Sonic Anomaly just released Unlimited, a freeware mastering limiter in 32-bit and 64-bit VST plugin format for Windows-based digital audio workstations.
Unlimited is a high-quality maximizer/limiter effect that supports stereo and 5.1 surround audio material developed by Sonic Anomaly.
The plugin features RMS meters and an ITU-R BS.1770 compliant loudness meter for monitoring the signal loudness on the output. It automatically adjusts to the type of audio signal on the input, reducing the overall CPU hit if a stereo signal is detected.
See also: Free Mastering Software For PC & Mac!The user interface (designed by Crimson Merry) looks fantastic and features an intuitive control scheme. The two main controls, “Threshold” and “Out” are positioned on the left side on the interface, next to the RMS and LUFS meters.
When working with a 5.1 surround signal, the “Threshold” control on the left is customizable using the three “Weight” controls on the right (Center, LFE, Surround). These three sliders control the threshold offset amount for the center, low-frequency effects (LFE), and surround channels.
The “Character” slider determines the aggressiveness of the limiting algorithm, emphasizing transients at lower values. Increasing the value will result in less distortion and less prominent transients. The “Response” slider can be used to apply a more compressor-like type of gain reduction to the signal, although the high peaks will still be hard limited.
The “Classic Mode” switch will change the plugin’s default behavior to a classic limiter instead of a maximizer.
Compared to Sonic Anomaly’s older releases, Unlimited uses a more flexible coding language which should ensure compatibility with a much larger number of digital audio workstations and audio editors. The same can be said about the recently updated Transpire transient shaper and Bass Professor MK2 plugins.
The plugin is available for direct free download from the developer’s website, no registration or activation required. It works as a 32-bit and 64-bit VST plugin in compatible digital audio workstations on Windows.
UPDATE: Sonic Anomaly’s website is no longer online. The link will take you to the Web Archive backup of their website.
More info: Sonic Anomaly (2.51 MB download size, ZIP archive, 32-bit & 64-bit VST plugin format for Windows).
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20 Comments
heavymetalmixer
onWhat a coincidence, I was asking just yesterday for good transparent free limiters and Sonic Anomaly releases this today, these guys never stop surprising me :D
Chris Schutte
onI love Sonic Anomaly’s stuff! I am currently working on some original material and BassProfessor MkII has become my go-to live bass sound tweaking weapon of choice! Can’t wait to throw this on my master output bus and seeing what it can do!
Tomislav Zlatic
onThis one is my favorite plugin by SA so far. Enjoyed testing it and will add it to my arsenal for sure.
Josh
onLots of cool stuff on their website!
Tomislav Zlatic
onIndeed!
ALEX
ontest now!!!!
Podunk Rasta
onSonic Anomaly make some damn fine plugs!
LuckyLuke
onI have a problem with running it under Reaper – GUI doesn’t load (I’ve tested it on other PC and it works fine). Does anybody know what could be the reason? Am I missing some graphic drivers/libraries? The other Sonic Anomaly products work fine. Thanks for your help in advance.
CrimsonMerry
onHmm what about the latest, resizable Bass Professor 2 and Transpire? They uses the same scripting language, so they possibly show the same bug in the same computer.
If you haven’t, maybe try to report the bug using the contact form on his site.
Pizzz
onDid you manage to fix this? I have the same problem.
animus
onIf it’s as good as their HBC compressor, it’s amazing, as it was one of the most stunningly excellent compressors my analysis project uncovered. Quadracom and SLAX also kick major bootay. Their free plugins slay many other companies’ costly offerings.
heavymetalmixer
onA question about S.L.A.X. : in the compressor/limiter knob, do you know internally what settings when it’s turned completely to the left and completely to the right?
Pete
onThis is glorious. Clean and transparent. Wish I’d had this years ago.
Erick M
onI’m astonished at the level of quality of these free plugins! Sonic Anomaly and Tokyo Dawn Records are some of the best freebies.
Carl
onI’ve tried plenty of freeware Limiters on my master channel and this is the best i’ve used. Simple controls, clean sound, drivable without distorting too much or making it “pump”… I certainly wont be going back to the old ones.
di
on15inch monitor on 1366*768 resolution… its huuuge !!!!
Izzy Waan
onsuperb warmth ……just saved my master tracks…. THANKS A MILLION !!!!!!
bob lupton
onjust FYI, “He’s dead, Jim”. the link no longer works. Not a big deal to me, but you may want to take it out or put a dash through it. thank you.
Billy Bertsch
onI can also confirm that the link goes to a now dead site, I hope I can find this plugin elsewhere, it seems to be exactly what I’m looking for!
chris
onThe link is broken