Blue Cat's Protector
by Blue Cat Audio · Limiter · Brickwall limiter
Not rated yet
Protector is a stereo 0 dB brickwall limiter and waveshaper that ranges from transparent limiting to hard digital clipping.
It has a stereo link, DC filter, side-chain and zero latency; it costs $79.
Best for: Mix Bus, Mastering, Drum Bus. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: low latency, zero-latency, bus processing, sidechain input, pumping, simple, transparent, mastering, metering, MIDI-controllable, mix bus, stereo-linked, CPU-light, full mix, look-ahead, colored, creative, drum bus, mixing, single-band.
What it does
Protector is Blue Cat Audio's "0 dB stereo brickwall limiter with adjustable dynamics response". It is meant to stop the master bus from overshooting while raising perceived loudness, and can also be pushed into distortion and pumping on single tracks.
- Fixed 0 dB ceiling: Pre Gain drives the signal into the limiter (up to 20 dB) and Post Gain sets the output, which together act as the threshold.
- Dynamics response: a soft knee and release control move it from transparent limiting to colourful clipping and waveshaping.
- Optional lookahead: zero latency by default; latency is added only when lookahead is switched on.
- Stereo link and DC filter: linked or unlinked channels, plus DC offset removal.
- Metering: zoomable peak and RMS meters, gain reduction and RMS boost readouts, and a dynamics response histogram.
- MIDI and side-chain: MIDI CC output of the gain reduction for side-chain style effects on other plugins, full MIDI Learn and automation.
- Interface: zoom from 70 to 200% with transparency, copy and paste between instances, and any sample rate.
KVR lists version 2.34. The demo allows one instance per session and bypasses the effect for 4 seconds every 45 seconds.
Source: Blue Cat Audio product page
When to use it
Protector is a simple, low-CPU safety limiter that works at zero latency. Compared with Pro-L 2, it has no limiting styles, true peak mode, loudness metering or dithering, but it can sit on a tracking or live input without adding delay. Unlike TDR Limiter 6 GE, its threshold is fixed at 0 dBFS, so you set it by driving the input. Its soft knee and release controls also make it a quick distortion or pumping tool on single tracks.
- Best for: zero-latency peak protection on the mix or monitor bus, simple loudness boosting, and creative clipping or pumping on individual tracks.
- Genres: any.
- Look elsewhere if: you are mastering to loudness targets or need true peak and dither; Pro-L 2 or TDR Limiter 6 GE give much more control.
- Tip: push Pre Gain and shorten the release for warm saturation or dramatic waveshaping, as MusicRadar suggests.
What producers say
Reviews are positive about the sound, flexibility and low CPU use, with a few missing features noted.
- MusicRadar / Computer Music (2008) called it more than a simple limiter, praising the stereo link, zero latency, the uncommon soft knee and the low CPU load; it missed dithering and auto-release.
- Production Expert (2012, Protector 2) praised the simple interface, Pre and Post Gain, RMS Boost display, soft knee and MIDI CC side-chain output; it noted the fixed 0 dBFS ceiling and that it suits music better than broadcast work.
Where to buy
- Blue Cat Audio: $79
- Plugin Boutique: $79
- PluginFox: $79
- AudioDeluxe: $79
- Best Service: $93.13
Tutorials and reviews
- Blue Cat Audio - Blue Cat's Protector Demo
- 3 uses for a LIMITER explained with BlueCat PROTECTOR
- Setting Up Ceiling Level with Blue Cat's Protector Brickwall Limiter
- Monitoring Blue Cat's Protector Limiting Activity with an Avid Artist Controller
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