UA Precision Limiter v Waves L2 Limiter

[Fairlight]

I always use the L2 for subtle brick wall limiting during mixdown and love how it sounds... I haven't got any of the Precision plugins just yet, but starting to get more interested in them.

So.....

How do they compare?

Also. Has anyone used the L1 & L3. I've used L1 but not the L3. How do people chose which Lx to use and is there much difference. Again, how do these Waves Limiters compare to the UA Precision?

Cheers,
Peter

 

[Fundy]

Well the first thing you need keep in mind is, these limiters work in different ways. Waves L2 maximises, as in using AMG* to reach the ceiling volume and combines dithering on output.

Whereas Precison Limiter doesn't dither nor does it resample, there is no AMG and you have to dial in how much gain you need. You can gauge this from the meters. Anything more than 6dB attenuation is going into loudest territory.

The Release times on PL can go fairly quick, slow or automatic. I prefer the quality of the output on PL although Waves L2 does have that certain \"je ne sais quoi\" about it.

I haven't used Waves L3 however from what I can gather, they combined multiband parametrics with the maximisation tools. Whether each band can independently configured or not, I'm not sure.


* AMG = Auto Makeup Gain

 

[Awesom-o]

To me, the PL sounds smoother and cleaner than the waves L2...

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

I sold my Waves license shortly after installing the UAD. Take that as you will.

 

[Fairlight]

I sold my Waves license shortly after installing the UAD. Take that as you will.

Hmmm, interesting answer coming from a Mastering company... Was this purely a quality reason or did the Waves WUP & Customer Service play a part in this?

Cheers,
Peter

 

[Dan Duskin]

Depends on whether you're talking about the L2 plug-in or the L2 hardware unit. I don't think the L2 plugin can compete with the PL... however, the hardware unit is pretty damn good! (though, it's still no TC Powercore MD3 BrickWallLimiter... which still isn't a System 6000 MD4 BrickWallLimiter!).

 

[csl]

Depends on what you want to achieve - the PL tames peaks, whereas the L2 really does simply brickwall them - and as such beat-heavy music will sound punchier and louder with the L2, at the expense of natural transient shape. For more acoustic/softer material I'd go for the PL, but for dance/rock/electronica I'd go for the L2.

 

[kleinholgi]

For me the Precision Limiter offers that special UAD sound style.
As long as you don´t drive it too hard, it leaves the signal as it is and works very neutral.
When it comes to harder limiting it´s morphing more and more to the typical UAD characteristic. It´s soft, silky, but with a tendency to get a little bit of distortion, quicker than other limiters. Driven hard, it is not the right tool IMO, especially for modern material (greetings to \" Let the bass kick...\" ).
I don´t know the waves Plug Ins, but usually I would prefer a voxengo elephant if it comes to limiting of complex \"dance\" material wirth heavy bassdrums etc.

Given more subtle parameters the PL is shining bright. Used along acustic signals or mellow sound, it is great, as well as a limiter for percussions, hi hats, toms etc.
But I usually don´t like it on groups/sums featuring heavy boosted, pumping synth basses or kick drums.

 

[Paul Woodlock]

For me the PL works better than the waves everytime.

But the most transparent method is a simple gain change and let the short peaks clip.

Try it before flaming

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

I sold my Waves license shortly after installing the UAD. Take that as you will.

Hmmm, interesting answer coming from a Mastering company... Was this purely a quality reason or did the Waves WUP & Customer Service play a part in this?

Admittedly, I don't use plugs often - But when I do, it's the UAD's and a few other "singles" that get the workout.

But if I thought I got better quality from Waves, there isn't a chance that I would've let them go. But after I stopped mixing, I would up using only 3 or 4 of them anyway (and that's when I actually used plugs a lot). Once I installed UAD, that dropped down to 0 in a heartbeat.

Truthfully - The only one I miss is X-Hum. That thing was one of the greatest plugs ever. But I'm not willing to go through all the crap to use one lousy plug.

Ever notice that it's the people who actually "buy" their plugs that have to go through all the crap? Sorry - That's for another thread... But if it wasn't for all the damn warezers and crackzers, these companies wouldn't be pissing off their *customers* so much.

 

[lordward]

Depends on whether you're talking about the L2 plug-in or the L2 hardware unit. I don't think the L2 plugin can compete with the PL... however, the hardware unit is pretty damn good! (though, it's still no TC Powercore MD3 BrickWallLimiter... which still isn't a System 6000 MD4 BrickWallLimiter!).

