Digi-Talk: Universal Audio Precision Limiter

Universal Audio’s new Precision Mastering Limiter
With the release of version 3.6 software for the UAD-1, Universal Audio is proud to introduce The Precision Limiter plug-in. Many months of hard work went into the UA Precision Limiter, including listening tests in professional mastering rooms where our limiter was compared to other high-end hardware and software limiters. The result is a limiter plug-in that continues UA's legacy of no-compromise sonic quality and stands up to any limiter, hardware or software, though costs hundreds or thousands less.

"To really be considered a professional limiter, the metering needed to be superb."

The UA Precision Limiter is a single-band, look-ahead, brickwall limiter made primarily for use with program material. The easy-to-use Limiter achieves 100% attack within a 1.5ms look-ahead window, which prevents clipping and guarantees zero overshoot performance. Both the attack and release curves are optimized for mastering, which minimizes aliasing.

Since the UA Precision Limiter is a colorless, transparent mastering limiter--no upsampling is used, nor does the UA Precision Limiter pass audio through any filters-audio remains untouched unless the compressor is working, in which case, only gain is affected.

To really be considered a professional limiter, the metering needed to be superb. The UA Precision Limiter features comprehensive, high-resolution metering and conforms to Bob Katz's "K-system" metering specs. This metering allows the user to see what is happening to audio with a great deal of accuracy, with simultaneous RMS and Peak metering and adjustable Peak Hold. And since we know how valuable good metering is, the plug-in can also be bypassed and used strictly as a high-resolution meter!

Other features include options for user-adjustable Release or Auto Release, which allows for fast recovery--minimizing distortion and pumping. Also featured is a unique Mode select option, which allows the user to tailor the attack shape for different material. Mode A is the default shape, suitable for most material, while Mode B can be particularly useful on minimal and/or acoustic program material, yielding a more subtle touch.

  • 1.5ms Look-ahead, Brickwall Limiter with Zero Overshoot Performance
  • Totally Colorless, No Upsampling
  • High-Resolution RMS and Peak Metering conforms to "K System" specs
  • User Adjustable or Auto Release
  • Unique Mode feature allows tailoring the Attack Shape

UA Precision Limiter is yet another indispensable UAD-1 tool for your audio arsenal. Priced at $199, you get a professional product at a price point that is by far the most bang for your buck compared to other hardware or software solutions--Look no further than the Universal Audio Precision Limiter.

For more on the K-System metering spec, please see Bob Katz's website.

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