Barricade 4

Name: Barricade 4
Price: 39.74 USD
Author: ToneBoosters

by ToneBoosters · Limiter · True-peak mastering limiter

Not rated yet

Barricade 4 is a true-peak mastering limiter from ToneBoosters with ITU 1770 loudness metering built in.

It adds an input stage that can model analog, tape or digital clipping, plus dithering and noise shaping, for $39.74 (€35).

Best for: Mastering, Mix Bus. Genres: all genres.

Keywords: mastering, true-peak, metering, tape, CPU-light, full mix, simple, undo/redo, A/B compare, broadcast, bus processing, mix bus, resizable UI, single-band.

What it does

Barricade 4 is ToneBoosters' true-peak limiter for mastering. It aims to catch peaks and inter-sample overs without audible distortion, with loudness metering and finishing tools on the same screen.

True-peak limiting: reduces peaks, including inter-sample peaks, "without distortion" according to ToneBoosters.
Loudness metering: ITU 1770-compliant measurement for checking EBU and ITU loudness targets.
Input modeler: a non-linear stage before the limiter that can add analog or tape-style saturation or digital clipping.
Dither and noise shaping: for reducing bit depth on final masters.
Manual or automatic: set it up by hand, or use the signal-adaptive automatic modes for quick results.
up to 16 channels for immersive audio and sample rates up to 384 kHz.
Workflow: resizable UI with color themes, undo/redo, A/B switching and preset management.

Source: ToneBoosters product page

When to use it

Barricade 4 covers the core mastering-limiter job, true-peak limiting with loudness metering, dither and an optional coloring stage, for a fraction of the price of the big names. Compared with FabFilter Pro-L 2, it has fewer limiting styles and less detailed displays, but one Audiofanzine user found its CPU load and 3 ms latency very low. It is lighter on CPU than iZotope's Ozone Maximizer according to the same user, though Ozone offers more character options. Against TDR Limiter 6 GE it is simpler, with fewer stages to set up.

Best for: final-stage limiting of masters and stems to streaming loudness targets on a budget.
Genres: any style.
Look elsewhere if: you want multiband limiting or many limiter styles; TDR Limiter 6 GE or Pro-L 2 offer more control.

What producers say

The few user reviews are very positive, mostly about sound for the price and low CPU use.

Audiofanzine user (2017) rated it 5 out of 5 (1 review), praising the simple interface, 3 ms latency, "remarkably low CPU use" and auto modes; after testing it against Pro-L, IK Stealth Limiter, Nugen and Ozone 6, they preferred it on sound and resources.
Criticisms: the same reviewer missed the stereo link control of earlier Barricade versions.

Audiofanzine user reviews

Where to buy

ToneBoosters: $39.74 (Listed at €35; converted at €1 = $1.1355 (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))

Tutorials and reviews

MASTERING LIMITER FOR CHEAP - BARRICADE 4

Similar plugins

Elephant by Voxengo · Transparent mastering limiter · $109.72
FinalPlug 7 by Wave Arts · Mastering limiter with loudness metering · $99
Oxford Limiter by Sonnox · Mastering / broadcast limiter · $264
ISL by NUGEN Audio · True peak limiter · $249
BUTE Limiter 2 by Signum Audio · True peak brickwall limiter · $69
IQ-Series Limiter V2 by HOFA · Mastering limiter · $172.90
Invisible Limiter G2 by A.O.M. · Transparent mastering limiter · $199
CREST by Echelon Audio · True-peak limiter · $149
bx_limiter True Peak by Brainworx / Plugin Alliance · True peak, broadcast-safe · $150
LAxLimit5 by TBProAudio · Look-ahead true peak limiter · $112.41

All limiters