Hmmm.... I have compared the L2 Plug with the hardware and it was obvious that the Hardware sounded better, it even reacts a bit different to certian settings. However, the Powercore and the 6000 MD3 sounded exactly the same. The MD3 and the MD4 do sound different but they are different plugins. The 6000 is just a Win2000 computer using deditcated hardware and plugins.

DW

 

[Fairlight]

[quote="MASSIVE Mastering":2joh8n1d]I sold my Waves license shortly after installing the UAD. Take that as you will.

Hmmm, interesting answer coming from a Mastering company... Was this purely a quality reason or did the Waves WUP & Customer Service play a part in this?

Admittedly, I don't use plugs often - But when I do, it's the UAD's and a few other "singles" that get the workout.

But if I thought I got better quality from Waves, there isn't a chance that I would've let them go. But after I stopped mixing, I would up using only 3 or 4 of them anyway (and that's when I actually used plugs a lot). Once I installed UAD, that dropped down to 0 in a heartbeat.

Truthfully - The only one I miss is X-Hum. That thing was one of the greatest plugs ever. But I'm not willing to go through all the crap to use one lousy plug.

Ever notice that it's the people who actually "buy" their plugs that have to go through all the crap? Sorry - That's for another thread... But if it wasn't for all the damn warezers and crackzers, these companies wouldn't be pissing off their *customers* so much.[/quote:2joh8n1d]

I didn't actual 100% know until the other day that you can't buy Waves plugins individually, like you can UAD. I looked at the ones I'd like and was astonished at the amount of others I'd have to buy, that I don't want, just to get a handful of what I do want. Yes, great having them in bundles for those that want them this way, but this shouldn't be strictly so. It's the new Vintage plugz I find amazing that Waves only offer them with the TOP bundle, costing £4k - £7k depending if you go Native or TDM. It's a joke.

I don't think this is entirely down to Warez and the likes, I think half the reason they are cracked is also down the whole Waves 'scenario'. Shame, either way.

 

[Dan Duskin]

Depends on whether you're talking about the L2 plug-in or the L2 hardware unit. I don't think the L2 plugin can compete with the PL... however, the hardware unit is pretty damn good! (though, it's still no TC Powercore MD3 BrickWallLimiter... which still isn't a System 6000 MD4 BrickWallLimiter!).

Hmmm.... I have compared the L2 Plug with the hardware and it was obvious that the Hardware sounded better, it even reacts a bit different to certian settings. However, the Powercore and the 6000 MD3 sounded exactly the same. The MD3 and the MD4 do sound different but they are different plugins. The 6000 is just a Win2000 computer using deditcated hardware and plugins.

DW

Yeah... the MD3 should be the same. I haven't heard an MD4 personally... but I sure would like to.

 

[Dan Duskin]

Truthfully - The only one I miss is X-Hum.

For me, it's Trans-X. I wish I could get that plugin by itself. I don't know of any other transient punching plugin (or hardware unit) that is multi-band. If I was a mastering studio, I would surely want that plugin (for mixes that are already smashed and need some dynamics added at just certain frequencies).

 

[Fundy]

Any comments on this.

http://www.waves.com/Content.aspx?id=3173

Looks like a monster.

 

[Fairlight]

It looks VERY nice and I'd expect it sounds great, as most Waves plugins do, but again, it's only available with the Mercury Bundle. :evil:

P

 

[Akis]

[quote="MASSIVE Mastering":1lxlbffe]Truthfully - The only one I miss is X-Hum.

For me, it's Trans-X. I wish I could get that plugin by itself. I don't know of any other transient punching plugin (or hardware unit) that is multi-band. If I was a mastering studio, I would surely want that plugin (for mixes that are already smashed and need some dynamics added at just certain frequencies).[/quote:1lxlbffe]

Voxengo Transmodder:?:

 

[diggo]

Trans-X is excellent. Mind you, I mostly prefer the results I get from the Sony Transient Modeller, or Magix AM Pulse. But for band-limited transient modelling (such as popping out a snare drum within a mix), Trans-X Multi is the bomb...

Sean

 

[svs95]

Hmmm.... I have compared the L2 Plug with the hardware and it was obvious that the Hardware sounded better, it even reacts a bit different to certian settings.

That would be the analog components in the L2 hardware. The digital parts of the two systems are one and the same. I was told this by the designer of the L2, and I have actually asked him to repeat it a couple of times down through the years to make sure I didn't misunderstand.

If you keep the entire signal path digital, and use the same clock, and use the same monitor chain for both, if you still hear a difference, it is specious.


svs95

 

[MASSIVE Mastering]

It looks VERY nice and I'd expect it sounds great, as most Waves plugins do, but again, it's only available with the Mercury Bundle. :evil:

Which means most every 15-year old is going to have it next week.