T-RackS Stealth Limiter

Name: T-RackS Stealth Limiter
Price: 93.13 USD
Author: IK Multimedia

by IK Multimedia · Limiter · Inter-sample peak limiter

vst3s Score 8.3/10 · rated #10 of 10 limiters

T-RackS Stealth Limiter by IK Multimedia

An inter-sample peak limiter designed for loudness with a light footprint. Four modes (Tight, Balanced, Harmonics 1 and 2) change how it handles transients and color.

Unity-gain monitoring makes level-matched A/B comparisons easy, and an infrasonic filter removes wasted sub-bass energy.

Best for: Mastering. Genres: Pop, Rock & Indie, Electronic & EDM.

Keywords: mastering, true-peak, auto-gain, tight, transparent, A/B compare, analog-sounding, bass, bus processing, gritty, neutral, repair, simple, single-band, sub bass, subtle.

What it does

The T-RackS Stealth Limiter is IK Multimedia's mastering peak limiter, built on an inter-sample peak limiting algorithm. Instead of envelope-based compression, it uses level tracking to keep peaks under the ceiling, aiming for loudness without a squashed sound.

Four modes: Tight (the most neutral), Balanced (allows subtle compression), and Harmonics 1 and 2, which add analog colour and grit.
Controls: Input to drive loudness, and Output Ceiling.
Unity Gain: level-matched comparison of processed and unprocessed audio.
Infrasonic filter: a 22 Hz high-pass.

It's now included in T-RackS 6 Pro and Max and Total Studio 5, and some retailers still sell it on its own.

Source: IK Multimedia product page

When to use it

Stealth Limiter is a transparent final limiter that preserves transients, with Harmonics modes that turn it into a colouring tool. Sound On Sound could squeeze another dB or two out of it compared with the original Pro-L before hearing artifacts.

Best for: transparent mastering; the Harmonics modes help rescue weak mixes or colour submixes.
Mode tip: Sound On Sound found switching from Tight to Balanced made a busy mix "really open up".
Genres: Sweetwater users master pop, rock, hip-hop, classical and jazz with it.

What producers say

Reviews were strong at launch, and both KVR user reviews give it 5 out of 5, one calling it "the best brickwall limiter on the market".

Sound On Sound found it "highly recommended" and "a bargain".
MusicRadar ranked it in its top three for loudness with minimal distortion.
How users apply it: around 4 dB of reduction when mastering, or as simple peak protection on individual tracks.
Criticisms: heavy CPU at high oversampling, basic metering, and controls MusicRadar found unintuitive.

Where to buy

Best Service: $93.13
IK Multimedia: $99.99
Plugin Boutique: $99.99
Sweetwater: $124.99
PluginFox: $124.99

Tutorials and reviews

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