LINpro
by MAAT · Utility · Dither and word length reduction
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LINpro is a stereo dither and word length reduction plugin from MAAT with seven noise shaping options and visual noise plots.
It reduces to 8, 16 or 24 bits and costs $39.
Best for: Mastering. Genres: all genres.
Keywords: finishing touch, mastering, perpetual licence, utility.
What it does
LINpro is the main member of MAAT's LIN family of dither and word-length reduction tools. MAAT presents it as a rethink of redithering, with more choice over noise shaping and dither type than a typical limiter offers.
- Noise shaping: seven options: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 5th order, two modified 8th-order curves (ITU-based and UEN) and a 9th-order F-weighted curve, plus a bypass.
- Dither types: Triangular, High Passed Triangular and Rectangular.
- Word length: 8, 16 or 24-bit output, with a choice of rounding or truncation.
- Visual plots: shows the real noise-shaping curves on screen.
- Auto-blanking: dither switches off during digital silence.
- Presets: four factory presets.
LINpro works at 44.1 to 384 kHz. It is a one-time purchase. The family also includes LINone (16 or 24-bit, 1st-order shaping and triangular dither only) and LINSurround (the LINpro feature set for up to 128 channels).
When to use it
LINpro is the pick when you want to choose dither type, noise shaping and rounding yourself as a separate last step. Compared with the dither in Pro-L 2, which offers three noise-shaping options, it has more curves, three dither types and visual plots of the shaping. It is also an extra purchase, where Pro-L 2 includes dither as part of the limiter. LINSurround covers multichannel work, and LINone is the cheaper basic option.
- Best for: controlled dithering and word-length reduction as the final step of a master.
- Genres: any.
- Look elsewhere if: your limiter's built-in dither is enough, or you need multichannel output (LINSurround).
- Tip: forum users settled on flat triangular (TPDF) dither with noise shaping off, especially for 24-bit output.
What producers say
Little user discussion exists; what there is centres on settings rather than sound.
- Steinberg forum thread (users of the LINpro dither built into WaveLab 11) agreed on flat TPDF with noise shaping off as the safe setting, particularly at 24-bit.
- Criticisms: users wanted more technical detail from MAAT, calling its messaging "a bit too 'audiophile'", found the manual unhelpful on settings, and one found processing slower than expected.
Where to buy
- MAAT: $39
- Plugin Boutique: $39
- Best Service: $49
Tutorials and reviews
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