SSL X-Limit

About

Highly visual track and bus maximiser with multiple characteristics and True Peak inter-sample limiting

SSL X-Limit is an easy-to-use and visual limiter for increasing the loudness of your tracks and buses without the fear of clipping – featuring multiple set characteristics ranging from extremely transparent to colour and glue, a standard-compliant True Peak algorithm for precision processing, and useful feedback about the limiter’s impact on the stereo image of your signal.

The all-in-one left-to-right waveform visualisation lets you set the limiter threshold and ceiling against the incoming signal – then dial in the gain to increase loudness while catching peaks.

X-Limit includes 4 preset styles – Transparent, Glue, Punch and Auto – that adjusts the ballistics under the hood to achieve different characteristic responses for any given situation. Use in Punch mode to smash a drum bus, on vocals and acoustic guitars in Transparent mode to catch peaks or Glue mode on a sub-group for a unified sound. The Auto mode provides a set-and-forget option that adjusts the time constants depending on the transient content of your signal.

Features

• Pick from 4 carefully designed limiter characteristics – Transparent, Glue, Punch and Auto
• True Peak mode engages SSL’s True Peak algorithm to ensure that inter-sample peaks are effectively limited using intelligent oversampling
• All-in-one visualiser and threshold/ceiling sliders let you easily set parameters against the incoming signal level
• Set the Ceiling in True Peak mode to prevent your signal from exceeding a maximum level
• Pull down the Threshold control to control when limiting kicks in
• Auto style automatically adjusts the ballistics on the limiter based on the transient content of the signal
• Auto Release overrides the release time, automatically shortening for transient peaks and prolonging it for sustained sounds
• Use the advanced fade-in Lookahead algorithm to smoothly catch transients
• Accurate momentary and max True Peak value readouts
• Use on the master bus to transparently add loudness to your mix
• Channel Link blends between stereo or independent left/right limiting
• ITU-R B.S. 1770 and Apple ‘afclip’ True Peak detection standard compliant
• Minimise stereo degradation using the Steering and Ducking meters
• Gain Match allows you to preview the effect of the limiter without the psychoacoustic effect of the signal level increase
• Use Gain Lock to maintain the applied gain to quickly demo different presets and styles on your source material
• Mix control to dial back in the original signal when using the limiter to add punch or character rather than catch peaks