Break’s limiter shoot-out
“Generally, I flick through a few limiters to hear the characteristics of each. For me, it’s usually between FabFilter Pro-L, iZotope Ozone 7 Maximiser, UAD Precision Limiter and UAD Oxford Limiter. Sometimes I’ll use a couple in series, with less extreme settings, to get the benefits of both.”
But aren’t all limiters created equal? Not according to Charlie. “It’s about knowing what each one sounds like. I find the Pro-L is quite round and smooth, but a bit ‘fluffy’ – it’s not as detailed as the Ozone one, which is more crisp and punchy, but can also be a bit ‘blocky’. The UAD is quite mushy, old-school, soft-sounding; and the Oxford is a bit of all those in one, but can pump quite easily, so I use it for a bit of final ‘tickle’ and sheen.”
Charlie goes on to give practical examples. “If a track has a lot of kick drum, and is quite punchy, the Pro-L might eat that up nicely; whereas if you need punch and aggression, Ozone is more for that. But there’s a lot of trial and error. You’re always trying to find the right setting for the right tool.”