X-Limit

Name: X-Limit
Price: 49 USD
Author: Solid State Logic

by Solid State Logic · Limiter · Peak limiter with true peak

Not rated yet

SSL's limiter for adding loudness to tracks, buses and mixes without clipping, with four styles from transparent to glue and punch.

Steering and Ducking meters show how the limiting affects the stereo image, guiding how far to link the channels.

Best for: Mix Bus, Mastering, Drums, Vocals, Drum Bus. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: true-peak, transparent, metering, stereo-linked, bus processing, glue, drums, punchy, vocals, full mix, hybrid topology, mastering, visual feedback, corrective, drum bus, live performance, look-ahead, mix bus, built-in mix knob, mixing, musical, parallel processing, single-band, subscription, tracking.

What it does

X-Limit offers "precision loudness control for tracks and busses." SSL pitches it as a way to raise the level of tracks, buses and mixes "without clipping or changing tonal balance," either invisibly or as a limiter with color.

Four styles: Transparent, Glue, Punch and Auto characteristics, with variable release times (10 to 4000 ms per Headliner) and an Auto release.
True Peak and Lookahead: a True Peak mode catches inter-sample peaks and shows momentary and max true-peak readouts; SSL says latency stays low enough for tracking and live use.
Channel Link: Ducking and Steering meters show how independent left/right limiting shifts the stereo image, so you can set the link amount for minimal stereo damage.
Display: an all-in-one waveform view with threshold and ceiling sliders set against the incoming level.
Workflow: Gain Lock for comparing presets and styles at equal gain, and a Mix control for parallel limiting (which lets the signal exceed the ceiling).

The current version is 1.3.2. It is also included in SSL's Complete Access subscription.

Source: Solid State Logic product page

When to use it

X-Limit sits between a mastering maximizer and a track limiter. FabFilter Pro-L 2 has more styles and deeper metering, Waves L2 Ultramaximizer is the older one-knob standard, and TDR Limiter 6 GE adds multi-stage processing for free or cheap. Pick X-Limit if you want a low-cost limiter with a clear display, a choice of four styles and stereo-link metering you won't find elsewhere, for use on individual tracks and buses as well as the master.

Best for: taming peaks on vocals and drums, adding level to buses, and final-stage limiting with true-peak control.
Genres: general purpose.
Look elsewhere if: you need detailed loudness metering, multiband limiting or many advanced modes for mastering.
Standout: the Ducking and Steering meters for choosing channel link.

What producers say

Reviewers and buyers praise its transparency and musical behavior on individual tracks.

Headliner Magazine: Rick Dickerson wrote "I can't name another brick wall limiter that retains transients and punch so transparently" and said it had "overnight become my new go-to."
Sweetwater users (2022, 2026): both rated it 5/5; one said "X-Limit brings mixes alive quickly and easily," another that on single tracks and the master "this one is not comparable to any other."

Where to buy

Tutorials and reviews

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