upward compression processor, inspired by the MV2, which is ideal for adding density to the mix and bringing the quieter parts of the song into focus for sharper overall detail.
The L4 also has adaptive clipping and release parameters, which the plugin intuitively sets based on the level of the track. Then, when you’re making the finishing touches, you can make adjustments to these controls manually. Meanwhile, there are some interesting new features, like oversampling, gain matching, and a stereo-link control.
With its low-latency processing, you can also use the L4 in live sound and broadcast environments using SuperRack SoundGrid, SuperRack Performer, or Ableton Live. Overall, the L4 is sure to become an indispensable tool in your plugin library, continuing the legacy of the Waves Ultramaximizer series.
Pricing and Availability:
The Waves L4 Ultramaximizer is currently available at an introductory price of $49.99 until 2 November (regular price $99.99). Get it at Plugin Boutique.*
More about the Waves L4 Ultramaximizer:
*Note: This article contains promotional links that help us fund our site. Don’t worry: the price for you always stays the same! We will receive a small commission if you buy something through these links. We appreciate your support!
This might also interest you
